World Of Witness - Germany

Ministry

Thousands of Aussiedler – ethnic German immigrants from the former Soviet Union – arrived in Germany in the last decade. Many of these Aussiedler were seeking new spiritual life and a Christian community for themselves even as they struggled to adapt to a strange culture and to re-establish their livelihood in a country undergoing economic and political transition. Even though these immigrants have some German background, they often encountered rejection and misunderstanding from native Germans. In 1994, the Mennonite Church in Berlin decided to reach out to the Aussiedler and invited the then Conference of Mennonites in Canada, (now Mennonite Church Canada), to provide workers. Since then, a congregation, the Christliche Glauben Gemeinschaft, has been established at Niedergörsdorf, in Altes Lager. After many years of ministry in the Christliche Glauben Gemeinschaft, the last Canadian couple serving at Niedergörsdorf has left Germany. Today the church is being served by Reinaldo and Eugenia Dyck, a young couple from Paraguay, with the support of the Berlin Mennonite Church, the Diakonische Werk, Mennonite Church Canada Witness, and Mennonite Mission Network.

Celebrations

• Arrival of a new pastoral couple at Niedergörsdorf.
• Election of a new church council.
• Baptisms of new members young and old.

Challenges

• Changing immigration patterns with fewer people settling in Altes Lager.
• Growing local leaders for the church.

Partners

• Mennonite Mission Network (MMN)
• Berlin Mennonite Church
• Vereinigung Deutscher Mennonitengemeinden (German Mennonite Conference)

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