News from the Tiews Family

Sharing the Gospel in Germany

Latest posts from on 02/26/2022

No Match for Nature

By Rev. Tiews on 14/02/22

In the dining car. A young soldier sits down across from me. I nod and thank him for his service, noting the three stripes on his sleeve. We’re both in “uniform” (camo/clerical). Finishing my meal, I get up to leave. “Blessings on your journey,” he offers. “Hauptgefreiter…,” I note (Petty Officer, Third Class). “I used to be one of those. In the Bundesmarine [German Navy] a long time ago.” He grins. We talk shop for a while. “Today I’m a pastor and missionary.” “Uh-huh.” Not catching the ball I had just tossed him. That’s fine. So I got to keep it simple… “So, what do you think about Ukraine?” I ask. “I don’t think Putin is going to attack. It’s all just posturing to get NATO to grant concessions.” “Could be,” I reply, “but he’s sure sticking his neck out if that’s all he wants to do.” He agrees. “Speaking of Russians, one of my favorite memories was in the North Sea, just north of Denmark… I’m sitting in front of my radar screen on my destroyer. We’re in a naval exercise with about 20 other NATO ships. As always, we’re being tailed by a flotilla of similar size from the Warsaw Pact—mainly Russians and East Germans. Wherever we go, they go. Observing each other, tracking each other. What I remember most was the summer storm that came out of nowhere, whipping up to almost hurricane-strength. Some 40 ships, with state-of-the-art technology and tons of firepower, but we all have to drop anchor and stand down for 24 hours. Armed to the teeth, but we are no match for nature—or God. As powerful as man is, he has his limits. Scripture tells us, ” For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made” (Romans 1:20). God is the Creator. We are simply His creatures.” “Hmm, I’ve never looked at it that way. Thanks for telling me that.” “Sure thing. God bless you, Herr Hauptgefreiter.” “God bless you too,” he responds with a smile.

Missions Unpacked: Germany

By Lula Tiews on 12/02/22

Rev. Christian Tiews shares about how he serves in Germany in this recording of a live webinar.

Refuge

By Rev. Tiews on 02/02/22

In 2015 Germany opened its borders to take in Syrian refugees fleeing from the civil war in their homeland. Countless Syrians arrived, but so did many others, with over one million people—most of them from various Muslim countries—arriving within months. While the German population initially had welcomed the refugees, popular sentiment changed. This caused the government to backpedal and start sending away as many migrants as possible. This practice continues in 2022.

The best way to be granted residency here in the Land of the Reformation is to be “integrated” by learning German and getting baptized. You see, if a Muslim converts to Christianity, it is difficult for the German government to extradite that person because the authorities know that, depending on where the homeland is, he or she might be executed for converting. Last week I attended a court hearing for a relatively new Christian I know. His request for a residence permit had been denied by a federal court, which claimed he had converted only for the sake of “integration.” Sadly, this man had a poor experience at his first church, which he left. Yet he wanted to remain a Christian. Fortunately, he discovered a faithful Lutheran (SELK) congregation, where he learned about the “forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation” found in the Sacrament of the Altar. The judge recognized that a new circumstance had arisen, so now it sent him back to the federal court which, we pray, will reverse its decision. Please pray for this situation (and the thousands just like it). Living in legal limbo is tough for anyone—also for our new brothers and sister in Christ. And yet, amazingly, God allows us to “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).

“House of Courts,” Hamburg

Recent Articles:

Lutherische Kirchenmission Blesses Ministry to Persian Speakers
Happy New Year!
Persian Ministry in Germany
A New Semester at Luther Academy
Another Martin Luther

Thank you to all who have already supported the wonderful mission work that is being done by our many LCMS missionaries in Eurasia and around the world. Thank you also for partnering directly with us—the Tiews family. If you are not yet partnering with us, below are various ways in which you can do so.
Praise the LORD that
Jesus took a sinful agnostic guy, forgave him, and is now using him to bring the Gospel to a land in which so many people do not know Jesus Christ.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Giving by Check: You can also make a donation towards the Tiews’ ministry by check. Mail your check, made payable to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and designated with their last name, to: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod P.O. Box 66861 St. Louis, MO 63166-6861
(Or call 888-930-4438 to speak with someone.)

Another option is giving through:

Mission Central
40718 Highway E16
Mapleton, IA  51034-7105
Include “Tiews-Germany Support” in the memo line or give online at Mission Central.

Copyright © 2022 Tiews Family, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website, through email, sign-up list or because you told us.

Our mailing address is: