Standing on Faith in Germany
On Saturday morning when it began to snow, the outlook for the Go-Church’s kick-off service in Germany didn’t seem very positive. The team had prepared. They had prayed. They had fasted. They had invited one person after another for the past 3 months. And they were standing in the faith that God was planning something great for this first public event as a new church.
On Saturday morning when it began to snow, the outlook for the Go-Church’s kick-off service in Germany didn’t seem very positive. The team had prepared. They had prayed. They had fasted. They had invited one person after another for the past 3 months. And they were standing in the faith that God was planning something great for this first public event as a new church.
But all day the snow kept piling up. And so did the cancelation calls. Roughly 40 people said, “Thanks for the invite, but I just can’t go out in this at night.” Regardless, the team kept preparing, kept trusting - God would bring the ones who most needed to be there.
One might say there was reason for doubt, but faith is the opposite of doubt. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV) Faith doesn’t look at the obstacles. Faith focuses on the heart of God - and his heart has been crying out for this city in Germany.
Regardless of the fact that 8 inches of snow had dropped throughout the day, 100 people showed up that evening! (This is a HUGE number by German standards.) Most of them were non-Christians. Several had never before been in any kind of worship service in their entire lives. It’s as if this community has been waiting for a life-giving church....and God was waiting to fill it!