Most of the time, when two organizations do the same kind of work, they view each other as competitors. But that’s not how it should be in the missions world! In ministry, we’re all working towards the same goal of setting captives free, bringing heaven to earth, and making Jesus known. 

That principle is exactly what Steve and Celeste have been living out in Germany. For several years, they’ve been reaching refugees alongside cross-cultural workers from three other sending organizations. “If we had been working on our own, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are now,” Steve says with gratitude. 

It’s inspiring to see how diverse their team is with an Iranian founder, two men who have served among Turkish people, a man fluent in Arabic who served for decades in the Arab world, and a young woman who speaks French and once ministered in Africa. They all come from different cultures and have different stories, yet they share the same heartbeat: to help people encounter Jesus. It’s a beautiful picture of the unity we have in Jesus. 

And the people they serve are just as diverse. 

At one of their men’s groups, 10 men gathered around a table—men who, as Steve says, “had nothing in common” except for the Arabic language. For four of them, Arabic was a second language. “Muslim men are joining Bible studies and learning more about Jesus,” Steve says. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen several Muslim men decide to follow Christ.” 

At a recent ladies’ gathering, women from 10 different nationalities filled the room, each carrying her own story of displacement and hope. As they participated in an activity to drape one woman in the colors of The Wordless Book, their faces lit up as they realized, “Wow, my heart can be made clean again!” 

“Our hearts are full,” says Celeste with a smile as she reflects on all that God has done through their “melting pot” of a group. And we couldn’t agree more. In their ministry, we catch a glimpse of heaven—people from every nation, language, and background becoming one family in Christ. 

This December, one of Steve and Celeste’s supporting churches will deploy a short-term team to join them. Pray for God to open hearts and provide gospel opportunities through their time together.