Dear praying friends,

If you are following along on Instagram, you have been seeing the videos I have been posting updating people on the construction progress in our new space.

But you have to check out this video to get more of an idea behind the "Why's" of this project. Can you do me three HUGE favors?

First of all, after you watch the video (or even without watching the video!), can you please pray for this project and for the creative community in Berlin that we are trying to reach? To be honest, if you do that and don't do the next two things, that's fine. There are different numbers, but according to this website, there are 20,000 artists and 160,000 people employed in the cultural and creative community. According to this website there are 265,000 in media and creative industries. The city of Berlin says that 42% of the freelance artists in Germany live in Berlin. So - pray for the artists in Berlin - there are so many of them!

Second, if your church is looking for a project to support, could you pass the video on to your missions committee? Here is an easy link to share:

https://youtu.be/kqM2VsdFblU

Third - and I know this might be a big ask, but if God brings someone to mind while you are praying for this project and for artists in Berlin who might be interested in supporting this project - can you send them the link to the video? Please DO NOT post the link on your social media accounts, if you have one - I would like to know that the people who have received the link to the video have been personally invited to watch it!

Thank you!!

Some of you have heard that Elissa is part of a Medieval Reenactment Guild. She goes to trainings every other Thursday - where she has become quite adept with the longbow! This guild has been invited to be in TV shows, commercials, and to perform at different festivals throughout the year. They also are part of putting on an event hosted by a local Salvation Army chapter every year on Halloween, and while the costuming is medieval, the focus of the event is on Reformation Day and Martin Luther. Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. This year Elissa will be part of the performance sharing about Martin Luther translating the Bible as well as helping run activities for the kids who are coming. Pray for her on Friday!

Some other requests:

1. Keep praying for the visa process for us, our new staff, our resident, and our interns. In many cases, the process is advancing as it should be - but because of some of the challenges we are working hard to find a new process, especially for long-term interns. Pray that we can figure it out!
2. A Give-Back couple who has been serving with us for a month heads out tomorrow. They have been great! Pray for them as they return home.
3. Book projects. We have several book projects that we are working on moving forward. Pray for us to be able to make meaningful progress.
4. We have an upcoming art sale (more information soon!) and are getting in touch with a lot more artists! Pray for us as we build these relationships.

How can we be praying for you?

Blessings,

mike