23 September 2026

More than a Building - Alabaster’s Impact in Darmstadt

The Church of the Nazarene in Darmstadt, Germany, officially started on August 18, 2024. Most of its members had previously been part of “Church in Action,” which functioned as a church community and as a social ministry serving refugees. When that work ended in the summer of 2024, a small group chose to stay and continue the ministry.

Today, the congregation remains small on Sundays, with around 10 people attending services, while through social and community ministries, the church reaches around 100 people overall, with approximately 50 people participating each week.

Alabaster support made a critical difference at a fragile moment. The support made it possible for the church to keep its central space in the city, a place that feels like a café or a living room, with seating areas, large windows facing the street, and a kitchen. This space has become a second home for many. Children stop by after school to do homework or talk about their day. Refugees find a place of encouragement and community. Located near public transport and refugee accommodations, the space allows people who are new to Germany to step out of isolation and be part of everyday life. Because it is part of a larger apartment building, natural relationships with neighbors have also grown.

For a small congregation serving a community many times its size, sustaining this space would not have been possible without support. Financially and organizationally, the burden would have been overwhelming. Without Alabaster funding, the church would have lost the space during a season of transition, with no realistic ability to relocate.

The stability provided through Alabaster has given this church time—time to survive a season of crisis, continue the ministry, build local networks, and seek partners who can help carry the work forward. As one participant in a German language course shared, “Every time I come here, I find new motivation to learn. My fear becomes smaller.” A neighbor from the apartment building added, “I see the wonderful work this team is doing on our street and the people who are being helped. Please tell them not to give up hope.”

Through Alabaster, this ministry continues to offer a shared space, a caring community, and hope for people building a new life in a new country.

Thanks to the Eurasia Region for sharing this story

Rev. Jerald Johnson and his wife, Alice, from Eugene, Oregon, went to Germany in 1958 to start the church there. Located on the Eurasia Region, Germany is a Phase 3 district. Currently, there is one active missionary from Germany, and there are 11 missionaries serving in Germany at the Eurasia Regional Office.

Do you feel God is calling you to cross-cultural missions work? Click here for information on how to get involved: Send Me – Church of the Nazarene

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