News & Views
German international report
written by
published on 15th July 2006
When we first arrived into the country we were greeted by our translator/co-ordinator and the children’s pastor of the church. Dodging traffic and pulling emergency stops on the motorway added to the excitement we were all feeling on the way to the church in Bonn to be met by our host families. The next morning we were up bright and early to pack the trailer ready for a children’s camp in the German bush land. The place was amazing, absolutely beautiful.
The children arrived and we all had loads of fun playing football and getting very muddy. We led through songs, stories, walks in the rain, teaching, prayer, games and art with the children over four days. We had such a great time with the children, the Germany team were so trusting, and they gave us so much room to do what we wanted with the children. It was such a blessing to see the children praying out loud, encouraging one another and becoming more confident within their peer group.
After the camp we went back to
Bonn
ready to lead through the children’s church on the Sunday morning. CLW – Central Living Word Church is such an amazing church, full of international people from all parts of the world including Korea, China, Africa and America. The service is translated into about ten different languages, which made life easier for us. At the beginning of the services we were prayed for and welcomed into the church family.
Over the next week the team was taking part in a variety of different projects. We spend quite a lot of time in a local secondary school going into Catholic R.E lessons and English lessons. This was such a great opportunity; we witnessed God moving in powerful ways through out every lesson we went into. Through question and answer lessons the Gospel was opened up, during one lesson ten children decided to give their lives to Christ and a number of others asked for prayer – what a miracle it was, so exciting.
Pastor Mario the leader of CLW expressed his heart for the student population of
Bonn
and so as part of our service to the church we went around the university (conveniently on the open day) to take questionnaires and offer prayer to the students. Again a wonderful experience, the team was split into two groups, those who prayed and those who asked the questions. We were able to give the church information on what needs the students had and also some words we felt God had given the prayer teams concerning the university and what needed to be prayed into.
Another passion of CLW is the homeless, and meeting their needs both practically and spiritually. The church meets outdoors on a Thursday night to worship God, give testimonies and to feed the homeless, mainly drug and alcohol abusers. This was such an incredible, God anointed project. Again the church gave us the opportunity to stretch ourselves in serving, public speaking and worship. After a member of the team gave his testimony one man gave his life to Christ. The project is like a modern day feeding of the 5000, sacks and sacks of good quality donated food, amazing!
We led through three services whilst in
Germany
, one on a Friday night for the youth cell groups and anyone else interested and two on Sunday. On both occasions the team preached, lead creative worship through song and poetry and offered prayer.
The trip was fantastic, we saw God move in miraculous ways, people set free and come to Christ, members of the team stretching out into new areas such as prophecy and healing. The team was brilliant, at the end we were all tired and most of us ready to go home, we had seen God move us, shake us, stretch us and deepen our relationship with Him. Everyone on the trip witnessed God in an individual way, which was such a blessing.
