As a college student, Phil minored in German and sensed God’s calling while on a visit to Germany. After becoming ordained in the EPC and being accepted as EPC/World Outreach missionaries, Phil and Diane live with their daughter Kelsey in Berlin, where only 1.5% of the 3.4 million people are Christians. A vast majority of former East Berliners claim to be atheists. In this hostile spiritual terrain, the Thrashes work with one of three multi-agency church planting teams.
In May 2009 the team held an open-air family festival and nearly 500 Berliners attended! The intent was pre-evangelism, providing an event that helped people sense the Kingdom of God through community and a loving atmosphere. Sandra is an example of one of the people they met at the festival who came to Christ through the team. Relational evangelism, connecting with and sharing the gospel with their neighbors, is pivotal in the Thrash’s ministry.
The handsome Family Center is a centerpiece of operations, twice-monthly worship services, events, programs for the neighborhood and prayer. Phil leads the team in prayer for the area, teaching on prayer, organizing prayer walks and praying for the team’s ministry. He and the team have found that their efforts in intercessory prayer opens doors for them to share the Gospel with their neighbors more easily. He and Diane will be conducting an English conversation course this fall as well to get to know more neighbors.
A praise for answered prayer: the church plant core group is doing very well under the leadership of national church planter/pastor, Michael and Christiane Strub, who joined the team last fall and for which funds are being raised through the 2010 EPC Benevolence Asking.
Pray:
- For additional financial support for the Thrashes and for the 2010 EPC Benevolence Asking for the national church planter/pastor.
- For workers in children’s ministry during their “Sunday Brunch with God.”
- For Kelsey’s courage to witness and lead friends to Christ and for her to have Christian friends next year.
- For God’s presence to be real in their office, their lives and their testimony.
- For opportunities to witness for Christ.
- For newer believers Sandra, Mike, Mandy and Peter