Germans visit Texans to witness work
___By John Hall
___Staff Writer
___HUNTSVILLE--Sixty years after World War II, the Germans still are fighting. But now they are fighting to win people to Christianity.
___A group of Germans visited Texas July 20-Aug. 9, observing U.S. Baptist worship services, ministering to youth and adults and sightseeing around the state.
___Don Coleman, who coordinated the trip, traveled to Lubick Kucknitz, Germany, last summer to spend time with the group's church and teach them about American styles of youth ministry. This year the group decided to come to Texas to better understand American ministry.
___"First of all, I want to let them see a Baptist church in the United States up close," Coleman said. "A lot of things will be fun things but will interact fairly closely with church members, so they will be able to see a different worship style."
___The group traveled to NASA's Houston Space Center, the San Jacinto Museum and and an Astros game. A member of the group, Andreas Schwiderski, said the group enjoyed seeing the different sites in Texas, although they really enjoyed the shopping.
___The entire trip was not sightseeing, however. The youth also visited several churches in Texas and worked with youth in Brenham for four days.
___"The whole thing is not just activity; it's about showing a very strong Christian representation," Coleman said. "It is fun, but it is also a serious commitment."
___Members of the group said they noticed a large difference between Germans and Americans.
___"People in Texas and America are more friendly," Schwiderski said. "They come up to you and say hello. They don't do that in Germany."
___Although the Germans only visited for a little more than two weeks, Coleman hoped the trip would have a great impact on Germans the group encountered when they returned home.
___"I would hope the youth would see there are some things within the structure of the church to reach their friends," Coleman said. "My main concern is the German youth hear what Christ can do for them, because if they don't, the older they get, the harder it will be to do so."
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook