Breaking Chains
Walking the streets of Berlin, chains are everywhere….on bikes, on shops, and on people. Yes, people. Berlin is a city full of extreme subcultures from Goths to punks to anarchists, and many of them wear chains.
EI invited a team from Houston, Texas who came with their bags packed full of chains. Somehow the suitcases made it through airport security despite the heavy metal. Immediately upon arriving in Berlin, the team from Westlake Fellowship knew that they had entered into a spiritual war zone. About half of them became violently ill during the first several days of ministry. Fighting through sickness, jet lag, bad weather and an intense confrontation with German u-bahn (subway) officials, the Westlake team soldiered onward. Undeterred, they went into the city squares to reach the lost and proclaim freedom to those in spiritual bondage.
The Americans performed a drama called “Chained”. The drama portrays a girl struggling to be free from demonic powers, which are holding her captive. Most of her body is in chains as she is jerked and shoved across the square by her adversaries. Finally, at the end of the play she subdues her oppressors and breaks free, giving praise to Jesus Christ.
The raw drama played well in Berlin, and not just to the diverse subcultures. In fact, right after the very first performance three wholesome, but unbelieving young German girls gave their lives to Jesus! Throughout the week, as the weather improved, audiences grew to crowds of nearly 200. After each performance the Westlake team along with German believers would go into the crowd talking about the effect of “chains” in all of our lives. The drama’s message resonated deeply and opened up the hearts and minds of many Berliners, helping them see that through faith in Jesus there is a way of escape.
The Westlake team was hit by a sledgehammer upon their arrival in Berlin. It didn’t take a lot of discernment to see that the enemy was opposing their purposes in Germany. They persevered and reached countless lives with the gospel, bringing glory to God. Luke 4:18 says, “That Jesus was sent to proclaim release to the captives.” Now He sends us. Some of those being held captive came to freedom in Berlin. It started with of all things, chains. May God continue to break the chains of those in Europe who are held in captivity!
Recent Comments
Dylan
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Hey Pete, any avcide you would give a campus ministry looking to help start something like that? It seems you guys and Globalscope are using a large team launch…with 6-10 students in for a period of time. Any other strategic avcide you would give about getting past the “idea” stage? Thanks Pete!
Yania Brown Berlin 2010/2011
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
What a great demonstration of evil all around us and the freedom we have in Jesus !! Wow ! i bet it was powerful. Thank you Westlake team ! May God continue to bless all of your efforts.
Lori Stone
Monday, September 19th, 2011
Thank you for sharing our story so vividly! I believe that even in our lives as we were ministering to the lost, chains were being broken off of our lives as well! FEAR! ANXIETY! INFIRMITIES! We were bound by an attack of the enemy and yet still were able to break through the chains and be set free! Free people-FREE PEOPLE~! Bound people-BIND PEOPLE! I want to be in the category that is setting people free!
thanks again! can’t wait to get back there next summer! You might have to split our team and send us to two places….the more we share, the more people want to join us!
love you guys,
Lori