Eastern Germany desperately needs a new generation of disciple-makers to rise up, and this trip is designed to facilitate that growth. It is incredibly challenging to create disciples within a post-Christian society, but on this trip you will have the opportunity to come alongside those whom God has called to this challenge, walking together with the Germans in this work by encouraging one another, learning from one another, praying for one another, serving one another, and loving one another.
You will serve alongside the collegiate team in Dresden, a city deep within former East Germany. In the ministry here, you will have the opportunity to build deep, life-to-life connections with German students who are part of our Navigators community through Bible studies, NavNights, and time spent one-on-one together. The ground is hard in Dresden, and the spreading of the gospel takes time, but by partnering with German Christians, you will have the opportunity to come alongside those whom God has placed here, encourage them, deepen their roots in His Word (as well as your own), and set them up well to reach their unbelieving friends and family. In addition, you will be able to reach out to and serve international students, many of whom also do not know Christ, at our weekly Sprachcafé (or language café), where you will also have the opportunity to learn some German alongside them!
With less than 5% of the population believing the Gospel, Dresden is considered one of the most post-Christian places on earth. The vast majority of university students come from families that have been atheist for 4 or 5 generations, and many of them have never had a Christian friend. The ground is hard, and planting the seed of the gospel takes a lot of time, work, and prayer. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are so few. Would you prayerfully consider becoming one of the laborers that the Lord sends out into his harvest here in Dresden?
A normal week will include…
- Bible Study
- 1-1 mentoring/discipleship
- Engaging with believing and non-believing German Students
- Engaging with believing and non-believing International Students
- XTAWG (Extended Time Alone With God)
- Team building time.
Highlights: History & Culture
For much of its history, Germany has had an East, West divide. Although the country is now united, the scars of that divide remain. In Dresden, a city deep within former East Germany, those scars remain, more visible than ever. Dresden was once the proud capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, where the Protestant reformation began. Martin Luther famously nailed his 95 theses to a church door that is, today, just a two hour drive from the city. From there, the reformation spread like wildfire, and in 1925, a few decades after Saxony was conjoined with Germany, over 90% of the population were Protestant Christians.
Times, however, have changed. At the end of World War 2, Dresden was almost completely destroyed by bombing raids and the Soviet Union moved into its ruined husk, absorbing it into East Germany. For 45 years, it was largely cut off from the outside world, with religion heavily frowned upon by the communist government. Although Eastern Germany was reunited with the West in 1991 and the city was rebuilt to resemble its former glory, the spiritual scars continue to fester, unhealed. Today, just 5% of the population are gospel believing Christians, with almost 80% identifying as Atheist or Non-religious. In that sense, Dresden and its surrounding regions are the heart-breaking standard bearers of Post-Christendom. Once the land of the Protestant Reformation, it is now the land of spiritual deformation, becoming one of the most godless places on earth.
Trip Dates
June 20 to July 29, 2024
Team Size:
4 - 6
Trip Cost:
$5000
Orientation Location:
Phoenix, AZ (April 12-14, 2024)
Application Deadline:
March 1, 2024
