A Heart for Germany

4 December 2009

You may remember Phil Thrash, an EPC Missionary to Germany, who came to visit us earlier this year. Please read an update below from Phil which reaffirms God’s sovereignty.

Bill

A Heart for Germany E-Gram
25 November 2009
The Thrashes
Berlin, Germany

Greetings from Berlin and Happy Thanksgiving! I wanted to share with you about one of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall. On the night of November 9th, I went to an evening prayer time at the infamous Bornholmer Bridge where spies/prisoners were exchanged during the Cold War era and through which 20,000 jubilant people streamed in one hour on November 9, 1989. Some who attended the prayer event then took a walk along the place where the wall used to stand and went to Christ Church for a worship celebration. This is a small church where I had come for the first time with a university group in the 80s and met Udo and Christine. I saw them again for the first time in freedom last Good Friday by accident at their church. I had tried to find them a couple of years ago but could not.

Here’s how it happened: I had decided to go on an ecumenical prayerwalk last Good Friday which took the group to different locations for prayer. As we approached one of the locations, a rush of emotion came over me as I recognized the building as being the very church my university group visited many years ago. I realized that God was giving me a gift. That was the small gift however. Kelsey chose our seats as we entered the church. After we sat down and looked up, I saw my friend Udo which I had not see in over 20 years sitting within an arm’s distance from me. I could no longer hold back the rush of emotion and tears and wondered if I would disturb the short prayer service.

Remembering how absolutely oppressive East Berlin was spiritually and envisioning Udo taking me to Checkpoint Charlie at the Berlin Wall to say good-bye rushed into my mind. And now at this moment I sat within touching distance of that very friend. I waited until the short segment was over as He was operating the sound. I touched his shoulder. He turned around and said “Phil”. I said his name, and we embraced and shed tears together. What a release of emotion that was. I think I experienced the fall of the wall all over again.

Unfortunately, not all Ossis (German who hail from former East Germany) stayed happy after the fall of the wall. The freedom and prosperity that came for some from the opening of the Iron Curtain did not still the God vacuum in their hearts. Today some feel that the wall is still up and that the Wessis (former West Germans) simply came in and took over similar to when the Carpetbaggers came into the South after the Civil War. Here is a poster that was put up in our neighborhood that states this very sentiment: “We are one people! And you all are another one. East Berlin, 9 November 2009”

So we can see that a wall is still up in minds of some people. Atheism and hardness of heart are still here. We are praying and believing God to break through these walls and that many may come to know and serve Him here in Berlin.

Praise Report

Two or three of my English course students will attend our church plant’s Thanksgiving dinner today.
One of our neighbors went to the Women’s Breakfast where Diane did an Advent wreath craft and the gospel was shared.
We wish your family a wonderful Thanksgiving!

For His Kingdom in Berlin and Germany,

Phil, Diane and Kelsey Thrash

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