As many of you know, Michael and I and a few others from our church went on a “mission” to Leipzig as part of an endeavor we call Atlantic Link. The following is the first part of a letter I am writing to all those who supported me and/or expressed interest in an update.

It is just over a week since our team returned from our mission to Leipzig, and I wanted to share the good report with all of you while it is still fresh in my mind. In a nutshell, the trip went better than any of us had dared to hope: we got a lot of good data and insight into the East German mission field, we had life-changing interactions with people who do not know the Lord, and we suffered no mishaps, crises, or offenses. I want to thank everyone who supported us financially and/or in prayer. It is very apparent to me that God was working through the whole of Christ’s body, throughout the U.S. and Germany, to make our trip as fruitful as it was.

We kept a busy pace while we were there. In five days we interviewed 35 residents of Leipzig, most of whom were invited by their friends or co-workers (early-career adults in the Free Evangelical Church (FeG) at Leipzig) and had no affiliation with any religion. We listened carefully and compassionately as they shared their thoughts and feelings�??including some that they had never shared before with anyone, even with their closest friends. At times it was hard for us to remain faithful to our promise to simply listen without challenging or sharing our own life testimonies, because many of the lives we heard were full of pain, confusion, and a hunger for truth and love.

By the end of the week, after dozens of hours of analysis, we and our German partners from FeG identified over twenty significant themes in the lives of their non-Christian friends and acquaintances. Here are a few of the themes we identified:

• Most of the people we interviewed perceived the fall of Communist rule and the subsequent reunification as a mixed blessing. For many interviewees, the abundance of life options and the need to compete (for education, work, etc.) were perceived as a sources of stress. A number of interviewees expressed concern about rising self-centeredness in society and decreasing emphasis on community.
• Most of the people we interviewed have no long-term goals or ambitions, and hope only to be content in life with a job, good health, and friends.
• Most of the people we interviewed expressed social satisfaction in having two or three close friends (people whom they trust completely) and a larger number of acquaintances. But even within close friendships, deeply personal issues or spiritual matters are rarely, if ever, discussed.
• Many people we interviewed have had few, if any, strong male figures in their lives. A significant fraction of the men expressed no interest in marriage or starting a family. A number of the women told us they were in committed relationships with such men, although they themselves strongly desired marriage and family.
• Most of the people we interviewed believe in no religion, God, or anything spiritual, and when asked to elaborate, indicated that they had never, or hardly ever, thought about or discussed such matters with anyone.
• Those interviewees who were willing to entertain the prospect of attending church indicated that a desirable church would be one that is small (not institutional), close-knit, and supportive, yet is also welcoming and accepting of outsiders, and actively helps the civic community, particularly those in need.

Our findings are still being refined. When they are complete, they will be posted at the Atlantic Link website. The findings will also be presented as a resource to the leaders of the FeG church as they consider strategies for outreach and church planting.