The Robinson Family

You may download a PDF version of this letter here.

Culture Watch

It was a significant temperature drop - about 70 degrees - as we returned to Leipzig after celebrating Thanksgiving in Florida. We were greeted by four inches of snow and extremely cold temperatures. And it continues, as “Lethal cold weather grips northern Europe” - according to the BBC headlines this morning. Nevertheless, we have been warmly received by our friends here. Besides, the Christmas Market (now running in its 525th year) is always more enjoyable when there is snow on the ground! May the peace and joy of Christ be yours this Advent season.

Praise & Prayer

✴ Praise for an enjoyable and spiritually encouraging visit in the USA. We were blessed by your acts of kindness, warmth and love toward us and we return to Germany encouraged and strengthened for the ministry. Thank you all!

1. Praise for an enjoyable and spiritually encouraging visit in the USA. We were blessed by your acts of kindness, warmth and love toward us and we return to Germany encouraged and strengthened for the ministry. Thank you all!

2. Praise that Emily has found part-time employment at Home Depot (and likes it!) and has picked up a couple photo and film projects. Please continue to pray for full-time employment in the area of film.

3. Pray for us as we return to Germany that we may „seamlessly“ resume our ministry responsibilities. Pray especially that the Lost for Words course can be in the hands of pastors by January and for a new discipleship course Jeffrey is developing.

1. Praise that Ben and his men returned safely from their tour in Iraq. Ben is in good spirits and was just given a clean bill of health. We are thankful for the opportunity to spend a few days with him and his fiancee. Ben will be stationed at Ft. Stewart, Georgia for the next 12 months. Pray for him as he processes his experiences, begins new responsibilities and adjusts to life in the USA.

2. Praise that the Lost for Words project is nearly ready for the test group. Pray for Siggi and Kathrin as they complete the editing. Pray Axel can find the time in his demanding schedule to finish the Power Point slides and CD.

Jeffrey & Katherine Robinson are here in Ohio!  Come greet them and hear with God is doing through their ministry in Germany.   Join them in the Fellowship Hall at 11:15am on Nov. 14.

Culture Watch

It was a moving experience last year to be part of the over 100,000 people who retraced the steps of the “peaceful revolution” in Leipzig which marked the fall of communism in Germany. This weekend, Germans celebrate Reunification Day - a national holiday commemorating the reuniting of East and West Germany twenty years ago. The fall of communism is generally perceived as a positive change. The reunification of the “two Germanys,” however, is a theme about which public opinion is less unified. Many political speeches will be given this weekend in defense of democracy (and by implication, capitalism).

To download a PDF file of the Summer 2010 ministry letter with a photo, please click here.

If you would like to download this letter as a PDF file, please click here.

Culture Watch

This isn’t Legoland’s newest theme park but rather the market square in Wittenberg. Normally a larger than life bronze statue of the city’s favorite son, Martin Luther, stands on the square. The statue is being “cleaned up” as part of the preparations for the Luther Year (in 2017) in celebration of Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses - an act that led directly to the Protestant Reformation. A total of 800 blue, red, black and green “Luther Dwarves” will “stand” on the square - perhaps because “sie können nicht anders” ☺ - until September 12th. Critics within the Lutheran church have called this art exhibit: “embarrassing”, “inappropriate” and “a tasteless form of indulgences” (a reference to Johannes Tetzel’s selling of medieval indulgences to raise funds to build St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome).

To download a PDF of this letter, click here.

Culture Watch

Imagine a worldview that is neither Christian nor atheist. A recent survey conducted among youth at the Leipzig train station (see photos) asked the question whether they would describe themselves as “Christian” or “atheist”. Their response was “neither nor, I consider myself to be ‘normal’ ”. Unbelief, or simply no belief in the existence of any “god” - an areligious understanding of the world - is the “new norm” among young people today. When asked whether they “would desire to live in a society where the church is present” - 43% responded “it doesn’t matter to me”. It is not that many young people are “new atheists” they simply possess no religious impulse. The concept of “God” simply does not exist, nor does it occur to them. Please pray their souls would be awakened to the wonderful Father and Creator of this world.

You can download the PDF version of this letter here.

Culture Watch

Ever since Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup, publicly displaying the German flag is no longer considered taboo. After World War II, public demonstrations of nationalism were discouraged. In celebration of the present World Cup, one man draped his house in the colors of the German flag. Fussball Fieber (football fever) has gripped the entire continent and the ever reserved Germans are hopeful that their younger and more culturally diverse team (German, Turkish and Brazilian players) will produce a championship.

Culture Watch

Rest stops for the soul. That is one way to describe the number of chapels and churches scattered throughout Germany along its network of highways. The Autobahnkirche (highway church) may be considered a modern version of the Wegstock (upper left photo). In the middle ages, these markers were decorated with Christian themes to remind travelers of the certainty of death and to preserve the memory of those saints who died before them. Medieval travel by foot was dangerous - although it may not be much improved given the speed one travels on the Autobahn today! Weary travelers may stop and rest at any one of these 35 churches. Some of these buildings date back to the 12th century while others are simple modern structures.