“Tatkräftig” In Hamburg

What kind of church could thrive in the left-wing cultural center of a post-Christian European city? That’s the question that took me to Germany in January. I had met Daniel, the founding pastor of the Hamburg Projekt, in 2015 and I wanted to see for myself how his church was loving and transforming this influential city.

Daniel spent over a year getting to know Hamburg and its inhabitants before holding the first meeting. He and his team hung out in coffee shops and restaurants and bars, making friends with the artists and musicians who lived and worked in the Sternshanz district. And they asked questions. Lots of questions.

Over time, neighbors came to trust them and trust their motives. They didn’t shrink from preaching the gospel in their church meetings, but they worked hard to make not-yet-believing neighbors feel welcome. Beer, wine, and an espresso machine helped fuel casual conversation. Local musicians were invited to perform at the beginning and end of the service. Not only did this provide them with free exposure, but it helped church members stay in tune with the rhythm and beat of the community. I saw one of these musicians come in late one afternoon to talk with a pastor. I could tell he felt safe.

Lining the walls of the church’s third-floor meeting space were life-sized photos from a recent public exhibit. Haunting images of dark-eyed children and abandoned rafts highlighted the realities of the Syrian refugee crisis. The exhibit had drawn many spectators and positive media coverage by pressing the biblical question, Who is my neighbor? On the south side of town, a small church plant from the Hamburg Projekt had asked God for opportunities to reach the community...only to have the government open a new refugee camp 200 yards from its front door.

In an effort to serve the wider community, several church members had created an online web portal called Tatkräftig (translated “mighty in deed”). It was designed to link community volunteers (Christian and secular) with local needs. The city’s response far exceeded the church’s expectations. Today Tatkräftig employs several people and enables dozens of community service projects each year. Similar websites are popping up in other European cities.

Having spent my childhood in the hills of West Virginia and my adult life in suburbia, I can’t say I felt at home in Hamburg. But I saw a church that had embraced the grit and graffiti of this modern city in order to be a good neighbor. And I returned with the dream that one day our church will have a reputation for being “tatkräftig” in the heart of Montgomery County.