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On Valentine's Day, 2004, a new church
called "Oase", (Oasis in English) opened its
doors for the first time in Dresden-Gorbitz, Germany.
The name reflects the goals that the church be a place
where people can come and meet the Lord, be refreshed
and encouraged in their lives. About 70 people from
the neighborhood stepped in to just check it out. Some
of them now attend regularly and the Sunday services
average 30-40 adults in attendance plus up to 20 children.
The building is an old youth center
that stood empty for 10 years. During the spring, the
facade was worked on and an artist spray painted a desert
motif on the entire building. Now, in the midst of the
grey, high-rise apartment buildings from the communist
era, there is a friendly-looking, light yellow "oasis"
with palm trees and a desert tent, inviting people to
come in.
 A
ladies' breakfast has been held on several occasions.
The attendance the second time exceeded expectations,
necessitating a quick trip to the local bakery for more
rolls. People are hungry for real meaning in their lives
in this former Eastern German city and they are searching.
In July the youth did an outreach,
contacting some local young people, sharing the Gospel
and building good relationships. At the end of July,
a team from Michigan led by Pastor Curt Dalaba came
to do an outreach to children with a program called
Kids Quest and also performed "The Puzzle",
a children's musical drama presenting Jesus as their
savior and friend. Fifty one children who had never
set foot in a church attended the performances along
with some of their parents. These new contacts are being
followed-up.
 Nine
people were baptized on September 5. The previous Sunday
they all gave their testimonies of how God had worked
in their lives in so many different ways to lead them
to salvation in Jesus. One young man in his twenties,
Stefan, had been taking drugs, he was unemployed, and
his life was out of control. He came into contact with
the church through the youth outreach this summer. Now,
he is free from drugs, and has a job; not something
to take for granted in Dresden with an unemployment
rate of 18%. He is excited about following Jesus.
There is vision for many more such
church plants to spring up throughout East Germany to
reach people with the good news of salvation through
Jesus Christ.
From Steve and China Walent
AGWM Personnel in Germany
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