Mission Conference 2025

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From June 13th to 15th, the 36th Missions Conference of CDH Stephanus took place at the FECG Cloppenburg in Molbergen. Guests from over 13 different countries enriched the conference with encouraging speeches and interesting reports from projects worldwide.

Opening of the Mission Conference

“Do not withhold good from the needy, when your hand is able,” with this guiding verse from Proverbs 3:27, Nikolai Wall, chairman of CDH Stephanus, opened the conference on Friday afternoon. The international visitors were formally introduced to illustrate the vast reach the aid organization has achieved to this day through God’s grace.

Even though we live in times of international war, it is wonderful to see that God's children from countries like Russia and Ukraine meet here in peace and love and are able to serve God together. Yes, peace is possible in and only through Jesus Christ.

Open doors that God gives us are opportunities to do something specific. For it is He who “opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” (cf. Revelation 3:7). Alexander Konradi and Rubin Firus, the co-founders of CDH Stephanus, spoke enthusiastically about this open door at a conference in 1991, recalled Viktor Pavlovski, presiding bishop from Moldova. And because they walked through this door, so many people worldwide are being helped today. He went on to say that God still gives open doors today and encouraged us not only to see open doors, to peek inside curiously, or to linger in them, but to walk through them and actively use the opportunities to serve God and humanity!

According to further reports, Viktor Witt, a pastor from Cloppenburg, gave the closing remarks. He emphasized the importance of truly loving – in a very practical way. This begins at home, with parents consciously giving their children time while they still live at home. Everyone has opportunities in their daily lives to show love. And like Jesus, we should always take the first step – and not wait for it to come from someone else.

Prayer for peace, freedom and justice

The evening service focused on prayer. Vladimir Matveyev, presiding bishop from Kyrgyzstan, led the prayer for persecuted Christians. He, too, has experienced persecution in his own country. He powerfully testified that God does not deliver many persecuted Christians, precisely so that people in these countries—especially in Muslim countries—may still hear about Jesus. Afterward, prayers were offered for peace in war zones worldwide.

Finally, Ernst Fischer, a pastor from Cloppenburg, led the attendees in prayer for evangelism both at home and abroad. He spoke of God's Fatherly heart bleeding with sorrow for the lost. He also reported on the new project in El Salvador, where evangelism is taking place in numerous and enormous prisons. Even hardened criminals and gang members are hearing the Gospel and coming to Christ. Indeed, even the Lord's Supper with foot washing has been permitted in the prisons. God is saving these people too, and in His grace, He is causing revival to break out in the prisons of El Salvador.

Many hearts were touched through blessed work.

“Do not refuse to do good to the needy, if your hand is able” – with the same guiding verse from Proverbs 3:27, Alexander Buchmüller, pastor from Cloppenburg, opened Saturday.

He spoke of how not only CDH Stephanus, but also many other missionary societies worldwide are doing God's work, and that we should not forget this in all our gratitude. He went on to say that the work began with "only" two languages and "only" with aid in the East, but has now spread worldwide. Then he called for prayer that God would further expand this ministry.

The year 2024 in facts:

• 152 transports
• 1,790 tons of aid supplies
• 50 trips to 17 countries with approximately 640 people
• Support for 1029 children and teachers
• 626 personal sponsorships in India
• 450 students in Uganda
• 6,540 family Christmas packages from all municipalities in Germany

With these facts, Michael Akulenko, second chairman of CDH Stephanus, outlined what was accomplished in 2024 with God's help – full of gratitude looking back on the past, but aware of the responsibility that more is to be done in the future, as there are constantly further requests to collaborate in more areas and countries of the world.

In his next report, Andreas Arndt, chairman of CDH Stephanus Trossingen, spoke about the Bible school project among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda. This project, which has been flourishing for several years with the help of other projects in Uganda, has garnered significant attention and interest, even reaching as far as the Congo. Despite abundant evangelism in African countries, there is a lack of the Word of God—a lack of clear, sound teaching, which pastors and staff there yearn for.

One body – many limbs

"Be alert and awaken" – this was the call Waldemar Maier, Bishop of Cloppenburg, made to the congregations in Germany. Proclaiming the Gospel and consciously teaching the new converts – this is the goal the church must always pursue and not concern itself with other matters.

Regarding the brotherhood, he cited the following facts:

• 130 municipalities
• 12 regions
• 23,210 members
• 8 rehabilitation centers
• 4-year Bible school with 240 students

He also spoke of the positive development of increasing interest in evangelism and the annual conferences now being held, which are particularly well-attended by young people. Another source of joy is the sending of missionaries, which he hopes will mark the beginning of another chapter for CDH Stephanus: that even more missionaries will be sent abroad and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will reach the still unreached peoples and regions.

Manipur Project: School Renewal

Among other exciting projects, Leo Altmann, project manager for Manipur, presented a new Stephanus project in Manipur (in eastern India). A school located far from civilization has been renovated and now serves 85 students (including 10 orphans) and 4 teachers. This school was closed in 2020 by an American organization due to a lack of funding.

The origins can be traced back to the Scottish missionary William Pettigrew, who around 1900, full of courage and devotion to the Great Commission, went to the Tangkuhl tribes. They were a harsh, cruel people known for collecting heads, displaying them in their homes, and thus demonstrating their status. However, through his courageous preaching of the Gospel, the first souls were converted there in 1901.

Nevertheless, even today there are still unreached peoples in these regions. The school's long-term vision is that the children there will not only receive an education, but also come to know Jesus through daily worship services and later go as missionaries to these unreached peoples to proclaim the Gospel to these precious, lost souls.

After three trips, classes have already started, the building has been renovated, a well has been built, and a solar power system has been installed. However, continued support is needed to sustain this project on a monthly basis, for example, through a school sponsorship of €29 per child. Annual trips are planned for October to carry out practical and spiritual work there.

Missionaries wanted!

Another message came from India: Augustine Jebakumar, mission director of GEMS in India, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the faithful cooperation between CDH Stephanus and Inter-Mission with GEMS. He also thanked them for sending a missionary family and spoke of his hope that more would be sent. In his challenging message, he spoke of the 200 men from David's army who had insight into the times, who knew God's timing. These men, whose names are not mentioned, knew what the time was. They truly listened to God.

The church needs people like this today! He went on to say that many churches in India and Europe don't understand this time and don't recognize the urgency of bringing the gospel to the farthest corners of the world. For Jesus said in Matthew 24:14: "This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all the nations , and then the end will come."

The devil has a sense of urgency. But the question is, do we as individuals, families, or business owners possess this urgency? Or do we send aid to the East only out of guilt because we were recently persecuted there, so that we can feel better for having donated from our abundance? Or are we truly driven by the love of God?

My obedience shows that He is my Lord.

On Sunday, the word of God was proclaimed through further sermons and addresses. Georgij Babij, presiding bishop from Ukraine, pointed out that speaking in tongues, casting out demons, and performing miracles are fundamentally good things, but that our spirituality is distinguished by our works, indeed, that our spirituality becomes visible in our fruit.

With a powerful testimony from his missionary work in Africa, Dimitri Tupikov testified to the importance of having a deep relationship with God when serving as a missionary or evangelist. We should fully understand who we are and who God is, that we are only human beings and He is God.

The missionary ministry

What does it take to be successful in ministry? With this question, Igor Asanov, a bishop from Belarus, challenged people to examine their dependence on and humility before God. For talents and abilities are not enough for success. Success means that God bestows His grace, and He bestows this grace on the humble, not necessarily the talented. Two questions should help to examine one's own heart:

What do I think and say about myself? The most John the Baptist could say about himself was , “I am [only] a voice” (John 1:22-23).

How do I react when I receive criticism? David continued on his way unaffected by his older brother's criticism, for he too had a low opinion of himself (cf. 1 Sam 17:28-30; 24:15).

Brother Igor also explained that we often don't have time to fight Goliath because we are fighting brother against brother. But whoever endures criticism is like David: he doesn't think highly of himself.

The encouraging and celebratory mission conference concluded with a very well-attended children's conference. Samuel Kellinger, a missionary in Uganda, wonderfully explained everyday life in Uganda to the children. He spoke about the challenging circumstances that make life difficult for the people there and how many things we take for granted in Germany, such as free schooling, running water, or toys, are unimaginable for Africans. This final service also included prayers that missionaries would be sent out from among these children to the nations, carrying the Gospel to the farthest corners of the world.

Higher standard of living or higher standard of giving?

This leads us to some concluding thoughts. We can be thankful for the past 36 years. For the courageous and visionary brothers who founded and continued this mission. For the stable congregations that support this work. For the prosperity we enjoy. For the young people who invest so much time in the Kingdom of God, both nationally and internationally. For the older brothers and sisters who pray for the work of ministry.

But we also want to face the challenges of the future: Will we rest on our laurels or follow God's call to the unreached peoples? Will we be content to send aid to the needy or will we summon the courage of faith to send equipped missionaries to the lost—to be sent? What will we, as mission supporters, strive for: a higher standard of living or a higher standard of giving?

Let us be a generation that understands God's signs, that has insight into the times!

“This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the Gentiles, and then the end will come” (Mt 24:14).

Words of thanks

We also want to express our gratitude for all the helping hearts that made this 36th Missions Conference possible. So many volunteers in the kitchen, as ushers, or with setting up and taking down equipment. The numerous choirs and orchestras from the churches that beautifully enhanced the worship services, as well as the musical groups. The project exhibitions, creatively designed and curated. Thousands of encouraging conversations that offered comfort or admonition. In all of this, we want to thank Jesus, our Lord, who has saved us and given us this tremendous privilege of serving Him in the 21st century.

Fabian Kebernik

Municipality of Stapelage