Medals For Glory 2006 Ministry Updates:

July 6: Final Update
The World Cup soccer tournament is down to the last two teams from a field of 32. Germany still has a festive spirit but not like it was before its team’s loss. The Germany flags, once ubiquitous, are not so often seen anymore.

The Medals for Glory team members are also back home. Four of the German churches involved had visitors come to their worship services as an immediate result of the evangelism done during five weeks. Forty thousand tracts were distributed. In Erlangen and Nürnburg 600 copies of the Jesus film were given out. In all of Germany during the past five weeks, over 200,000 people coming from many countries have gotten a copy of the Jesus film. Many from countries where evangelism is prohibited have already sent special thanks to the producers for getting the film to them in Germany so that they could finally learn the story of Jesus and how to believe. The missionaries are thankful to have been able to be a small part of this effort.

Closer to home, teams did street witnessing in their own areas. One young woman who was given a tract by one of the Maranatha soccer team members did not want it and gave it to her boyfriend. Her boyfriend has since visited the pastor of the church in Ingolstadt to talk to him about the Lord. Members of one team that played the Northland men but did not themselves make it to the game asked if they also could have a copy of the Jesus film like the rest of their teammates.

The mission church in Berlin saw 10 new visitors come to its meetings as a result of the Medals for Glory effort. That was quite a boost for this church, which has been struggling for a while. In Erlangen, over 200 people had the gospel explained to them in the form of the God’s Bridge to Eternal Life gospel tract. These conversations lasted from 15 minutes to over an hour. The Medals for Glory team members were excited to see how ready people were both to discuss spiritual matters and to talk in English. Responses ranged from, “I can know that I am going to heaven? That would be wonderful. Can you explain that to me?” to “I know I need to decide for Christ. Can I take this home with me and read it through one more time?” to “I have never heard this before. Thank you so much for explaining it to me,” to “This is good for you, but I want to believe my own way,” to “What you say is just too simple. I can’t believe it is so simple.” Without question, they got the message.

No question about it, the Medals for Glory ministry has been lots of work and has had a significant impact on five areas of Germany as well as other parts of the world where World Cup visitors have taken the message of the gospel back with them. The missionaries expect to see more fruit from this ministry here in Germany in the future. The ministry has likewise impacted the participants, who repeatedly said, “I want to take what I learned here about sharing the gospel back with me to my country and practice it there.” For all those who prayed, be assured that is why so much happened here.

June 30: Berlin, Erlangen

Berlin
The word is getting around about the juice containers with the attached tracts that have been given out regularly in the community by the Medals for Glory team.  One lady who was offered a packet hesitated.  Her companion, who had already received the packets said, “That’s okay, they are giving it from their heart.” The team will be doing this outreach for the last time Saturday morning, July 1.

Some of the team members were able to explain the gospel during an English conversation course on June 27, and 1000 homes were reached with gospel tracts on June 28.

Have you ever prayed that your favorite team would win a sport event?  The team in Berlin is praying that Germany continues to win. The more games Germany wins in the soccer World Cup, the more open the people are to receive the gospel tracts that have a soccer theme. 

Challenging a young man with the gospel	Witnessing

Erlangen
The Northland men’s soccer team won one game and tied another. They have had many chances to share their faith. Typical of these opportunities was time spent street witnessing in Nürnberg. The day began with rain but cleared off in time for us to carry out evangelism. “Man, I had a great opportunity!” said Jeff, “I just talked to a university student about the Lord for 45 minutes. He wasn't ready to accept Christ, but he was willing to take the information with him and think over the claims of the gospel.” Most reported similar conversations.

While the street evangelism was going on, David Weinand was interviewed by the Nürnberg newspaper. An article appeared the next day with his picture.

On that same day, the Northland men played another soccer game. At supper after the game, they exchanged ideas with the men of the opposing team about different customs of Germany and the U.S. They also shared their faith. The gathering ended with Christian songs from the Northland soccer players, a simple explanation of the gospel, and a challenge to the visitors to turn to Christ. It was all well received. The Medals for Glory team is hoping many will accept the invitation to attend their last church service in Erlangen.

Northland faces german team	Sharing the Gospel after the game

June 26: Berlin and Erlangen

Berlin
The second Medals for Glory team arrived in Berlin on Friday, June 23. The team includes Baptist Mid-Missions missionary Stewart Cottle and his daughter Anne, who arrived from Russia. German-born (and speaking!)  Stephan Philippi arrived from the United States, as did Sarah Heuer. They join Jim Engle and Yvonne Smith, the two people registered for both Session I and II. After settling in, they started putting tracts into mailboxes in a nearby community. Within two days, the team put tracts in approximately 1500 homes. Please pray that the people will read and respond to the gospel.

Another outreach has been passing out free juice drinks with a gospel message attached to it. Teams have given out several hundred of these gifts. You should see the widening eyes of some of the people who received the gifts. The vast majority of people took the drinks with a puzzled thank you.

On Sunday, June 25, the teams went into downtown Berlin. They passed out literature and pursued evangelistic conversations with the thousands of people near the Brandenburg Gate.

Orientation with Dr. Rolf	Lee Chatfield, Coach Matt Hotchkin, and Nate Chatfield

Erlangen
The Northland Baptist Bible College men's soccer team has arrived. Short-term missionary Alicia Andrews will also serve with the Independent Baptist Church in Erlangen.

With the World Cup Games underway, it is quite a spectacle: cheering fans in the city by the thousands! Hundreds of flags waving! Lots of horns blowing! Music playing! Streets are packed.

Opportunities to share the gospel began on the first day of orientation and have been multiplied ever since. On Friday, June 23, the group conducted surveys and made gospel presentations in Nürnberg. One man from Ghana, John, received Christ at the train station. He asked MFG Coordinator Dave Ferguson and his daughter Katie if they would take pictures of him with his flag from Ghana. As they talked, he expressed interest in spiritual things but had many unsettled questions about eternity. He knew of Jesus Christ but was expecting God to judge his works as the basis for salvation. He listened intently to the gospel with the Bridge to Eternal Life booklet and asked several questions that expressed his strong consideration of the message. His final question was, “Can I receive Jesus as my Savior today?” He prayed in the train station, asking God to save him on the merits of the completed work of Christ.  After Dave and John prayed together, John wanted to take an “after” photo. Pray for John’s growth and for successful follow-up ministry in his home in Stuttgart.

John holds Ghana flag	John smiles for "after"

On Saturday, the Northland soccer team, together with members of the church in Erlangen, conducted surveys and shared the gospel with people in Erlangen. During the two days, the groups made over 40 complete presentations of the gospel. Later the Northland team played the soccer club of Röttenbach. The Americans were very warmly received. Pregame ceremonies included greetings from the mayor. The game ended 1:1, perhaps the right final score for a friendship game. Afterward, team members were involved in several long conversations with others about the Lord until late in the evening.

The Northland choir	Teams line up after the game

June 19: Ingolstadt

Answered prayer: A young lady received a gospel booklet that the Maranatha Baptist Bible College men’s team distributed on Monday, June 5. She put it away because she wasn’t interested. Later in the week, however, a friend brought up spiritual questions during a conversation. So she gave him the booklet to read. He saw church and contact information on the piece and e-mailed Pastor Christoph Rüttgers with his questions. This man has now visited the Independent Baptist Church in Ingolstadt several times, and he and Pastor Rüttgers are beginning a 13-lesson Bible study together. Pray that this man will come to personal faith in Christ as he studies the living Word of God with Pastor Rüttgers.

June 12—Ingolstadt, Berlin, Erlangen

MFG Session I finishes today, with Session II slated for June 19–July 3. At this point there have been no reported professions of faith in Christ from the teams’ efforts. But in two weeks as much seed has been sown as the churches normally are able to do in six months to a year. The Germans in the churches were likewise motivated to be bold with the gospel in a way they had not been previously.

Ingolstadt
"You mean you bought plane tickets to come here, just to share your faith with people like me? This I have to hear about!" So began a conversation about Christ that Adam Steen and Andrew Solarek of the Maranatha men’s soccer team had with a member of the university team they had played. The conversation was one of several that evening that lasted a few hours.

On the evening the Maranatha team arrived in Ingolstadt, they held a service where they ministered to the church family of Independent Baptist Church. The team held soccer clinics all last week with anywhere from 20 to 40 kids taking part in the action. They have held four soccer matches and have passed out tracts and invited people to view the matches at the church. Through both the clinics and the games, six people attended the Independent Baptist Church for the first time. The church is excited to see what God will do through the follow-up.

Berlin
Teams have distributed over 3000 tracts in the different venues. We have also had several discussions with strangers. A lay evangelist told the teams on Friday, “The people are coming to Berlin for soccer; we want them to leave with Jesus.”

The three outreach trips to the Brandenburg Gate area had mixed results. However, the more time the team spent there, the more experienced they became with that type of street evangelism.  Besides handing out hundreds of tracts, the team made at least four different contacts with Berlin residents who were interested in getting together again.

A Sunday afternoon “goodbye” party on June 11 was not as well attended as we had originally hoped. However, the Lord unexpectedly brought us three teenage boys, two of whom we had never met before.

Erlangen
In the past nine days the Maranatha women's team, together with members of the Independent Church of Erlangen, interviewed 400 people, finding out what they believed about Christ. They shared the gospel personally with over 120 individuals and passed out thousands of tracts. Lasting contacts were made both with team members and with the church. Lisa: “It was amazing to see how open people were and how easy it was to share the gospel.”

Even in soccer-festive downtown Nürnburg, team members were able to share the gospel with many people before the game. Julie: “I gained a good perspective on how much this wonderful country really needs the gospel. During all my interviews, not one person said to me, ‘I have Christ as my Savior,’ or ‘I believe the Bible.’”

Testimonies from MFG Workers
"[This is] a trip of a lifetime. I am just enjoying all of the blessings and opportunities that have happened. The people of the church that we are working with are great and have been a wonderful blessing the whole time that we have been here. The street witnessing is such an awesome privilege. It helps me grow and stretches me spiritually. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and privilege to serve with the missionaries and Germans here."
—Sommer Rodolph

"The Lord is truly working in Germany!  I count it a privilege to be here and be used of the Lord in ways I didn't think possible. He has been giving me boldness to share my faith with others that I didn't have before. The first game that we played on Monday was a lot of fun!  Of course, we won, which made it even better! But the amazing part is what happened after the game. We got to spend time with the ladies team that we just played. I was able to give the gospel through my own testimony to three girls!  I am praying that seeds were planted in these girls’ hearts and that soon they will come to a saving knowledge of Christ."
—Hayley McGrail

Testimonies during soccer clinics	After the game

June 9: Munich and Berlin

Munich
On Wednesday, June 7, the teams from Bad Heilbrunn met Reinhold Lorch, pastor of the West Munich Independent Baptist Church, right under the Glockenspiel in the center of Munich to set up two book tables for the distribution of evangelistic literature.  A few thousand tracts were distributed, and several good evangelistic discussions were held—and the team members were all very tired by 9:00 p.m. when they caught the train! 

The next morning, 18 refreshed workers met at the West Munich church to distribute tracts in area mailboxes. Out of the 14,000 tracts the teams had available, by the end of the day only about 1000 were left. The missionaries and Germans were all amazed at the speed that the Pillsbury soccer players had—and at the thousands of unsaved people who live within walking distance of an independent Baptist church.  In that same area they saw several Catholic and Lutheran churches, a mosque, and the Seventh Day Adventist church.  Will God open the eyes of some people to the truth of His simple plan of salvation?

Berlin
Two of the team members got a surprise with their newly acquired German phrases.  Their attempt to open a conversation in German was politely declined by two people who were later found out to be Americans!

Many tracts were handed out close to the Brandenburg Gate. Evangelistic conversations were not practical because most people seemed to be in a hurry.  One of the team members pulled out some balloons and started to make animal figures. That attracted a little more attention, and people slowed down.  After the teams finished their mailbox campaign Friday morning, June 9, they drove into the city to try it again.  

June 8:  Erlangen

The Maranatha women’s soccer team is 1-1. After their game, they passed out t-shirts to their German opponents as well as a copy of the Jesus film. On Tuesday, June 6, the Maranatha women teamed up with members of the Independent Baptist Church of Erlangen, Germany, to form 12 evangelism teams. They made 21 complete presentations of the gospel, in addition to sharing several hundred tracts. On Wednesday the same 12 teams again went out, making nine complete presentations. Three people in the two days said, “I know I need to make this decision about faith in Christ. Let me take the literature home with me and read it through one more time.”

Testimonies from MFG Volunteers

“Working side by side with the Erlangen believers through street witnessing is beginning to reveal to me the intense need for God's Word. I daily count it a privilege to be here in Germany, playing soccer and witnessing for Christ. Through the experiences gathered from this trip, I know that the team will not only draw closer to each other but will also draw closer to God and hopefully attain spiritual boldness that will last for a lifetime.”
—Abby Kalscheur

“I have been amazed by how God has worked specifically. He answers prayers and opens doors and gives the exact words needed on the streets and after games. After our soccer games we have had many conversations that have gone right to spiritual things, and God has shown His control over and over. Even in everyday things, people have been given the gospel! Wow.”
—Jen Adam

“This whole ministry has truly been a cooperative effort between the Maranatha team and the church in Erlangen.”
—Dave Adam

June 7: Bad Heilbrunn, Germany

Our most visible answer to prayer is the weather.  On Saturday, June 3, with showers coming down in neighboring villages, the weather was fine as the teams distributed tracts in mailboxes. On Sunday it did rain, even as the teams loaded into the vans, but the rain stopped long enough for them to play the match.

Wednesday through Friday, June 7-9, the teams will be in Munich to help a sister church.  They’ll be in the pedestrian area of Munich with two book tables on Wednesday evening.  Thursday and Friday they will distribute tracts in mailboxes.  The forecast is calling for cloudy skies, but no rain.

Recent Photos: Click images to zoom in:

June 6:  Berlin and Erlangen

Berlin
With their newly learned German expression of Fuer Sie, umsonst (for you, free of charge) the Berlin team members started out their week-long outreach by giving out free cartons of juice attached to a gospel tract from the local Baptist church. Most of the people gladly took the free drink while curiously looking at the small tract. A thank-you kiss from a teenage girl was politely refused. Another teenage girl expressed her belief that there could not be a God. There is a lot of work to be done here.

Dodging raindrops, the team put hundreds of soccer-related tracts into the mailboxes of local communities.

Our first evangelistic softball game was fun but poorly attended. John was the only unsaved man there. He took the tract that we gave him and started reading it. We are planning another one in two weeks.

Wednesday will find us positioned on the edge of an opening gala for the World Cup. It will take place by the Brandenburg Gate.  We are praying that we will have the opportunity to talk to nationals and internationals who are open to the gospel.

Erlangen
The members of the Medals for Glory World Cup Team finished their orientation on Thursday, June 1, with a practice match against each other and against the men of the Erlangen church soccer team. They had a great time getting to know each other. On Friday and Saturday (June 2 and 3) the Maranatha Women's soccer team did street evangelism together with German believers, using a questionnaire and the "Bridge Tract." Some of the members were continually praying during the evangelism. During the two times, there were 15 complete presentations of the gospel to unsaved people using the tract. Two people asked for more information to contact German pastors. Most of the team members were surprised at how easy it was to begin conversations.

Recent Photos: Click images to zoom in:

June 4: Bad Heilbrunn

Medals for Glory 2006 continued its advancement of the gospel in Bad Heilbrunn on Sunday, June 4.

Cross-cultural worship
The day began with worship at the Independent Baptist Church in Bad Heilbrunn, where Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries Todd and Dawn Daily serve. Visitors were present who had been contacted by the team the previous day. The Pillsbury Baptist Bible College men's soccer team ministered during the service by singing "Amazing Grace" and through testimonies from two students. They observed the Lord's Table with the German believers.  The church stayed for lunch, and fellowship was delightful around the tables.

God worked out even the weather details…
Rain throughout the morning threatened an important event for the day—a match with the local soccer club team.  The Independent Baptist Church has regular contact with this team of men, and it seeks every opportunity to enhance the relationship and communicate the gospel to them. As game time approached, the skies dried and everything proceeded according to schedule: a full match with great competition, followed by dinner back at the church for both teams. The Pillsbury men presented each Bad Heilbrunn player with a special MFG 2006 shirt, gospel literature, and a New Testament.  The Bad Heilbrunn men expressed sincere gratitude for the opportunity to compete and for the gifts.  

The competition was exhilarating. Victory in the match went to the Bad Heilbrunn team, yet the Pillsbury men and the Independent Baptist Church considered it a blessed and successful day.  Their "time on the field" and the mealtime that followed was ministry time partnering them with the ongoing witness between this church and local soccer team.

Prayer Request

•  Pray for the men of the Bad Heilbrunn soccer club as they continue to hear the Word of God.

Recent Photos: Click images to zoom in:

June 2, 2006

"I just talked to a stranger that I don't know and shared the entire gospel with him!" 

So exclaimed Pillsbury Baptist Bible College's soccer team goalie Tim Miller on the train Thursday evening, June 1. Following a full week of travel, time-zone changes, orientation, soccer practice, and games, Tim met two German gentlemen waiting for the train, and Tim did what he, and others, are in Germany to do.  He initiated conversation about spiritual beliefs and directed the conversation to a clear presentation of gospel. 

Go team, go!!

Medals for Glory Session I is underway. The men and women's soccer teams from Maranatha Baptist Bible College and the men's soccer team from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College landed in Germany on May 29, ready to go.  Four other individuals also arrived to advance the gospel as World Cup excitement accelerates in Germany.  Baptist Mid-Missions missionaries eagerly met them and escorted them to their accommodations. 

Tuesday through Thursday (May 30-June 1), a team consisting of BMM missionaries and national leadership of the Independent Baptist Church in Erlangen, Germany, conducted orientation and training in German culture, thinking, and theology as well as practical instruction on witnessing and evangelism. The men's team played against men from the church in Erlangen on Thursday evening. They prayed together regularly. The teams assimilated into one team and set out on Friday morning for different locations with a similar purpose:  to partner with local Baptist churches in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

…and it all started at the train station Thursday night, where Tim shared the gospel.

The Maranatha Baptist Bible College women’s soccer team is now in Erlangen. They began street witnessing on Friday afternoon, June 2, and they play an area team on Saturday afternoon.  The Maranatha men’s team is in Ingolstadt.  They will play four matches this week, conduct clinics for children, and witness in public areas.  The Pillsbury men are in Bad Heilbrun.  They play a local team Sunday afternoon and will host a barbecue for the German players following the match. Each will be great opportunities for gospel presentations.  

Pray for the team members and watch for updates.

Prayer Requests: