Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West

Can a church be more than just a building? At Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West, it’s a resounding yes. Known locally as “Kirche im Hof,” this Baptist church, part of the Bund Evangelisch-Freikirchlicher Gemeinden in Deutschland, is a testament to community and inclusion. Located on Friedrich-Ebert-Straße, Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West is home to a diverse congregation of 240 members, families, and friends. Twelve years ago, they made a pivotal decision to become a truly international community. Back then, few migrants were part of the Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West. Today, a third of the congregation has a migrant background. Attendance has blossomed, growing from 60 to 90. Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West has embraced the needs of its diverse community in remarkable ways. The church has provided sanctuary to 16 individuals since 2010. They’ve opened their doors to migrant communities. They’ve actively welcomed refugees from Syria and Iraq since 2015. They even employed an Arabic-speaking staff member in 2015. In a beautiful act of collaboration, 40 Arabic-speaking refugees helped build the community center expansion in 2016. To further their community outreach, Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West established the “Leben teilen” association in 2022, a social and educational initiative. The church also became a recognized family center for the state of Hesse in 2020. Every aspect of Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West, from services to community events, is designed to be inclusive. German services are translated into Arabic, English, Persian, or other languages as needed. The Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West hosts a diverse range of activities, from an international hiking group and gospel choir, to empowerment programs for migrant women and a family cafe. Patenschaften, or sponsorships, connect established residents with newcomers and long-term migrants. A women’s oasis offers support to all. Recognizing the spiritual needs of non-German speakers, services are held in Chinese and Tigrinya every week, hosted by visiting congregations. Bible study and prayer groups are also available in multiple languages. Migrants actively participate in staff groups, contributing to everything from the winter playground and young adult groups to children’s church and catering at community festivals. Specialized programs like “Learn German with Friends”, a sewing course, and meeting spaces for Ukrainian refugees further reflect Ev.-Freik. Gemeinde Kassel-West’s dedication to inclusion.