Day Four: trains, pains, brains, and bonding for life.

The one consistent thing about our trip was the fact that we were going to have to spend a lot of time in the metro stations riding the trains. The U-Bahn” is a Berliner’s best friend. The stations were clean and safe. The trains ran with amazing German efficiency and accuracy. The ride was not as fast as the Moscow screamers, but not glacier-slow either. And the environment was definitely “target rich” for ministry and fellow shipping with the locals. We had some of the most amazing encounters on the trains. Ask one of the team members to tell you a story.

This ain't your daddy's East Berlin

I guess one of the things that blew me away about East Berlin is the fact that it is not an old, gray, oppressed blocky neighborhood. Since the fall of Communism there, it is being renovated and has become the haven for all kinds of young professionals and creative artistic types. Close to the Ann Frank apartment, in a secluded alleyway, there is a large piece of art nestled around galleries and coffee houses. For a mere pittance, one can make it come to life. Don’t ask me what it is, or what it means. Just take it for what it is: art!

In Praise of The Platz!

By now if you have had any dealings with the Berlin mission team, they have undoubtedly told you about some kind of encounter with a person in Alexanderplatz. This video is taken in the dreaded platz. I say dreaded because they is where some of the “worst of the worst” hang out. And it is a target rich environment for street evangelism and for sharing the grace and mercy of God. Jesus said that those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick. And here is where we saw some of the most spiritually/physically/emotionally sick people on this trip. And where sin does abound, grace does much more abound. We saw miracles nothing short of the Book of Acts performed in this square. I was spit on and had beer poured on me here. But I also saw healings and miracles on this same piece of ground. In this video we have some real targets of intense prayer to this date. Ask us about “Screamie”, “Soccer boy” “Bosti” and others in this video. And some night when you are laying in your bed, please mention this piece of ground by name in your prayers. This is the place where 500,000 people rallied and prayed demanding freedom; and the Berlin wall came down soon after. This is also the place where walls still come tumbling down.

The Dynamic Duo

I think Solomon said it best when he said that “two are better than one” in Ecclesiastes 4:9. Here is how the New Living Translation puts it: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” There aren’t really any words I can put down to tell you about the amazing effectiveness of Scott and Brenda Robson during this trip. God told me at one time early on that He had “hand-picked this team”. And I became really confused when they later said that they would not be able to go on this trip. But God knew what he was talking about. And these two spiritual warriors made an amazing impact on the people of Berlin. People fight battles in different ways and with a plethora of weapons. Brenda used her art talent to minister to street people like I could never have imagined. And Scott simply showed himself to be a spiritual warrior king in all his dealings. He was a great mix of humble servant and prayerful priest. And together, they make a threefold cord that will not easily be broken. (Eccl 4:12) It was an honor for us to have served in Berlin with them both.

Beefcake in Berlin

Scott Robson kisses the Berlin Wall

Wall Musings: 5 Videos Taken From The Berlin Wall

Here is Jeff Serio of European Initiative explaining the East Wall Gallery.



Scott Robson explains controversial Berlin Wall picture.



Rolf explains what the dead zone was and Jeff Serio talks about what it is like to be a Christian missionary in East Berlin.



Steve Foss has a brief explanation of what laid on the other side of the Berlin Wall.



Brian vandalizes the Berlin Wall