Hold on Tight, During the Ride
If we heard it once, we heard it 75 times over our 3 ½ weeks riding the bus in Berlin. Sometimes you could find a seat, but often you had to stand while the bus traveled and as people crammed in. There were rails and leather straps you could grab. As we went down the road during our 30-minute trip each day to the library, a recording would come on, “Halten sies ich wahrend der gut fest.” Then in English, “Hold on tight during the ride.”
It was true even on the way to Berlin, as our flight on American Airlines headed over eastern Canada. There were storms all along the northeastern US, plus in Canada, and we had terrible turbulence for about 45 minutes. We had just eaten, and the rocking airplane caused Rexanne to lose her lunch.
We learned a lot once we arrived in Berlin. One of the first things was how to maneuver on the public transit system, that consisted of the buses, above ground S-Bahn rails, below ground U-Bahn subway, and a 4th tram system. To go any distance, you often had to switch services a time or two, getting off a bus, for example, and getting on the S-Bahn. Then you might need to get off it and onto a U-Bahn. To be timely, you might need to run a distance. Once on board, they can start suddenly and stop quickly. Hold on tight during the ride.
At the library we ran for Larry and Teri Lewis of Open Door Libraries ministry (this one called Connections), we met a variety of people. It’s a very “happening” place, as two or three churches meet in the facility each week, as a group called New Hive meets on Friday nights, seeking to provide influence in the workplace, and as groups like Alabaster Jar meet and plan. One day while there this last group met to prepare about 83 packets of cookies and goodies. Then they were headed to 4 brothels and 3 strip clubs to hand these out with an encouraging message and contact information for young ladies caught up in sexual trafficking. We admired what Alabaster Jar was doing greatly, but it comes with risks, to be sure. Hold on tight during the ride.
We also met four men who work within a Turkish speaking church, and who do street evangelism. There are many Turkish people in Berlin. They came after WW2 to provide a labor force, since there weren’t a lot of German men available to help rebuild the bombed city. They stayed, bringing their families, and settling, many along the wall that they helped build. We ate more Turkish food than anything while we were there, a donar deli on almost every corner. (It was actually rather difficult to find a German restaurant.) This Turkish ministry does much planning at the library, then goes into busy street locations. One gentleman will get people’s attention with a shofar (a ram’s horn), and then they play music and eventually have a speaker to talk about Christ. One day while in the library, we had four young Turkish boys (Muslim) stick their heads in the front door. They asked if we had a copy of the Koran. I said I was pretty sure we did, plus many Bibles and Christian books. They started to leave, but came back, swung the door open and shouted “Allah Akbar!” (Our God is the greatest!)
On a couple of occasions, we had met men who came in with mental issues, talking about their time in a mental hospital. One said he felt great before coming in the library because he had gotten high. The other man (separate occasion) got agitated, loudly cursing, and needing to be told to leave. There was almost no one else in the library at the time, and it was a little threatening. Hold on tight during the ride.
Missionary work is rarely easy, always has its risks, can put the people involved in harms way, but all the while doing needed ministry. We have learned to appreciate the people who direct these libraries. These libraries are in places where few pursue the Christian faith, where many call themselves atheists, and many have turned their backs on “church.” They offer a safe place to re-explore what it means to be Christian. A connecting place for like-minded Christians, and for not-so-like-minded seekers. There are many positives, and we met many very dedicated people working for God’s glory. But we also learned to appreciate a call to ministry in a place where such work is often tough and can be discouraging. The road to success is full of bumps and sudden stops as you travel this road with the Lord. Hold on tight during the ride.
Cross Point: "But you shall cling (hold on tight) to the Lord your God" (Joshua 23:8). "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
It was true even on the way to Berlin, as our flight on American Airlines headed over eastern Canada. There were storms all along the northeastern US, plus in Canada, and we had terrible turbulence for about 45 minutes. We had just eaten, and the rocking airplane caused Rexanne to lose her lunch.
We learned a lot once we arrived in Berlin. One of the first things was how to maneuver on the public transit system, that consisted of the buses, above ground S-Bahn rails, below ground U-Bahn subway, and a 4th tram system. To go any distance, you often had to switch services a time or two, getting off a bus, for example, and getting on the S-Bahn. Then you might need to get off it and onto a U-Bahn. To be timely, you might need to run a distance. Once on board, they can start suddenly and stop quickly. Hold on tight during the ride.
At the library we ran for Larry and Teri Lewis of Open Door Libraries ministry (this one called Connections), we met a variety of people. It’s a very “happening” place, as two or three churches meet in the facility each week, as a group called New Hive meets on Friday nights, seeking to provide influence in the workplace, and as groups like Alabaster Jar meet and plan. One day while there this last group met to prepare about 83 packets of cookies and goodies. Then they were headed to 4 brothels and 3 strip clubs to hand these out with an encouraging message and contact information for young ladies caught up in sexual trafficking. We admired what Alabaster Jar was doing greatly, but it comes with risks, to be sure. Hold on tight during the ride.
We also met four men who work within a Turkish speaking church, and who do street evangelism. There are many Turkish people in Berlin. They came after WW2 to provide a labor force, since there weren’t a lot of German men available to help rebuild the bombed city. They stayed, bringing their families, and settling, many along the wall that they helped build. We ate more Turkish food than anything while we were there, a donar deli on almost every corner. (It was actually rather difficult to find a German restaurant.) This Turkish ministry does much planning at the library, then goes into busy street locations. One gentleman will get people’s attention with a shofar (a ram’s horn), and then they play music and eventually have a speaker to talk about Christ. One day while in the library, we had four young Turkish boys (Muslim) stick their heads in the front door. They asked if we had a copy of the Koran. I said I was pretty sure we did, plus many Bibles and Christian books. They started to leave, but came back, swung the door open and shouted “Allah Akbar!” (Our God is the greatest!)
On a couple of occasions, we had met men who came in with mental issues, talking about their time in a mental hospital. One said he felt great before coming in the library because he had gotten high. The other man (separate occasion) got agitated, loudly cursing, and needing to be told to leave. There was almost no one else in the library at the time, and it was a little threatening. Hold on tight during the ride.
Missionary work is rarely easy, always has its risks, can put the people involved in harms way, but all the while doing needed ministry. We have learned to appreciate the people who direct these libraries. These libraries are in places where few pursue the Christian faith, where many call themselves atheists, and many have turned their backs on “church.” They offer a safe place to re-explore what it means to be Christian. A connecting place for like-minded Christians, and for not-so-like-minded seekers. There are many positives, and we met many very dedicated people working for God’s glory. But we also learned to appreciate a call to ministry in a place where such work is often tough and can be discouraging. The road to success is full of bumps and sudden stops as you travel this road with the Lord. Hold on tight during the ride.
Cross Point: "But you shall cling (hold on tight) to the Lord your God" (Joshua 23:8). "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
Posted in Cross Points