Building

Once the bedrock of the Reformation, East Germany is recognized today as the most atheistic region globally, making Berlin the capital of atheism (72% of its 3.85M citizens identify as non-religious while evangelicals are part of the 0.5% of other religions).

The overall evangelical landscape in Germany sits at 2.1%. Biblical outreach and ministries are critically needed in the German-speaking area.

This presents challenges and opportunities for a gospel-centered biblical frontline in downtown Berlin. The Eckstein Gemeinde is a church that makes disciples by reaching unbelievers and teaching believers who Christ is and what he has done for us.

WHO WE ARE

By God’s kindness, the Eckstein Gemeinde Berlin began in 2016 and has steadily grown. Today we are a multiethnic, bilingual church family with elders, interns, and church-planting teams in training. We worship, learn, and serve together through Sunday gatherings and home groups. Our partnership with the EBTC helps us train people in Scripture, preaching, counseling, and music for the building up of the church. All of this is small in the world’s eyes, but precious to the Lord.

• 114 members, with 25 preparing for membership
• 4 elders, 5 pastoral interns
• 2 Sunday services and midweek home groups
• 2 church-plant teams in training

THE NEED WE SEE

Berlin is home to many who do not identify with any faith, and expository preaching is rare in our immediate area. We are surrounded by students, expats, spiritual seekers, and neighbors from Muslim backgrounds. Alexanderplatz and Ostbahnhof bring the nations to our doorstep. We believe the Lord has placed us here to be a bright, steady witness to Christ’s grace.

• A deeply secular context with little expository preaching in our immediate area.
• Strategic placement at Ostbahnhof, a major hub with about 100,000 daily passengers, connecting us to the city and the nations.
• An international, growing corridor around us, including hotels and new businesses, bringing constant contact with seekers and skeptics.
• An opportunity to strengthen preaching, counseling, and church planting for long‑term gospel impact in Berlin and beyond.

HOW WE SERVE

• Evangelism: We share the gospel in our neighborhood and at Alexanderplatz, in German and English, trusting God to open hearts.
• Cross-cultural outreach: Leaders with lived experience help us love and reason with Muslim neighbors gently and respectfully.
• Apologetic ministry: We aim to equip the church to defend the faith well.
• Christian room rental business: We are grateful for a Christian room-rental operation that helps offset ministry costs and welcomes many Berliners. In 2025, the turnover has grown 30%, creating conversations and opportunities to serve with integrity.
• Expository Preaching: Faithfully preaching God’s Word according to God’s Word is the premise on which we expose the Scriptures when we open them together.
• Biblical counseling: With ACBC-certified and trained leadership returned in 2025, we aim to serve church members, unbelievers, and strengthen churches through compassionate, Scripture-shaped care.
• We seek to speak the truth in love and to adorn the gospel with good works. Our prayer is to be faithful and patient, not hurried or flashy.

WHAT WE ENVISION

• A faithful gospel presence in Berlin’s city center that is clear, patient, and rooted in Scripture
• A counseling ministry that serves believers and unbelievers with real hope and strengthens churches across the city
• Trained workers sent to plant and support healthy churches in Berlin and beyond, including English‑speaking contexts and northern Germany
• A stewarded business arm that models integrity, funds ministry sustainably, and creates everyday touchpoints for witness
• A welcoming home for the nations, where 25+ represented peoples learn Christ together and grow into mature disciples
• Transparent, prayerful stewardship so every euro advances preaching, discipleship, counseling, and church planting