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Christian Nowatzky, 26, was born in East Germany. Converted at 14 through an evangelical church ministry, he sensed a calling to the ministry at an early age. Nowatzky studied theology and received an M.Div. at Freie Theologische Ackademie in Giessen, Germany and an M.A. in Biblical and Exegetical Studies from Glouchester University, GB. He has completed several internships in Germany and New York City and most recently served as a co-director of a large youth ministry in Giessen, Germany As a result of his studies and internships, he began planning for Berlinprojekt in spring 2003. After seminary, Nowatzky worked for two years in the financial industry in Frankfurt but came to NYC for a second time in November 2003 to train at the Redeemer Church Planting Center. There, he has been involved in pastoral work at Redeemer and different local daughter churches and was qualified to be a church planter by the assessment center. In December 2004, he will return to Berlin to launch Berlinprojekt with fellow church planter, Konstantin von Abendroth.

To Church Planter Christian Nowatzky, 'Junge Kirche in der Stadt' ('Young Church in the City') is more than just a tag-line for the new Berlinprojekt church plant. It is a vision that he believes will make a difference in one of the most influential cities in Europe.

"Germany that once has been the source of so much spiritual blessing to the world now sits in spiritual ruins. And Berlin, in spite of all its progressiveness, is just the most vivid example of this development." Nowatzky states emphatically. "This situation has to change! We want to see gospel-centered churches penetrate Berlin and from there, onto Germany and Europe."

A View of the City
Berlin used to be an icon of the Cold War, a place where the division of the world into two opposing blocks, the democratic West and communistic East, was most obvious. But when the Wall came down in 1989, it also became a symbol for progressive change and a new future. The aim was to rebuild Berlin into a fitting new capital for a unified Germany right in the heart of a united Europe.

Today, Berlin is a city with 3.4 million people. A walk through Berlin reveals a bustling, vibrant place. Over the last couple years, it has been specifically the generation of 20 to 35 year olds - students, young business and media professionals and artist - that have been pushing into the city. It is mainly due to this group that Berlin developed again its unique flair and cultural edginess.

With Germany being the most populous nation in Europe, Berlin is a major power-center for the European Union. It is a global city and a major European art center with three opera houses, four major art schools, world-renown symphonies, the Berlinale film festival and a wide range of theaters. Countless initiatives in the fields of theater, film, and design start here in Berlin and eventually influence Germany and many other parts of the world. German life-style companies like Puma, Adidas, Hugo Boss and Joop do their trend-scouting in the city. Recently, MTV moved their European broadcasting center from London to Berlin. Besides that, a strong alternative, artistic and very post-modern culture has been developing among those in their 20's and early 30's that can be found mainly in the more diverse and eclectic East of the city. Much like the Village and Williamsburg areas of New York City, those parts of Berlin capture the imagination of the artists and thinkers and is defining the culture and lifestyle of this generation.

One would hope that, with the influential role of Berlin, there would be Christians with a vision for the Gospel in Germany. But only 1% of Berlin's population is Christian in a biblical sense. And in spite of the country's rich religious heritage, this generation doesn't know about the Christian faith. They are spiritually interested, but mostly opposed to Christianity. With a largely atheistic culture from East Berlin integrating with a materialistic West Berlin, the city has become a secular mecca.

"Most of the churches in the city are very small, inward focused and not relevant to our generation and the urban context." Nowatzky explains. "Among our non-Christian friends in Berlin, the church and the Gospel no longer has credibility."

The younger generation has become increasingly disillusioned with the breakdown of basic values and systems - the East-German government, family, guaranteed prosperity. With this disillusionment, they have heavily bought into post-modern attitudes and thinking. They want to focus on the here and now, rather than the future. Being real and authentic is important to them. Easy answers as well as many absolutes and values of the parent generation are not persuasive to them.

But this climate reveals two basic needs that can be met by the gospel and the church in a supreme way: the need for reliable authentic friendships, and the longing for a deep, real spirituality. If these needs were addressed in a relevant way, a real interest in the gospel could occur. "There is no them and we," Nowatzky ruminates. "We aren't 'building bridges' between cultures. We want to be in the generation – incarnate within the community. It is all about reaching our friends, our peers, people with longings like us."

"While there is some biblical Christian influence in Berlin, there is no single relevant church for the new post-modern generation in the center of Berlin - those in their 20's and 30's. There are a small number of lively churches that exist. But both Catholic and Protestant mainline churches are experiencing a drastic decline in membership that has never been seen before."

Get Involved Prayer and financial donations are needed for the success of this project. Please consider getting involved and finding out more by going to www.berlinprojekt.org. You can also get regular updates by registering in the newsletter section. If you want to make a donation to the Berlinprojekt please make your check payable to Redeemer Presbyterian Church or Church Planting Center and put "Berlinprojekt" on the memo line.

Building the Vision
Given this landscape, Nowatzky realized that Berlin had a crucial role in the cultural formation of Germany and Europe, which had not yet been fully recognized by the German church. He was also deeply touched by the lack of perspective and hope among his amazingly dynamic and progressive generation.

But his preparation for this task started even earlier: In his late teens he already felt a calling into the ministry. Later he went to seminary, gaining experience in building a large local youth ministry and completing several internships both in Europe and the States.

When in 2003, he was joined by a friend, Konstantin von Abendroth, to prepare for a new church plant in Berlin, the Berlinprojekt crossed the line from a mere dream to an actual project.

As planning continued, they garnered the support of both Redeemer Church Planting Center in NYC and the Evangelical Free Church in Germany, and developed their vision for the kind of church it would be: 1. A gospel-centered church. A church shaped in all aspects by the implications of the gospel - that is, the good news that through Christ the power of God's kingdom has entered history to renew the whole world. 2. A church for God. A church where God is at the center of all we are and do. A church that follows his will making the chief end of all plans to glorify him. 3. A church for others. A church that serves Berliners that do not know God. A church not (just) for us, but for those around us. 4. A place of love, expressed through loving deeds and words - not superficial friendliness but true interest, acceptance and compassion. 5. A true community where people pay attention to other people's life and at the same time share from their own life. A community where classes of people love and respect each other that could not have gotten along anywhere else. A community that welcomes all people alike no matter who or how they are or what they believe. 6. A church where hearts are changed. Where people by the power of the Holy Spirit overcome troubling weaknesses and destroying habits, are freed from addictions and self-centered desires, discover and use their gifts and are transformed into the image of God. 7. A place in the city and of the city - a church that loves the city, that delights in its energies and potential but also shares in its suffering. A church that aims to change and to serve the city wherever possible. 8. A culturally relevant church. A church that is attractive and appealing in terms of its appearance. A church that welcomes the arts and communicates well to Berlin's people with relevant programs, music, language and design. 9. A church that cares for the poor, the weak and the rejected. A church that invests time, money and other resources to perform deeds of mercy and justice to those in need. 10, A part of a greater movement. A church that understands itself as being part of a bigger movement. A church that ignites and supports a movement to change the people and the city of Berlin. We will partner with other gospel centered churches and projects regardless of their name or affiliation aiming to make known the gospel of Jesus Christ in all of Germany and Europe.

"We have to believe and communicate the supremacy of the Gospel," said Nowatzky, highlighting one central point of the vision. "In Germany, the Christian scene is bombarded by secularism. It's not enough to say: 'The gospel is the only way' - you have to be able to explain it and make sense out of it to people that do know what they are talking about."

The Nitty-Gritty
The Berlinprojekt website proclaims, "Attention! There is no church yet, no building, no congregation, just a devoted group of people and this website." But in spite of this modest claim, the groundwork is already being laid.

Fundraising has been a steady effort with funds coming in mainly from German churches and individuals. "The Christian scene in Germany is small and there is no culture of individuals giving to individuals in Germany due to the heavy engagement of the government in funding matters of public and private life," he explains. "Therefore, we have to approach churches and individuals in the U.S. to financially support Berlinprojekt."

Along with training and fundraising, Nowatzky has also been connecting with other interested individuals to build a Start Team. So far he and his colleague gathered 12 devoted people: students, artist and young professionals of different professional backgrounds. "The group is a great representation of the generation we want to reach out to. And it has been an amazing experience to see God bring them together for this purpose." Nowatzky explains.

In January of 2005, this Start Team will begin regular meetings with the goal of defining the vision and future face of the Berlinprojekt in detail. They plan to invite non-believers to open discussion groups at their homes using a non-threatening, introductory course (Christianity Explored) to teach and address questions about Christianity. Soon after, they will start unofficial worship meetings. Nowatzky concludes: "We want everyone to experience authentic Christian community, where people can see what Christian worship looks like. Everything will be explained in understandable language, but it will be a real service and a real church."

In addition, various other activities such as a music school, campus outreach and profession-specific groups are planned to build contacts to students, young professionals and people connected to the arts.

Living the Life
With all this preparation, Nowatzky stresses the need for a vital spiritual life that is lived among non-Christian friends and with an appreciation of the current culture. "You have to be part of your generation and love its culture to reach your non-Christian friends. When I realized how much I am myself a post-modern individual, it didn't scare me – it released me. There is a force in the gospel that hits right into the longing and searching of post-modern people. And it is about time that our friends get the chance to hear the gospel in a relevant way."

Berlinprojekt is still in the planning stage, but I feel like Nowatzky is telling me about a church that already exists. He even mentions the vision for other future projects in Frankfurt and Hamburg. As he talks, he watches the bustle of the streets here in Manhattan, but I think he really sees the young people of Berlin who are still waiting for the Gospel . . .