How We Got Started: Germany
The Birth of the Movement in Germany
The Charis Alliance actually originated in Germany when Alexander Mack formed a house church in 1708. That group migrated to the United States in 1720 to flee persecution, and God grew them into the network of Charis churches we have today.
As our network of churches grew in the US, they formed a missionary-sending arm (now Encompass), and in 1969, Roger and Nancy Peugh became the first Charis missionaries sent back to Germany. They went to Stuttgart where they joined and eventually started leading a pre-existing prayer group associated with the German Missionary Fellowship. The Peughs intended to develop that group into a church, but they met resistance, because in German culture the only credible denominations were Protestant and Catholic—everything else was feared to be a cult.
Despite that challenge, the church did incorporate in 1976 and was turned over to German leadership in 1987. This congregation still exists as a Charis church today. Reiner and Susanne Ehmann were early members of this church, who became Charis Ministry Partners and were vital to the church’s longevity.
The Growth of the Movement in Germany
In the early 80’s, God sent a wave of missionaries to join what He was doing in Germany. John and Becky Pappas went to the Stuttgart church where they served in youth ministry. Edna Haak also joined, who served in evangelism, discipleship, women’s ministry, and refugee ministry.
In the mid-1980s, these workers left the church in Stuttgart to go plant a church in Aalen. They successfully planted a church there, but it never became a member of the Charis Alliance.
Dave and Cathy Manduka went to Leonberg with the intention of planting a church, and in the fall of 1983, God connected them with a pre-existing Bible study group that wanted to form a church. Dan and Denise Ramsey also joined the work in Leonberg during that time. The church institutionalized and still meets today, but they never joined the Charis Alliance. As one of the founding members of this church, Frank Puhl would go on to serve the Alliance in various ways.
Since then, we’ve sent a number of other missionaries to Germany such as Dan and Rachel Jackson, Steve and Celeste, Jim and Fran Frederick, James & Sibylle Belton, Kip and Mary Cone. Mike and Letitia Yoder also went, and they were the only evangelical witness in a district of Berlin with 180,000 people!
A Call to Prayer and Support
Today the Charis Alliance has one church in Germany with two more that are loosely affiliated with our movement.
Pray for the Stuttgart church to grow. They need skilled musicians who can lead worship, and they desire for their few families, young people, and men to all find meaningful fellowship within the church.
Pray for the future of the Stuttgart church, as they are currently discipling two godly men who they hope to install as elders/pastors.
Ask God to raise up at least two more Charis churches in Germany so that the country can enjoy doing ministry as a fellowship of churches.
