Isaiah 56: 6&7
6"Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
to minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, everyone
who keeps from profaning the Sabbath and holds fast My covenant; 7 Even those I will bring to My holy
mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and
their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a
house of prayer for all the peoples."
…” For My house will be called a house of
prayer for all the peoples."
That right there was the Bible verse that inspired the start
of the International Ministry in English. Our hope was to offer a Ministry that would provide a warm, happy and
welcoming atmosphere where people from different lands could worship God together in harmony.
This autumn is 3 years since we received the idea to start
the Ministry. During the last 3 years the Ministry has changed and evolved into
what it is today.
Today the Ministry is not just a church service but what it was
intended to be: a Ministry that helps and encourages people.
Looking back over the last 3 years we can see that God has
had a plan for the Ministry all along. For us it is not possible to see into
the future or what God has planned next, but when we look back we can see a
clear path that has developed in the ministry and how that path has brought us
to where we are today.
During our first year we concentrated on the subject: “Home
is not the land where we live in but with God and in God”. During that whole
year we explored what it is like to be a foreigner in this world, not just
practically like those of us that come from other countries but for ALL of us,
because as Jesus said we are not of this world (John 17:16), we live in this world yes,
but we are foreigners here. Yet we still have to deal with all the problems of the world: illness, death, unemployment, family
problems, marital problems, hurt, pain, suffering, homelessness, etc.
So how, as Christians, do we live in a world where we are
foreigners when we are faced with all these situations? Jesus did not say that
we would as Christians never again have a problem or a difficulty. NO, in fact
He said very clearly: “in this world you will have trouble”. But then right
away Jesus encourages us forward, He says: “… but take heart, for I have
overcome the world”. So how does that apply to us? Well it is only with Jesus
in our lives that we too can overcome the world and all life’s troubles.
The subject of that first year has never been more relevant
than today when we see so many refugees come into Germany. As a foreigner
myself I know how hard it is to live in this world as a foreigner, without our
own culture, without close family and friends. If it is hard to live with life’s
troubles in our own lands, maybe in the houses that our families have lived in
for years, surrounded by all that we have known all of our lives, imagine how
hard it is to face life’s problems in a foreign land!
We as the International Ministry in English continue to be there to serve
those that need us or want us there. If you or people you know can’t speak or understand German and are
Christians or wish to know about Christ, please come along to our next ministry on
Sunday 27 September at 14:30. Come and join us and invite others to come too. Even if you can speak and understand German, you will be very welcome. God
rejoices when His house is full of people that wish to worship Him regardless
of the language, after all He speaks all languages!
