Intrigued by a church service for those who like to sleep in?
Checkpoint Jesus Gemeinde is more than just a church. It is a community. It is a vision for young people in Erfurt. This is a place where Christian faith becomes tangible.
Checkpoint Jesus started with a dream. This dream was about Christian community for Erfurt’s young people. It began at a worship concert by Albert Frey in 2000. The concert was in Erfurt’s Luther Church during the Kirchentag.
Some people felt inspired. They wanted to develop a church for the future. The CVJM Thüringen became the place to realize this vision. Its foundation provided a framework.
The early days involved prayer. People spent time describing their vision. They sought allies. These allies would share the dream of a community. It would be a community within youth culture.
A year later, the first public event happened. It was a “prayer party.” People prayed, sang, talked, and dreamed. More young people joined. They wanted to live missionally.
In 2002, the “Event” started. It was a monthly missionary event. It aimed to inspire young people for faith. It also attracted volunteers.
People yearned for community. They desired spiritual growth. They met for sports. They celebrated together. They helped each other. They formed house groups. They developed a church service. People could invite their non-Christian friends.
Since 2003, the “Gottesdienst für Ausgeschlafene” took place. It happened every Sunday at 6 PM. Since 2016, the Gospel is shared in a relevant way. This happens at 5 PM with children’s service. At 7 PM, there is a chill-out time afterwards.
Volunteers shape the church service. Its elements are understandable. This is true even for those without Christian background. Key features include continuity and openness. It is free from tradition. It values transparency and visitor focus. It uses multimedia. Many people participate. Music is important. After the service, people eat together.
Besides the service, there are other community spaces. These include house groups and trips. People also do sports together. There is a playgroup. Various teams exist. Baptisms and weddings are celebrated. Children are born.
Today, the Sunday service attracts 70 to 80 adults. About 20 to 25 children attend age-specific programs. Around 10 babies and toddlers stay with parents. They follow the service in the seminar room.
From 2004 to 2017, Detlef Kauper was the pastor. Since 2017, Sara Hofmann has worked full-time for Checkpoint Jesus. Volunteers and donations support the work. Currently, 59 members carry and live the vision.
Checkpoint Jesus is an experience. It is a place to think together. Here you can listen and talk. You can have fun. You can meet new people.
As Christians, they believe Jesus is real. This has been their best experience. Checkpoint Jesus wants to show people how great life with God is. They meet in small groups. These are house circles. They address questions, problems, and doubts. They build relationships.
Every Sunday you are welcome to join Checkpoint Jesus Gemeinde at 5 PM.