Breaking Down Walls

Citizens across the globe were shocked on the evening of November 9, 1989, hearing the stunning news that the Berlin Wall had fallen.  Its destruction, which was nearly as instantaneous as its creation, was celebrated worldwide. This wall that separated not only a city, but also families and loved ones, was believed to remain standing for generations. Now, almost 24 years after the physical wall came down, spiritual walls within Europeans are being shattered as God’s love is breaking though to reach cold and needy hearts.

Just a few weeks ago EI mobilized a team of high-energy students from Charis Bible College (CBC) in Colorado, to Cologne and Berlin, Germany. This was the school’s fifth team to come to Europe with EI. The students had been preparing for months for the outreaches.  They came to Europe ready not only to perform 3 different dramas, but eager to knock down walls of unbelief that exist in the minds of many Germans today.

As we partnered with German churches and believers, our outreach strategy was simple yet extremely effective. We began with a popular hip-hop line dance, in a stealth sort of way. With music blasting from a portable speaker, two American team members started the dance in an open square. Within seconds something amazing happened…curious onlookers and the rest of the team joined in and soon the masses became a “flash mob!” I have seen this happen too many times to count and I am still in disbelief every time - the crowd literally swells to hundreds!

Once the crowd gathered, the CBC team immediately transitioned into performing a contemporary Christian drama called “The Wall.” Team members formed a human “Berlin Wall” which was very meaningful to the German people. The drama powerfully portrayed the gospel through the trials of a young woman’s life.  At her point of total despair, Jesus broke through the wall to save her life. Within seconds after the end of the drama, the CBC students rushed into the crowd to talk with onlookers, sharing Christ’s love, breaking down walls of unbelief.

After a performance of “The Wall” in Cologne, two CBC students approached a couple of young men within the crowd and sparked a life-changing conversation. The two German men struggled to find words as they described how just a few hours before watching our drama they had cried out to God to show Himself to them! These young German men told the CBC students that earlier in the morning they had stated in frustration, “God, if you are real, show yourself to us….or we’re giving up on you!” How remarkable that God would send a couple of crazy Americans to reach these searching Germans in their exact hour of need! Both of the men prayed with the CBC students to make Jesus their Lord!

By the end of the outreaches in Cologne and Berlin more than 6,000 people heard the gospel and 121 gave their lives to Jesus! The 9 days with the CBC team were some of the most impacting ministry experiences I have ever been part of. The spiritual walls in Europe crumbled right in front of our eyes! Only our loving God can burst through the walls that separate us from Him, bringing His life changing and redemptive love.

1 Corinthians 2:9 states: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Jesus loves Europe and has such an extraordinary plan for those who seek Him. We have expectations to see this continent turned back to Him and that millions will passionately pursue these things that God has prepared.