Knakals in Germany

Germany is a country that in many ways is much like our own. People both here and there are civilized, well educated, and reasonably affluent. We are both considered to be “Christian nations”. Germany in fact actually has a state church and as recently as 1990 they could boast that above 90% of their citizens were members of either the Roman Catholic or the Protestant (Lutheran) church. So why do we need to send missionaries to Germany?

In spite of their high membership numbers less than 5% of Germans actually attend any church services and nearly 50% claiming to believe in no god at all, with many more being “practical atheists.

The work there is very hard, with a people holding a firm belief in evolution, living a very worldly lifestyle, being very suspicious of any religious group outside the state church, and generally completely disinterested in spiritual things. Because Germany is “civilized” we think nothing of sending missionary pastors to a city or town alone. The result is that many pastors are discouraged and while they remain faithful to the work that is set before them they often feel they take two steps forward and three steps back.

Our purpose in going to Germany is not to simply help provide a way for the kids there to have fun at camp but rather to provide the pastors / church planters with as many tools as possible to help them build the church. Camp Impact will be the first and maybe the biggest tool but as our language skills improve and we recruit and disciple German workers to help with the Camp ministry we plan to serve and encourage the pastors in every way we can. These further tools may include: helping to establish a Bible school, furlough replacement, pulpit fill, help with VBS type programs and whatever other opportunities the Lord provides.