Dear friends,
We have now been here in Germany for one and a half week. We left our home in Finland, April 18th and after spending two nights on two different ferries we finally were cruising south in our 1973 Buick Century Wagon on the German autobahn. The first night we stayed in the city of Göttingen and the following day we drove down here to Wetzlar, where we have been since April 21st.
A protest against nazis
On Saturday 22nd we started off in a very different way. It was the National Democratic Party of Germany who had planned a demonstration and march through the city of Wetzlar. The party is usually described as a ”neo-nazi” organization, and has been referred to as "the most significant neo-Nazi party to emerge after 1945”. These people are serious and full of hatred. German officials again tried to outlaw the NPD by submitting a request to the Federal Constitutional Court in 2016.
On January 17, 2017, the second senate of the Federal Constitutional Court rejected the attempt to outlaw the party. The reasoning behind the decision was that the NPD's political significance is virtually inexistent at the state and federal levels and that banning the party would not change the mindset of its members, who would simply form a new movement under a different name. However, the Court also openly acknowledged that the party's manifesto and ideology are anticonstitutional and indirectly suggested that such a party should not be receiving state grants to further its cause. Today they are a legal political party in Germany and we were there on the other side.
Together with thousands of other people and our brothers and sisters from Anskar Church here in town we stood against evil and protested against them. We did it in love and God had opened a door for us to be on the main stage and play some christian rock music and talk about Jesus and the hope that is in Him.
The same night we had a concert at our church here and we played with the band from the church. We had a great night together.
Reaching the youth
Sunday we visited the morning service at Anskar Church and we held an english speaking service in the afternoon since there are many international people in Germany who do not speak German. It was a privilege to share in english on this new english speaking ministry that has started out of the congregation.
God has continued to open doors. Monday and Tuesday we were invited to speak to different youth groups at the Lutheran Church here in Wetzlar and we had a wonderful time with the youth. Yesterday we visited a small group and tonight we are doing our last service here in Wetzlar. Another youth group at FeG Church.
We are excited to be here as we get to share the best possible news ever. Just the fact that we were able to speak to all these youth this week made it worth everything.
East and south
Friday, April 28th we leave Wetzlar to go to another ”home” here in Germany. Klingenthal that is located on the Czech border and part of the old DDR. We are doing a ”one night only” at a church in Hammerbrucke before we start our journey south to Nurnberg for our last week of ministry here in Germany, mostly outreach.
We are having a great time but it is not easy. Still God is good and we pray and hope that this is something WE can do TOGETHER. We are in a DESPERATE need of more monthly partners. If we found 20 people who donated 20€ / month would be a good start. The more partners we get the more work we can do and all we do we do for our Lord, Jesus Christ. More information about partnering here.
Greetings from Germany &
God Bless You All!
Pontus & Sebastian Back
