Dear Friends of Akebulan,
2017 was a year of changes. This came especially when from March on, Pastor Peter started working as an ecumenical youth worker for „ELM“ (Evang.- Luther. Missionswerk Niedersachsen) which included travelling. At the same time, he was continuing his diverse part-time jobs in Berlin. Why did he do this? On the one hand, Pastor Peter’s jobs in Berlin were only temporary. On the other hand, he was planning to move to Hermannsburg in October for a study year to be able to do his Master in intercultural theology. So from this time on, Pastor Peter was extremely busy and no longer able to invest as much time and strength in Akebulan as before.
We are very grateful, how open our brothers and sisters in the Lord reacted to these changes and how much they were ready to help out in so many areas! Especially Evangelist Ben Akpalu started coming every Sunday despite his demanding work. He was ready to receive instructions in many fields to get an overview what needed to be done. Pastor Alex Bierhals, too, was ready to overtake more of the leadership responsibility. Together, they are now Pastor Peter’s substitute co- pastors.
What did all this mean for Akebulan? It meant that we were in need of asking our members to help out. Since Phinissia was finishing school, did several jobs and finally left to go to Ghana for a year and Steffi also moved to Hermannsburg in October, their engagement now was also missing in the church.
Deacon Charles supports them as Eldest. Brother Karlheinz offered to overtake the children’s Sunday School which was a very great relief! Sis. Christine with her small baby twins and Brother Flavor who is working night shifts make it to come on time so Christine can support the worship team with her beautiful voice and ability to lead the praise and worship. Brother Peter O. and Sister Enisa have also overtaken more duties and the new members Sisters Susanne and Ursula engage themselves manifold, too.
When we came to Akebulan’s Christmas Service in December, we were very excited to see how smoothly everything is going, and also the beautiful changes which had been undertaken: The kitchen had been separated from the entrance area with curtains. Its shelves had been enlarged, the sink had been exchanged and the worktop been renewed. The area with the boiler had also been divided from the toilets with curtains and the shelves there had been rearranged. Outside in the garden, the flower-beds had been freed from weeds and new plants had been planted. The showcase had been rearranged in a new style and was looking very fashionable. We were pretty much impressed! For the visible changes, we especially give thanks to Bro Karlheinz and Sister Ursula. The last and Bro Peter O. are also supporting the worship team. Sister Susanne is helping Bro Karlheinz with the children. Sister Enisa is organising the meals after service and reminding the church, when a member is celebrating his or her birthday.
What happened besides all these changes?
We had three births and one case of death: Our beloved Brother Winfried Grambow, called „Shalom“, went to hospital for a treatment. There, when his condition seemed to increase, he suddenly died on the 3rd May. We realized, that from an earlier remark of his, one could guess that he must have sensed death approaching him. But for us, even though he had been kind of weak sometimes, his death came rather unexpectedly. We were sad about losing him, but also grateful for the time we had been able to share. Special thanks to Bro Peter O. who faithfully accompanied Bro Shalom on his physically uneasy way to our church! Shalom’s burial took place on the
22nd June, and on July 8th, we held a festive remembrance service for him. Pastor Kingsley Arthur, with whom Bro Shalom had worked together for many years, came to share his memories.
Our three sweet new babies Kylie, King (twins) and Talita were born in spring and summer. We congratulate the families of Brother Flavor and Sister Christine as well as Brother Karlheinz and Sister Wachuka and rejoice together with them!
We were also able to celebrate two bigger birthday parties in May which were the second birthday of Noel and a special birthday of Bro Peter O. Both families partly travelled throughout Germany to celebrate with them! These were joyful festivities and we were happy and thankful for the sunny weather that allowed us to go outside and use our beautiful garden!
Our Catholic neighbours, again, came on the Feast of Corpus Christi for a devotion with us. On Pentecost Monday finally after several years, there was another festive ecumenical church service with them and our Lutheran neighbours in Borsigwalde. This, we are very grateful for!
Another reason to be thankful, for us, is that our Inclusion- Gospel project is existing for over five years, now. It’s a joy to see the ongoing excitement of our faithful members who are a part of it since the beginning, and we are grateful for the growing relationships with them. Regularly, guests peek in and new members join the choir. Another highlight in the work was our third visit to Britzer Garden with hot sunshine weather at the end of July together with Akebulan and many friends!
We are very grateful for Pastor Daniela Nischik from the Evangelical Blind People’s Service in Berlin who is taking care of the choir during our absence. We hope that by the grace of God, another sponsorship from Aktion Mensch e.V. will be granted, soon, so that we can pay some honorariums to African musicians to assist her.
In June, our network activities brought us another yearly conference of APPA (African Pentecostal Pastors‘ Association e.V.).
The ecumenical group „Christ sein interkulturell“ (Csi; To be a Christian in intercultural contexts) met regularly during 2017 and is planning another encounter- meeting in March which will take place at “Gospel Believers International Ministries e.V.“ and will be hosted by the youth of the church. In addition, together with Pastor Joshua Lupemba, they are organising another workshop in 2018. This will be done in the form of a discussion- battle with young people from within different churches, and also from outside. The goal is to reach the younger generation, hear their voices and integrate them and their ideas in the ecumenical and intercultural relationships which we are building.
In November, Akebulan celebrated its 11th anniversary. Our members did this as a rather small, internal celebration with the main focus on praying for the future and new visions for the church. This was followed by our yearly Christmas Service that we mentioned above, as well as our yearly Half Prayer Night at the end of the year. At the beginning of 2018, the yearly membership meeting has been held, already.
We give thanks to all members of Akebulan and to our guest preacher Pastor Ralph Webster for their faithfulness and engaged cooperation in all areas including the technique, administration of finances, kitchen, cleaning and gardening. We give you special thanks for your increased help during our time of absence! We give thanks to our net-
working partners and our umbrella organisation Mülheimer Verband e.V. for the ongoing positive collaboration, to Aktion Mensch e.V. for another opportunity to apply for support, as well as to all our sponsors for their friendly backing, to Michael Fleischer for his professional administration, to our landlord Dr. Knappe for the good tenancy and last, but not least, to everybody who supports us in prayer, as well as to our good God for His mercies and manifold blessings!
We wish all of you a blessed 2018!
Yours sincerely;
Peter and Steffi Arthur and Akebulan e.V.
http://www.akwaba-gospelchor.com/index_ger.html
Räuschstr. 37, 13509 Berlin, Tel.: 030/ 773 28 487; Email: info@akebulan-gm.org; Web: www.akebulan-gm.org; Chairman: Pastor Peter Arthur;
Tax No: 27/ 656/ 55070; District Court No: VR 25928 B; Bank Account:
Ev. Darlehnsgenossenschaft, IBAN: DE38 5206 0410 0003 9085 18, BIC: GENODEF1EK1