Hello to everyone who reads this. 
I'm a student from Germany, I'm 23 years old and to be honest, I've a few issues with my faith right now. So maybe that's why I'm here.
For the past six years I've been studying in an East German city. In East Germany, only 20% of the people are church members and about 1.5 % are visiting the church at least once a year. And not only in East Germany but in the whole country are atheistic tendencies rising. Every year more and more people leave the church.
Every time someone asks for my course of studies and I answer: "Theology" the mildest reaction is: "Are you stupid?" or "Why aren't you studying something real/something worth studying?" or "Oh, but nobody needs something like that!"
Every time, something about church (doesn't matter if Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox or whatever) is in the news, the majority of people writes stuff like: "Religion is bad. Why is there religion in our society still? etc."
And it's starting to get to me. When I look at the future, I'm become soo afraid. I've been always looking forward to be a pastor, it has been my dream job, but now I'm terribly afraid of it. Because I'm constantly wondering if I have the strength to be a good pastor when there's all this hard pushback I have to fight against. Moreover I'm pretty tired of people telling me how stupid and "middle-aged" I am. And I just feel like a very lone fighter.
I'm very sorry for this long, sad message.
I just saw this site and I thought it's nice to get to know people who furthermore believe in the same.
Have a wonderful evening,
Alex
I'm a student from Germany, I'm 23 years old and to be honest, I've a few issues with my faith right now. So maybe that's why I'm here.
For the past six years I've been studying in an East German city. In East Germany, only 20% of the people are church members and about 1.5 % are visiting the church at least once a year. And not only in East Germany but in the whole country are atheistic tendencies rising. Every year more and more people leave the church.
Every time someone asks for my course of studies and I answer: "Theology" the mildest reaction is: "Are you stupid?" or "Why aren't you studying something real/something worth studying?" or "Oh, but nobody needs something like that!"
Every time, something about church (doesn't matter if Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox or whatever) is in the news, the majority of people writes stuff like: "Religion is bad. Why is there religion in our society still? etc."
And it's starting to get to me. When I look at the future, I'm become soo afraid. I've been always looking forward to be a pastor, it has been my dream job, but now I'm terribly afraid of it. Because I'm constantly wondering if I have the strength to be a good pastor when there's all this hard pushback I have to fight against. Moreover I'm pretty tired of people telling me how stupid and "middle-aged" I am. And I just feel like a very lone fighter.
I'm very sorry for this long, sad message.
I just saw this site and I thought it's nice to get to know people who furthermore believe in the same.
Have a wonderful evening,
Alex
How exciting! God is totally with you. There is no way you would have a desire to pastor if God had not given it to you.
You are like a mixture of Joshua and Jeremiah. Your message is a yes or no decision- either going into Promise Land or going into captivity.
All that hear your message will have to make a decision, just as you must choose to step into God’s call for your life or go into captivity of the world.
God’s Words to Joshua and Jeremiah at the beginning of their ministry are true for you, too. They are...
To Joshua:
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:5-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Joshua 1:5-9&version=KJV
To Jeremiah:
Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 1:4-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Jeremiah 1:4-8&version=KJV
Dear Heavenly Father,
Strengthen Alex. Fill him with Your great love that cast out all fear. He is out numbered yet, You delight in being out numbered by the enemy... Gilead and David.
Father, Alex will only make it if You send him, equip him and go with him. Watch over him.
Fill him with Your Word and Your Spirit. May he be sealed, baptized and filled with Your Holy Spirit, be endued with power to witness of Your Love and Truth of Salvation in Yeshua/Jesus Christ with boldness.
Thank You, Father, in the Name of Yeshua/Jesus, amen.