05.01.2024

We recently returned from Germany, where we aimed to understand the next steps in the refugee experience. Many refugees move on from Greece to Western Europe, particularly Germany, once they receive their paperwork. We were able to speak to several people ministering in Europe as well as migrants that are attempting to make Germany their home.

Why do they go to Germany?

    Social Support

    Germany provides much more robust support to asylum seekers.  For example, in Greece, asylum seekers are often housed in simple camps. If their asylum case is accepted, their government support ends within a few weeks. They are on their own after this, needing to find housing, food, and a job. Most book a flight to Germany instead. Their travel document gives them the right to travel within the Schengen area of the European Union but does not allow them to live in another country. When they arrive in Germany, they once again claim asylum. Once a person claims asylum on German soil, they will remain in Germany until their claim is either accepted or rejected. Usually, they are taken to a first reception camp where they may live for 1-4 weeks. They will be interviewed for their asylum case during this time. 

    Families will soon be transferred to an “apartment”, usually consisting of a single room, often with a shared bathroom and kitchen. They may be transferred to a number of these apartments during the next few months or years as their case moves forward in the system. Migrants are required to enroll in daily German classes. At some point they are required to take a part-time job (or at least make a search for one) while they continue their study of Germany. Many are housed in a heim during this time, which will be their last appointed housing. After this, they will find their own lodging. Many find jobs in the surrounding area. If I understand correctly, some of the social support comes in the form of a loan that is expected to be payed back. Of course, this process does not always flow smoothly. Germans tell me that many find ways to take advantage of the system and find ways to avoid contributing to the society and economy. 

Economy

    The second reason migrants are going to Germany is the economy. It is the largest economy in Europe and has strong industry. Germany needs workers, being almost 1 million short. The German employment system includes an apprentice period for unskilled workers, meaning that migrants receive any training needed from the employer. For example, one of our new friends was interviewing to be an airplane mechanic at Lufthansa. If he is accepted, he will receive the technical training necessary for his job. Many migrants tell me that they would like to stay in Greece: the climate is great, the people are nice, and the culture is much closer to what they are used to in Central Asia. But it’s too difficult to find work, so they move on.

Where are they going in Germany?

    Western Germany holds the best jobs, so many are going there. However, there are a few hotspots: Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart. Housing costs have skyrocketed in these areas, so some venture into cheaper eastern Germany to find a more reasonable cost of living.  Germany is intentionally integrating migrants into the German society and marketplace. For this reason, most migrants are scattered thinly throughout Germany. Even the smallest country towns will usually have a migrant family or two.

What happens to the believers?

    This was our biggest question. Some of our believing friends had moved to Germany. We were able to follow up with a few of these families on our trip. Many believers are isolated from other believers that speak their language. There are German state churches in every town, but these are not healthy Bible-believing churches that we would recommend for these young believers. There is a growing network of Free Evangelical churches that are quite active among migrants, so some find a spiritual home here. We visited a church which translates their service into multiple languages and conducts a Farsi service after the main German worship service. This “cell group” model seems to be one of the most effective ways of integrating these believers into a larger German church, while supporting their spiritual growth in their heart language. The biggest challenge for most migrant believers is the language and cultural barriers. The German culture feels very cold and hurried to those from the East. Germans don’t linger over the cup of tea or kebab grill like they are used to.

    We meet with brother G and his family of six in a small town an hour and a half’s drive west of Frankfurt. Beautiful townhouses are clustered around a small river with a well-preserved castle watching over from the nearby mountain. They are one of three Central Asian families in the town, and the only believers from their country. A few times last year, one of the larger communities in Cologne or Hamburg organized a conference in their heart language. “Worshipping together is like heaven,” G says. They attended the state Evangelical church in their town, but they don’t yet understand the German preaching. “Most Germans worship by listening to the church bell ring, lighting a candle, then go on with their day,” he says. This is the “Christian” Europe they were warned about as children in Asia. They have twice weekly Zoom meetings, their online “church”. This is the best expression of church that many migrants like them know. After polishing off the heaping dishes of saffron rice and lemon ginger chicken, as well as multiple cups of fragrant black tea, we sing and pray before leaving. This is the first time they prayed in the presence of other believers for months. 

Conclusions for Ministry

    Effective ministry to migrants requires a two-pronged approach: Engaging evangelism at strategic points along the refugee trail, and deep discipleship in the towns they will eventually call home.

    Greece is one of the most effective spots for initial evangelism as it is the narrowest point of the funnel along the refuge highway. Here, many migrants are meeting Christians for the first time and having their preconceived notions shattered. Here they are free from the surveillance of a strong Muslim community. They have the freedom to explore the Scriptures freely for the first time. Many have worked here with significant results over the last 10 years. The more difficult challenge is maintaining deep relationships with the believers scattered across Germany and other Western European countries. This area is under-developed, and we continue to pray that God would raise up people to meet this need.  

Thanks for joining us on this update. We are thankful for a front-row seat to the growth of God's Kingdom among all nations. We are encouraged by this glimpse into the future:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV)

~Anonymous