How about stepping into a story of faith forged in the wake of German reunification? This is the story of Evangelisch-mennonitische Freikirche in Dresden. It is a tale of new beginnings. The church’s roots intertwine with the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Evangelisch-mennonitische Freikirche is young. Its story begins with Selma and Lorenz Warkentin. This couple was sent to Europe in 1960. They were sent by the Mennonite Brethren mission society of North America. Their mission was to establish new congregations. They started in Bavaria. In 1990, they ventured into East Germany.
After visits and conversations, they decided to found a church in Dresden. The North American mission society supported this. The AMBD became the responsible organisation. The AMBD is the working group of Mennonite Brethren congregations in Germany. In August 1991, the Warkentins moved to Dresden. They began building a new community. They did this through dedicated visits. They considered this church the crowning achievement of their pioneering service.
On November 24, 1991, the first service took place. Nine people gathered in their living room. Soon, the space became too small. In March 1992, they moved to a clubhouse. This also proved insufficient after two years. The church then relocated to the Diakonie. The official founding members’ meeting was held on June 5, 1993. However, the community spiritually formed a year earlier. Seven people were baptized on May 25, 1992. This was upon their confession of faith.
In September 1994, the church took a leap of faith. They signed a lease for the property on Hechtstraße. It was located at St. Pauli Cemetery. They planned a renovation and new construction. It was inaugurated in October 1996. The congregation did much of the work themselves. That same year, the Warkentins retired. They remained with the church as pastors until December 1997.
A transitional period followed. Alexander Neufeld and his family arrived in August 2001. Alexander became the new pastor.
The Mennonite churches trace back to the Anabaptist movement. This was during the Reformation in Switzerland. Menno Simons, a Dutch reformer, became the namesake. Mennonites emphasize Jesus and the Bible. They also emphasize personal faith. They practice baptism upon confession of faith. They follow Jesus in daily life. They reject war and violence. They believe in the priesthood of all believers. The community sees itself as a brotherhood. They are called to witness, serve, and make peace. Mennonites are considered the oldest evangelical free church. They are one of the historic peace churches.
The Dresden church is the only Mennonite church in Saxony. It has about 100 members. It belongs to the network of Mennonite Brethren congregations in Germany. There are approximately 48,000 Mennonite Christians in Germany. They are organized in several church associations. Many have Russian-German roots. Worldwide, there are about 2.2 million baptized members. They are in roughly 17,500 independent local churches. These churches span 87 countries across five continents. The Mennonite World Conference serves as the umbrella organization.
Today, the Evangelisch-mennonitische Freikirche continues its mission. It supports missionaries in various regions. Tikwa e.V. in Herrnhut is one example. It offers trauma-sensitive pastoral care and coaching. The Pfund family works at the WEC Missionshaus Eppstein. They help missionaries reach unreached people. The church encourages support through prayer, practical work, and donations.
So here stands the Evangelisch-mennonitische Freikirche. It is a testament to faith, community, and the enduring spirit of new beginnings. It grew from a small gathering in a living room to a global network of believers.