FORFORFor GOD GODGod SO LOVED SOso LOVEDLoved...THE GERMANS THE FOR GERMANS GOD the SO Germans. LOVED THE Germany GER MANS FOR GOD SO LOVED THE GERMANS FOR GOD SO LOVED Photos and story by Tom Price The

Calvary Chapel “Hey! Hey! What about me? What about me?”

Veit Butterlin shouted in the dreary mist of a winter evening in Stuttgart, Germany. Movement The 19-year-old university student, normally reserved, had jumped off the trolley to follow the Americans he overheard talking about God.

Veit Butterlin (left) hears the Gospel He had been struck by the courage of the young woman he heard sharing Je- from (l-r) Norm Witt, Jeff Kerns, and sus Christ in such a convincing way. Veit (Fie-ett) had never been that sure about in Eric Kamga while on the trolley. Germany anything. His life felt meaningless to this point.

Full rainbow covers skyline over city of Stuttgart.

CHURCH PLANT IN STUTTGART • CC SIEGEN • CC FREIBURG • CC HANNOVER • CC MUNICH • CC GRUENSTADT & DARMSTADT

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Roland Krumm (left), pastor of the new CC in Stuttgart and Jack Hibbs, pastor of CC Chino Hills, CA, teach first service at CC Stuttgart. well as the poor. He received Jesus into nel pass through the city. his life that night. Eager to soak up the Good News, he spent the next several Lt. Col. Steve Keller and his wife An- evenings sitting on the front row at the gie first noticed the outreach team in new Calvary Chapel. The emptiness that Stuttgart’s renowned Christmas Mart. The had overwhelmed him days before was career Army family had been reluctant replaced with a hunger to learn more to leave their Calvary Chapel in Arizona Kelsey McCormick, Britt Merrick, and about Jesus. where Steve had been involved in Sunday Rochelle Tessone play with German child. ___

Pastor Jack has brought short- term mission teams to Ger- many for the past four years. Their overseas efforts to that Norm Witt and Bobby Scanlin pray. point had been in Mexico, England, and St. Petersburg, service. Rochelle had just finished praying Russia. The congregation has with her when the trolley arrived at their a heart to serve in missions, stop. growing to the point that Pas- tor Jack felt comfortable divid- As they left the trolley, a handsome, styl- ing their effort once again. CC Outreach team witnesses to young Germans at the center of the city. ishly dressed young man ran after them, Chino Hills has developed a yelling. Startled, they waited as he caught training team that travels to his breath. different churches at its own expense, teaching people how “Please,” Veit said, “I would like to know to share their faith. They what you were telling that girl on the trol- were also instrumental in ley about God.” facilitating the church plant in Stuttgart. “I’ll tell you everything you want to Rochelle was ecstatic. The 17-year-old Chapel in Stuttgart would include only know,” piped in Norm Witt. “I can tell you Stuttgart, known as the manu- Californian had shared her faith with a their team and the German pastor, Roland how you can spend eternity in heaven facturing home of Mercedes young German woman on the trolley. Up Krumm. Their pastor, Jack Hibbs, had with Jesus.” Benz and Porsche, is NATO’s to this point, the witnessing the Calvary encouraged them to remain steadfast and information-gathering post. Chapel Chino Hills team had done seemed just spread the Good News of salvation. The men stayed and shared with Veit. He Now home to the United to be bearing little fruit. They feared Tonight, the young German woman was seemed amazed to discover that Jesus States command in Europe, Men from outreach lay hands on Roland Krumm as he begins to pastor the new CC Stuttgart. that the first service for the new Calvary eager to receive the gift of eternal life. had died for the affluent like himself, as thousands of military person- She wanted to come to their church

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Pastor Roland Krumm and his wife, Sarah, were sent from Siegen, where he served as assistant pastor, to serve as pastor at CC Stuttgart. German- born Christian Kleinloch, also from Siegen, had ministered to the youth in Chino Hills, but is now assisting Pastor Roland in Stuttgart. Edmond Cornell, from CC Chino Hills, recently came on staff at Siegen as youth pastor.

One of the first youth events Pastor Edmond planned was at a local bowl- ing alley. Not really expecting to fill it, Ollie Dangendorf plays lead guitar while Andrea Kolsch sings for the CC Siegen Praise Band. they rented out all 18 lanes in order to have it smoke-free. The event was to knock out walls to accommodate the packed out with over 150 youth, end- Sent out as missionaries from Calvary growing ministry. Christian rock concerts ing the night with the Sunday evening Fellowship in Seattle by Pastor Wayne attracted hundreds. When Pastor Chuck worship band rocking with praises to Taylor, the Longs arrived and immedi- Smith came for a prophecy conference, God. ately postponed the church planting. and to minister at CC Siegen, the German ___ Pastor Nick felt God was telling them newspapers hailed the event as a visit to pray over the city and wait for His from the “leader of the Jesus people.” After a short furlough in the States, timing. While at the Castle overlooking Pastor Nick and his wife Sue were the city, Nick and his team prayed for Today, CC Siegen has moved to their own anxious to continue the work God has months until they knew the Lord was building which seats 300, although atten- entrusted to them. releasing them to begin. dance is usually around 400. The Sunday morning service attracts many older “Being away helps you to see things *A wise man scaleth adults and young couples with children. more from God’s perspective,” said There are close to 100 children involved Pastor Nick. the city of the in the children’s ministry. Sunday evening is an assortment of young people, ranging “While we know there is a good work mighty, and casteth in age from twelve to thirty. The church being done here, we want to be sensi- School with the youth. They were excited down the strength of has added a coffee shop, run by staffer tive to the plans God has in store. to find this fellowship, since they had Katja Hafer. It is an intricately designed I feel God is beginning a renewed not found anything similar to the relaxed the confidence there- room decorated with a 1930’s New York revival through the young people in Calvary style of worship. motif. Coffees of every variety and home- this country, and we need to be in of.* Proverbs 21:22 KJV cooked meals are served inexpensively. constant prayer for the direction in “I could barely sing through the tears at They plan on going to three services un- which the Lord will guide CC Siegen.” the first service we attended,” said Angie “I feel that Germany is God’s prodigal less they find a larger building. Keller. “Having this new church planted nation,” said Pastor Nick. “Through the “Remember ye not the former things, has been an incredible answer to prayer Reformation and Martin Luther’s work, CC Chino Hills and CC Siegen have neither consider the things of old. for us.” Germany led the way for all of Europe to worked together to send people from Behold, I will do a new thing, now it reconnect with God.” Siegen to plant a church in Stuttgart. shall spring forth; shall ye not know Calvary Chapel Stuttgart now has a solid it?” Isaiah 43:18,19 KJV body of 20 believers and continues to “Germans allowed Satan to nearly destroy Solomon lifts praises up during afterglow service. grow. the church through Adolph Hitler. No modern nation has ever done anything as systematically evil as the Holocaust. God CC Munich Pastor Nick Long is running toward Germany to welcome it By Melanie Sita and his wife, Sue, CC Siegen back. The young people, several gen- enjoy worship erations beyond the Nazis, are the ones Interestingly enough, God sparked the and praise during Pastor Nick Long, and his wife, Sue, opening their arms back to the Lord.” beginning of CC Munich through a Bible Sunday service. moved to Germany in 1988. Nick traveled ___ study made up of international photo Sunday night through Germany in the early 1980’s play- models from Models for Christ. services attract ing guitar for a Christian rock band. He Beginning as a Bible study, the growing youth ages 12-30. carries on a family tradition in music; his body of believers needed larger accom- uncles include famed guitarist Chet Atkins modations and began meeting in an and country legends Homer and Jethro. abandoned train station. They soon had

28 Calvary Chapel Missions Magazine 29 FORFORRemember GOD GODye notSO the LOVEDformerSO things, LOVEDTHE neither GERMANS consider theTHE thingsFOR ofGERMANS old.GOD Behold, SO I LOVEDwill do a new THE thing now Germanyit shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? Isaiah 43:18,19 KJV GER MANS FOR GOD SO LOVED THE GERMANS FOR GOD SO LOVED

“Munich, in the summer, is one of the church has also sent out missionaries to teachers. In 1993, they were consid- model hot spots of the world,” says Krakow, Poland. They are planting a Photos by Liz Oppenheim ered an outreach of CC Finger Torsten Johnson, pastor of Calvary Chapel Calvary there.” Lakes. They officially became Fellowship in Munich, Germany. CC Hannover in l996. After attending a retreat given by Pastor Torsten, who is half German, took Pastor Nick Long on ‘Being filled with Looking back on the church’s over the study in February of 1996. He the Holy Spirit’, Pastor Torsten com- history, Pastor Peter reflects spent the next sixteen weeks leading a mented, “We have seen God work on the words of the old hymn: study of the book of Romans. mightily in the hearts of the people “Great is Thy faithfulness, O here. Many speak of their desire to God my Father, there is no “By May we organized a two-week serve Jesus full time. At our men’s shadow of turning with Thee.”* outreach along with Calvary Fellowship retreat, the guys were on their faces Located in the midst of the Seattle, my home church,” states Pas- for three hours, crying out to the Lord ‘red light’ district, “we con- tor Torsten. At that point, the fellowship for His mercy on this city, their fami- sider our ministry a hospital to officially became CC Munich. They soon lies, and for God’s cleansing in their those who are sick,” says Wills. moved from a home fellowship to Sunday hearts and lives. We also have an “Even the coffee shop mainly services at the YMCA. In September amazing group of women with regards reaches out to the homeless.” 1998, they moved into their own building. to their devotion to Jesus. As Calvary Though the church consists Chapel Munich continues to grow both of many young families, they God continues to move within this fellow- spiritually and in numbers, the church have remembered their original ship as they have come to identify with is blessed with a solid core of believers focus: reaching those on the Pastor Torsten’s powerful vision. The key ready to be used throughout the city fringe of society. verse of his ministry is of Munich and beyond.” Team members from CC Bible Fellowship in Temecula, CA share with girls from Germany. Currently, the Hannover church II Corinthians 1:24 NKJV: is excited about an outreach at the upcoming Expo 2000. Not* that we have CC Hannover The World’s Fair will be held By Melanie Sita in their city from June through dominion over October. In the early 1970’s, an outreach your faith, targeting dropouts, fringe groups, and Flower Power activists was started in CC Gruenstadt/ but are fellow the city of Hannover by Pastor Peter Wills and other evangelicals. Darmstadt workers for your By Liz Oppenheim “We were strong in evangelism, but Leaving Calvary Chapel to begin outreach in Freiburg. joy* for by faith weak in solid Biblical teaching,” says Two young German women Pastor Peter. “We were left insecure were drawn to a group of you stand.* and confused as a result of various Americans playing Christian teachings from differing dogmatic music. Sitting down on the Deep hurt and confusion from various backgrounds.” ice-cold concrete, they became ‘works’ related teachings had left some Krista Hubert in Gruenstadt. absorbed in conversation with broken and bitter sheep. Steffie Venema, “Our first contact with CC Costa Mesa the mission team from CC who came shortly after the church began, was through a music ministry called Bible Fellowship in Temecula, speaks fondly of Pastor Torsten’s goal of Love Song. Some of the outreach California. Photos by Liz Oppenheim having “the best fed sheep in Munich. members visited the California church Above- Steve Oppenheim(rt) Neither could believe that this Sheep that know the love of God through and brought back teaching tapes from and Freiberg Pastor Gunther Christ, and His desire for us to love Him Pastor Chuck Smith. It was then that we group from the United States back.” first received solid Bible teaching and a Right-Paul and Kelly was taking time to sit with ‘balanced diet’.” Campbell worship at CC them, sharing God’s love. One Through the simple Gospel message, this Freiburg. of the young women confided that her children had been family of believers has been able to touch Statue of Martin Luther graces city of Gruenstadt. Erin Caligiari greets an arrival. In 1991, they were invited to a Missions the community with various ministries, Conference in Heroldeck. taken from her by the authori- such as Bible studies, children’s retreats, ties because of her drug addiction. and a basketball camp. Ministering at the meeting was Pastor Steve Mays and Pastor Bil Gallatin. The Indifferent to the busy crowds of shop- “The camp is held at the YMCA, which is Lord began to heal the fellowship. Since pers passing by, they listened intently, still a strongly evangelical organization then, God has continued to minister in Germany,” states Pastor Torsten. “Our through Pastor Bil and other Calvary

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stadt is the same as God’s vision,” gambling casino, and a movie palace. Currently, it houses a university on one side, and photos by Andy Mauldin nightclubs on the other. The church is planning to move this spring. says Pastor Scott. * CC Hannover Pastor Excited about the inner city location, the team members in Freiburg feel that this will Praise team of CC Hannover Auditorium at CC Hannover Not willing that any should perish, increase the opportunities to reach people for Christ. One of the ministries in which they currently participate is a teen outreach held in the ‘Jazz but that all should Haus.’ Secular music draws in large crowds of young people. Despite occasional hecklers, come to repentance.* a question and answer session allows for many sincere inquiries that lead to the Gospel II Peter 3:9 NKJV. presentation.

It doesn’t stop with Gruenstadt and At CC Freiburg, the common bond within the church is their relationship with Christ and their love for one another. CC Freiburg hosted the outreach team from Calvary Chapel Bible Soaking up Darmstadt. I would love to see churches Fellowship. One German couple, Daniel and Sabine Weidigar, commented on the teams God’s Word planted throughout the entire valley.” visit, “We always remember our fellowship with great joy. To see a group of Americans “There is a social price to pay, though,” leaving their own homes and jobs behind…. only to serve Jesus, in a bewildering culture, says Pastor Scott. The people endure per- spoke to our hearts.” with the Ellises in every area of ministry, then shared a recent German newspaper secution to come to church. Calvary Cha- including worship, working with children, article with the group. It contended that Coming from the Castle in Austria, the pel is sometimes considered a cult in rural *Chisholm,T.O., Runyan, William, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Tabernacle Hymns, number and translating. Now he will be pastor to people like them, with their heads half- Ellis family has seen the fellowship grow Germany’s deeply ‘religious’ society. It is four, 1955. both Gruenstadt and the newest outreach shaven and body piercings, were social from an outreach/Bible study, to officially difficult for Americans to understand how (since 1998) in Darmstadt. outcasts. The Germans basked in the becoming CC Gruenstadt. It’s been a tre- a person lays his reputation on the line by attention and genuine love shared by the mendous blessing for them to watch the his choice of churches. He expresses how Andy Mauldin has been serving at the mission team. core group of believers become grounded awesome it is to see the Lord work past church since 1998, leading worship and in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. all the hindrances. As the people grow helping with administration. Andy will The young women had many questions in their knowledge of the Word and their also be leaving with Scott and Debi, to concerning God. As the sun set and tem- In February, the Ellises turned the church trust in Christ, they make the break from assist in planting a church in the United peratures dropped, they asked for prayer over to Guenther Weber, an Austrian who bondage and a stand for their convictions. from the Americans, and expressed has worked with Pastor Scott since their States. their desire to visit the Calvary Chapel in first contact at the Castle. He has served “We continue to stand in awe at what “The vision of CC Gruenstadt and Darm- Gruenstadt, where the mission team was God has done, and long to see Him touch based. peoples lives far beyond what anyone would have ever imagined.” Gruenstadt is a small community located near the cathedral where Martin Luther was condemned and later rescued. Cal- vary Chapel Bible Fellowship chose to visit CC FREIBURG here for their first mission trip, which was By Liz Oppenheim organized by Steve and Liz Oppenheim. The young missionaries were amazed as Freiburg is called the sunniest town in their common bond in Christ overcame Germany. It sits on the edge of the Black cultural differences. Forest, near the Swiss border. CC Pastor Steven Caligiuri and his wife, Erin, host a On hearing God’s call, Scott and Debi growing congregation of over 200 people Ellis sold everything and left their home on the top floor of a gas station. During in Antelope, California. With their two the second Sunday service, the overflow children in tow, they took a one-way flight of worshipers sometimes winds down the to Europe. “What we did was abso- stairwell and into the hallway. lutely crazy,” shares Pastor Scott. “It was what the Lord wanted. He gave us the The Lord has now given CC Freiburg the faith.” Planning only to come alongside opportunity to rent a portion of an historic some other ministry, they could not have building in the center of the city. The imagined what God would do. “He used structure was bombed during the war a bunch of nobodies, who couldn’t speak and later rebuilt. It has held a cabaret, Horse-drawn carriage German, to plant a church in Gruenstadt transports tourists in and start the study in Darmstadt. That historical German city of way we are totally unable to take any Rothenburg. credit for the work that’s been done.” Children ride a miniature train in the Christmas Mart in Stuttgart.

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