Having learned basics about discipleship in Vancouver, I'm trying to walk in it back in Germany - with amazing results.

Discipleship - which again and again turns out to be one of the biggest problems in our corps, it's not the conversions we have to fight for so much, but helping them to walk with their Lord daily.

There is Susanne. Everytime I visit her and mix up with her on a personal basis, I'm excited about what God is doing in her life. So she is telling me about how she is talking about people she knows from the streets about Jesus, is reading the bible with them, opening them up to the gospel at times and at places where we as Army would never be present. I can see how God is using her big love for people for his kingdom. It's beautiful to see how God is re-directing the giftings he has given her to be used for his glory. And - I'm blessed simply by praying with her. A gifted intercessor. Just converted for maybe a couple of weeks every prayer we share together is centered around intercession for people she met and whose needs she knows about.

And there is Dieter. God called him back to himself after a time of him having run away. On his way home from our coffeebar some guys meet him by surprise, threaten him with a knife, calling him names, for the sake of him being a Christian. His response: I'm a Christian, yes. But you can just kill my body, but can't take my soul. They dropped the knife and ran.

Praise God!

holy speech

Ever thought about how difficult it is in a language different to yours to fall into the temptation of foul language and unwholesome talk? Ok, it's still far from impossible, but thinking back to my year in Canada I find that God used the language barriere to start purifying my language.

How does that go? The idea is simple: Since you have to think a lot more about how to express yourself in a different language you have to think far more about what you say.
Sad enough I'm still too quick to speak, and, ever sader, to speak words that hurt others quite a lot. That's why I was afraid of returning to Germany, back to speaking German again, it's easy, I don't have to think much about it and - ouch! Better shouldn't have said that.

But God is still at work in me!

He granted us quite a breakthrough by opening our eyes to the worldly fun and use of words we have among our staff members. Having fun too often ends up in jokes on cost of others.

God's solution: Shut up and pray for each other!
It seriously helps! Try it!

jehovah jireh

God is providing for me what I need.

One thing I and a prayer partner of mine were asking God for was a partner for ministry for me in Hamburg, Germany. Not knowing who God would chose I grew pretty desparate when a friend who I would have chosen moved away just a couple of weeks before my arrival.

I know what I feel called to do, basicly, all kind of ministry, especially street ministry I can't do on my own. It's not wise and I miss out on the blessing God has for the community of his people. And we lose the power of our witness as brothers and sisters who love each other with God's love.

But there is Stefan who I was working with during my first year with the Salvation Army in Hamburg. Who actually had planned to minister with the Army in Vienna starting this fall. But who chose to stay because of his Dad being ill.

Stefan which whose words I can agree with totally. With whom I can pray, for hours. Who I can do visitations, start new ways of outreach, who God is laying on our hearts the same things and who experiences God the way I learned to view God during my stay in Canada.

Praise God for Stefan!
May God bring glory to his name through our ministry together!