How a Secret Police Training Block became a House of PrayerRebecca Swarbrick - 15 Feb 2012

Your giving this month has helped to support the Polylux 24-7 community, who live and work on a large, windswept housing estate in North Eastern Germany.

The Datzeberg was formerly a model Communist development , just outside the town of Neu Brandenburg, where Stasi ( secret police) families lived and were trained. It is now one of the poorest, most depressed and deprived parts of Germany with a high proportion of the local residents being atheist. There is no church on the Datzeberg.

Following his visit to Germany last week Ian Nicholson writes:

Following several years of praying and helping with community projects Polylux have now been given a space to develop as a prayer room. The children have no concept of prayer, church and faith but are opening to the love of God. A Christmas carol service attracted over 300 this year and opened even more doors into lives and families.

When community members drive up each day the children run excitedly alongside the car and mob them and  I was so impressed and challenged by how 24-7 prayer is now being expressed through sacrificial living and loving.

Ralf and Katerina Neumann were married this summer and have now moved onto the estate to demonstrate their long term commitment to the local people, who often feel left and overlooked. Another couple are planning to join them in the next few months. It is hard and lonely work but God is changing the estate; our occasional visits are a lifeline and encouragement ... and a chance to see the Kingdom of God being expressed in wonderful ways.