“Leben Kann Gelingen”. That’s the slogan echoing through the Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Westend, a vibrant community rooted in a rich history.
Established in 1894, the Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Westend began with two dedicated women. Mother and daughter, bearing the meaningful name Licht, opened their Westend villa. Their aim was to share a message of hope with children.
The light of their message soon attracted not only children but also their families. The life-changing power of the Bible resonated with more and more people in Westend. Graf Eduard von Pückler enlisted Dr. Lepsius and Dr. Faber to support the Licht family.
In 1895, Freiherr Andreas Graf von Bernstorff joined the effort. He organized a series of public lectures. These took place in the Moritzsaal of the Restaurant Ahornallee. This initiative led to the founding of the Christliche Gemeinschaft Westend-Charlottenburg. Freiherr Andreas Graf von Bernstorff became its president.
During that time, founding associations was a trend. Just two weeks later, the community acquired a dilapidated property. It was located at Spandauer Berg 2. Together, they renovated the building. In February 1896, it was inaugurated. The renovated building bore an inviting sign. It read “Christliches Vereins-Haus”. The name reflected its purpose: Christian, modern, and open to all.
That same year, the Jüngling-Abteilung was founded. Shortly after, the Jungfrauenverein followed. The youth of the community joined a worldwide movement. Today, it is known as Deutscher Jugendverband “Entschieden für Christus” e.V. (EC).
Later, the community was renamed Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Westend. This emphasized that it was not a sect. Instead, it was an initiative within the Evangelical Church. Today, it belongs to the Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz.
The Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Westend is part of the Gemeinschaftswerk Berlin-Brandenburg. This is associated with the Evangelische Gnadauer Gemeinschaftsverband e.V.
Today, the Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Westend welcomes everyone. It is a place for those interested in God, the questioning, the doubting, the searching, Christians, young and old. Regular services are held every Sunday at 10.30 am. A children’s service runs parallel to the regular service. There are also special family services.
Throughout the week, the Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Westend offers various activities. These include teen meetings, events for youth and young adults. There are also house circles, a Bible circle, prayer meetings, and game nights. They even provide a service for the homeless.
The Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Westend lives by its slogan “Leben Kann Gelingen”. With this slogan, they want to connect to the tradition of their founders. They want to translate the best news of life. They want to do this in a contemporary, understandable, and practical way. The abbreviation LKG stands not only for Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft. It also stands for a conviction from the Bible.
As you stand here, remember the journey of this community. A journey that began with a simple act of sharing light. A journey that continues to illuminate lives today. The Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaft Westend extends its invitation. Come and experience the possibility that “Leben Kann Gelingen”.