Mid of November, we gathered for the mLeben closing event – a morning filled with encouragement, sharing, and fellowship. Alongside inspiring testimonies and heartfelt prayer, we also took time to celebrate with a shared meal among all the participants.

Testimonies That Inspire

One of the highlights was hearing the stories shared by participants from the past year. It’s incredible to see how God works through small steps in our daily lives:

• During a prayer walk, two participants felt led by God to approach a homeless man. 
• A game night created space for a neighbor to open up about a traumatic experience. This trust became the starting point for Gospel conversations.
• A neighbor asked a participant for prayer over a significant need – and God answered in an amazing way.
• Someone finally found clarity on how to naturally bring Gospel conversations into everyday talks with coworkers.

These stories remind us of how God can use us when we intentionally focus on Him and remain open to His leading in our daily lives.

Praying and Celebrating Together

Another deeply moving moment was the time of prayer. Together, we prayed for one another and for our friends who don’t yet know Jesus. It was powerful to witness the hope and confidence that filled the room. To conclude, we blessed and commissioned one another to continue sharing our faith in everyday life – with courage, trust, and love.

The shared meal afterward provided space for conversations, connection, and simply enjoying fellowship. It was the perfect ending to a meaningful and inspiring morning.

In October, we (Tim & Mariel) had the opportunity to attend the Exponential Germany Conference, which was centered around the theme GospelX. The main question of the conference was: How can we share the Gospel? Five key thoughts particularly inspired and challenged us. We’d like to share these insights with you. 

1. We are part of a 2000-year-old movement 

In Acts 1:8, Jesus says: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

We realized that we are, in fact, “the ends of the earth”—at least from the perspective of that time. Over the centuries, the Gospel has been like an invisible thread, passed from generation to generation until it reached us. And that thread worked! Now it’s our responsibility to carry it forward. How can the Gospel reach the next person through us? And how do we ensure that this movement doesn’t stop with us? These questions deeply moved us. 

2. Anyone can share the Gospel—it’s not about perfection 

We often think that sharing the Gospel requires special gifting or a perfectly crafted plan. But that’s a misconception. Evangelism is not an exclusive task for superheroes. The key point is trusting in the Holy Spirit as we share. When we rely on God rather than our own abilities, we are already living out the power of the Gospel. It’s about trust, not perfection. This realization gave us renewed courage. 

3. Do we have Jesus’ heart for the lost? 

One of the hardest questions we were asked was: “Do I weep like Jesus over the people who are lost without Him?” This question struck us deeply. In the Gospels, we see Jesus’ compassion for the lost. How about us? Are we truly moved by the fate of those around us? We’ve been encouraged to pray for our hearts to change and to be filled with Jesus’ love and urgency for the lost. 

4. Dream big: Spiritual multiplication 

One image that particularly inspired us comes from Bob McNabb’s book Spiritual Multiplication. He writes: 

“Sometimes I imagine sitting at heaven’s gate and greeting newcomers. Leaning back in my chair and sipping lemonade, I give high fives to those I have led to Christ as they come in. After that, those they have led to Christ arrive, and I give them, my spiritual grandchildren, high fives as they enter. Then come my great-grandchildren, my great-great-grandchildren, and so on with ever growing numbers. Am I crazy for dreaming about this happening? I’m not so sure about the chair and lemonade part, but I’m in good company in hoping to see those I’ve impacted when I am with the Lord.” 

This vision deeply touched us and motivated us to dream big. What if our efforts for the Gospel have an impact far beyond our own lifetime? It’s an incredible vision that gives us hope and drives us to invest in God’s Kingdom. 

5. Living as senders—without fear of loss 

A final point that particularly motivated us is the idea of “living as senders.” In our discipleship, leadership, and as a church, we want to be bold in sending people to plant new churches and spread the Gospel. 

Sometimes we fear letting people go—especially when it comes to valuable leaders or close friends. But we’ve been encouraged to trust that God will always send new people our way when we invest in His Kingdom. Statistics even show that churches that send people out often experience healthy growth. God has promised to generously take care of us when we are willing to let go for His sake. 

Conclusion: Let’s carry the Gospel forward with boldness 

This conference not only strengthened us in our personal discipleship, but it also gave us a bigger vision. The message of the Gospel has gripped us anew, and we want to share it boldly and with trust. We are all part of this movement, and we all have the opportunity to contribute to ensuring it doesn’t end with us. 

Let’s dream big, pray, and trust—and carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. 

Over the summer, we (Mariel & Tim) had the opportunity to spend time with our friends who don't know Jesus yet and get to know new neighbors. A special highlight was the big local festival, where we took part in the organization and were able to experience many encounters in the neighbourhood. Another highlight was a neighborhood barbecue to which we invited our immediate neighbors. It was particularly nice to meet a neighbor who was also there last year and to have the opportunity to get to know a new African family. A real gift from God was that it didn't rain that afternoon, even though rain was forecast. God also deepened friendships, for example we got to know the family of a teenager better through various encounters. A neighbor, whom we helped a lot, gave us a gift for our first wedding anniversary by cooking for us.

Although it was a difficult journey, I will truly miss my time with my friends and teachers but I am looking forward going to my B2 class next month. I will be going to a different school and I hope that I would also be able to find good friends and develop confidence in speaking the language and just enjoy this journey God had prepared for me.