Spreading the Word in Germany

Being able to speak in ā€œone voiceā€ā€”a voice that shares the pure law andĀ gospel message—is something Michael Herbst,Ā pastor at St.Ā Johanneskirche, Zwickau-Planitz, Germany, saw and appreciated at the recent synod convention. Herbst and his son, Daniel, represented the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (ELFK) in Germany at theĀ WELSĀ convention during this 500thĀ anniversaryĀ yearĀ of the Reformation.Ā 

ā€œIt was so good to get the Lord’s Supper together with all of us,ā€ he says, in reference to the opening worship service. ā€œIt’s good to see and hear that we are one voice.ā€Ā 

That fellowship with WELS and other sister churches in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference means much to the 1,250-member German church body,Ā especiallyĀ becauseĀ manyĀ peopleĀ inĀ their country don’t want to hear the gospel message. According to Herbst, whileĀ manyĀ claimĀ to be members of the State Church (a mix of Lutheranism, Reformed, and United Protestant) or the Catholic Church, they are not really interested in attending. And the message they hearĀ from these churchesĀ can range from moderately conservative to extremely liberal.Ā The StateĀ Church waters down the law and is tolerant of anything that is preached. ā€œI have to say firstĀ [that people]Ā are lost because they are sinners,Ā butĀ that is not the message in the State churches,ā€ says Herbst.Ā Ā 

But the 16 congregations in the ELFK are not afraid to share the law and gospel, a message Martin Luther stressed, even at a time when many Germans are tired of hearing about the Reformation.Ā Ā 

In fact, they are using the Reformation toĀ reach out into their communities.Ā A series of lectures calledĀ ā€œDas Wort HatĀ Getanā€ (the Word did it)Ā will give ELFK pastors an opportunity to share more about Luther’s teachings. Herbst’s congregation in Zwickau-PlanitzĀ is also hosting aĀ synodwideĀ special worship service on Reformation Day for all its congregations and the local community to celebrate and share the gospel message for which Luther fought.Ā 

Joint gatherings for choirs, youth, brass, and more are not uncommon for the ELFK congregations. The ELFKĀ alsoĀ runs a large bookstore filled with conservative Lutheran materials andĀ trains called workers inĀ its own seminary in Leipzig.Ā An independent elementary schoolĀ run by an association of ELFK churches, Dr. Martin Luther School in Zwickau-Planitz, offersĀ an education andĀ the gospelĀ messageĀ to manyĀ studentsĀ whoĀ are not members. ā€œThese children have heard God’s Word,Ā and God can plant his Word in their hearts,ā€ says Herbst. ā€œIt’s not important for me that they come to our congregation. For me it’s important they come to Christ.ā€Ā 

Challenges still abound. The seminary currently has no students,Ā and outreach is difficult due to the indifference to religion of much of the German population. But the ELFK continues toĀ stand firm in the Word in the land of Luther.Ā 


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Volume 104, Number 10
Issue: October 2017

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