Flash Mobs in Berlin

A few years ago I didn’t know the difference between a flash mob and a flashlight. I do now! Recently a flash mob was instrumental in bringing a life-changing message to thousands of Europeans.

A vibrant group of 25 students and staff from the Charis Bible College in Colorado Springs came to Berlin for a week of outreaches. The EI staff told them ahead of time to bring their dancing shoes, and they did! EI took the Charis team to Berlin’s Alexander Platz – a massive gathering place for locals and tourists. The thousands hanging out on the mild spring day had no clue that a rambunctious group of Americans were about to turn the square into a dance floor.

Imagine this: the music cues up on the EI sound system and two of the Charis students begin to dance. Seconds later another student jumps in, and then another and another. Within minutes the mob grows from 10 to 30, to 50, and then to 100 or more! People come from all over the square to see what is going on. Soon almost 500 onlookers gather in a semi-circle, more than half of them clicking photos of the flash mob on their smart phones. The stage is now set, and it’s time for the second act.

EI’s Matt Lankenau and Ramona Marsh tell the crowd in English and German that the CBC students are about to perform “The Wall”, a drama created just for Berlin. The square is suddenly silent as the Americans fall into their places, forming a human wall. The powerful open-air drama unfolds, telling the story a young women’s life that is riddled with adversity, but how God lifts her out of her misery with His love.

As the drama concludes it is time for the real human drama to begin. The Charis students and EI staff immerse themselves into the crowd. Within an hour dozens of Europeans have had conversations with Charis and EI team members about faith in Jesus Christ. For some it is a seed planted, with others the conversation ends in a prayer.  For a select few, there are tears of joy, as they make a bold, eternal decision.

Forty-four Berliners and Europeans prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior during the Charis outreaches. One of them is Francisz. She was drawn by the dance, stayed for the drama, and then met a Charis student and EI German staff person. She prayed to receive Christ on a Friday and went to church with us on Saturday and again on Sunday. This 22 year old had been to church just once in her entire life, and had never read a single Bible verse. To see a video of Francisz and the Charis outreaches click here.

Forty-three others also made decisions for Christ. Who would have thought that something as silly as a flash mob would play a role in leading Europeans to faith in Jesus Christ?

European Initiative is bringing light and hope to Europe, and having fun doing it!