Source: INcontext Perspectives, August 2016
In July, an INcontext team traveled to Germany to meet with key leaders in an attempt to unravel the challenges, opportunities, and approaches concerning the hundreds of thousands of refugees crossing European borders.
Interview after interview confirmed the fact that Muslims are turning to Christ. There is some suspicion that converts may be confessing Christ in the hope of receiving asylum, and there are fears that the salvation of many Muslims may come at the expense of Europe, but the general feeling is that God is building his kingdom and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
- An Iranian pastor in Wiesbaden shared how, in the 22 years that he has ministered in Germany, more than 3,000 Iranians have accepted Christ, most of them in the last three years.
- A Syrian pastor shared how “God is doing a mighty work.” Eighty-five percent of his church are refugees.
- In the Café International in Leipzig, there are 20-30 refugees attending Bible classes once a week.
- One Iraqi convert in Giessen stated, “I would rather die as a Christian than live as a Muslim,” after coming to know Christ.
- In Frankfurt, a local church offered the Alpha course to refugees and ended up with a waiting list of 40 Muslims.
- In Wiesbaden, there are now three Farsi and three Arabic-speaking churches.
- One Iranian convert shared that in 2014 he was the only foreigner in the German church he attended. There are now 40 Iranians in the church.
» Read the full report. The 11-page PDF includes much data and analysis.
» See also The Rescuers, reporting on a German NGO that assists refugees with safe passage on the Mediterranean (Foreign Policy).