2009 The Year

so far!

Yes as most of you

know Wencke and I
were married on
March 14 th . We were
blessed to have my
brother and sister-in-
law Randy and Erica
here from California
as well as Tim and
Annette Duke from
Dallas. Tim, the
quintessential San
Diego boy and anti-
cowboy, actually
donned a cowboy hat
at the reception!

In preparation for the wedding, as we started our new life, Wencke and I scheduled
only a few meetings but as of May we are ready, willing, and able once again. In
fact we had our first weekend retreat in which I spoke 4 times in 3 days where we
Colossians 4:3 (NLT) saw the Lord use us to encourage and begin a healing work in the lives a number
of people from a church in Frankfurt. We were asked to speak to the leadership of a
Pray for us, too, that
church in the area as well as a group of leaders from a number of local churches
God will give us many
where God used us to bring a message of strength and encouragement. We have a
opportunities to speak few more meetings scheduled this summer and have had interest from some small
about his mysterious churches who would like us to come if we are able to pay our own exp enses. I am
plan concerning excited to say that we have slowly but surely been developing relationships as we
Christ. .. go. Continue to pray for us as we develop and grow into our mission. We have also
decided to say yes to join a group that prays once a month specifically for the
nation of Germany.

In other good news, I finally completed all the requirements for my German Driver’s
License now I can begin the required German Integration courses. Pray that this
does not take an entire year or more as it does for some!

1|P age
 Barbara's Story
To pass her on the street Barbara looks like any other German woman, but dig deeper and
you discover the story of Barbara and her little daughter of 4 years which takes place just
As Germany prior to Ronald Reagan’s infamous "Mr. Gorbachev - tear this wall down" address.
prepares to She had heard of other people who more and more, seemed to find a way to the West.
celebrate the 20th Asking God for a miracle, she applied for a tourism-visa to Hungary that, to her surprise,
anniversary of the was approved much quicker than the usual bureaucracy permitted. She travelled with a
fall of the Berlin friend (who also planned to flee) to Hungary with nothing more than a tent and a car.
Upon arriving at a Hungarian camp site they encountered an Austrian couple who
Wall and Iron clandestinely searched the crowds for people that “looked like” those who don't want to go
Curtain, Wencke back to East Germany. But this was dangerous. You did not know who to trust, and there
and I would like to were always German Spies around. Taking the risk they asked Barbara some questions,
share with you a and eased her suspicions by showing papers that they were Austrian. They said they knew
story we found a way to the West for her and her 4 year old daughter, but they would only be allowed to
carry a single bag. The price of their "help" was for Barbara to sacrifice her camping gear
heart moving and car. The chance of freedom would be at the cost of her possessions, perhaps her life as
from one of the well as her child’s, and the possibility she would never see her family in East Germany
leaders in a again. At this time nobody knew that the wall would soon be open. But she felt the peace of
church we serve. God and went with this couple who showed her a way through the fields.
Barbara and her daughter fled at dawn. Everywhere were heavily armed watch-towers. But
God was hiding them in the shadow of His wings as they crossed over unseen. "A
miracle", Barbara said later, when I arrived safe in Austria people who knew the path I
had taken said it is impossible to pass there without being caught. Later that day a soldier
would bring her to West Germany. She was able to stay with some Christian’s who opened
their doors for refugees, until she found a job and a kindergarten for her daughter.
"I knew God was in all of this," Barbara told us. I also know that it is possible to leave
everything behind for freedom's sake and still win more than you can ever dream of.
God was good; after some months she was reunited with her family - the wall that
separated a nation had become history.

TO SUPPORT US IN THIS Wencke and I wanted to share a part of Barbara’s story because like most Americans I have
M INISTRY no idea what life without freedom was or is. Yes it has been 20 years since the fall of the Iron
DONATIONS CAN BE Curtain but the souls of so many that live(d) in East Germany have never been released from
MAILED TO : the bars of this prison. Wounds from the oppressions of the past run deep. In fact I am told
that to this day many do not yet know what Easter or Christmas is all about. The Communist
M IKE B ATES State was the center of worship in fact if a person wanted even a basic education or decent
5 SOUTH HARVARD job they were required to take vows of loyalty and covenant to the State. As Wencke and I
PERRYTON TEXAS 79070
talked of this I was reminded that the Lord confirmed my calling to this nation while in “East
NOTE :
Berlin” in April of 2000. We know we must minister in the region of the old DDR. At this
AT THIS TIME WE ARE NOT time we have one opportunity between now and September we can plan plus a few potential
501c3 TAX -DEDUCTABLE leads and connections but believe God is going to open the gates as it were for us to bring a
message of hope and healing. Not only this but I am discovering this to be a nation still
Mike & Wencke Bates
suffering deep wounds from the past and a nation largely devoid of the Word of God even
Asslarer Weg 8 surprisingly in the Church. This is why I write to you and humbly ask that you honestly pray
35614 Asslar-Berghausen and ask the Lord if He would have you sow into this ministry. GERMANY and the Church in
Germany Germany I am sorry to say is simply not even close to understanding the principles of giving.
Few churches have or are even able to support us as we serve them in ministry. As always we
E-Mail:
thank you for and covet your prayers
mbates@web.de 2|P age
Wencke & Mike