Discover
The identity of the nation
Germany is Europe’s largest economy and one of the most influential countries in the world, home to about 84 million people at the heart of the continent. Its history, philosophy, music, and engineering have shaped Western civilization, and it was from its soil that the Protestant Reformation set out in the sixteenth century, one of the greatest spiritual movements in the history of the Church.
It is precisely this nation, birthplace of Luther, of Bach, and of countless theologians and missionaries, that lives today one of the deepest crises of faith in the West. For the first time, Germans with no religious affiliation have outnumbered the combined total of Catholics and Protestants belonging to the official churches. Centuries-old churches are being sold or repurposed, and worship attendance has plunged to a few percentage points. The Christianity that flourished here has become, for many, a distant cultural inheritance.
At the same time, Germany has welcomed millions of immigrants: Turks, Syrians, Kurds, Afghans, people from groups who in their homelands would rarely hear the gospel. Today these communities live in Germany’s major cities, many of them little reached and searching for belonging. The country that once sent out missionaries now receives, within its own borders, the nations that need Christ.
There are signs of hope. Immigrant churches are growing and bringing new vigor. Evangelical communities, though a minority, keep the flame of biblical faith alive. Young people, dissatisfied with the emptiness of attachment to material things, are searching for meaning. Germany still holds in its spiritual memory a revival that could be rekindled.
Praying for Germany means interceding for a cultured, orderly, and generous people who have largely lost the faith of their fathers and need to rediscover the living God. It is asking that the birthplace of the Reformation burn again, and that the nations now living within its cities find salvation there.
- Germanic tribes inhabit the region and resist the expansion of the Roman Empire.
- 800 Charlemagne is crowned emperor; Christianity becomes consolidated in the Germanic lands.
- 1517 Martin Luther publishes the 95 Theses (Luther's document that sparked the Protestant Reformation) in Wittenberg, launching the Protestant Reformation.
- 1871 Unification of the German states into a single empire under Bismarck.
- 1914-1945 Two world wars devastate the country; the Nazi regime and the Holocaust leave deep scars.
- 1949 Division into West and East Germany amid the Cold War.
- 1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the end of the division.
- 1990 Reunification of Germany.
- Today An economic and democratic power, deeply secularized and home to a strong immigrant presence.
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Germanofficial, spoken by nearly the entire population
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Turkishspoken by the country's largest immigrant minority
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Englishwidely understood, especially among young people and in the cities
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Immigrant languagesArabic, Kurdish, Russian, Polish, and others in immigrant communities
Located at the heart of Europe, Germany borders nine countries and combines plains in the north, mountainous regions and forests in the center and south, and the Alps along its southern border. Rivers such as the Rhine, the Elbe, and the Danube cross the territory and have shaped its history and economy.
Major cities
- BerlinCapital, political and cultural center, marked by the history of the division
- MunichSouthern hub, tradition and technology, home of the Oktoberfest (annual beer and Bavarian culture festival in Munich)
- HamburgThe country's largest port, a commercial hub in the north
- FrankfurtThe financial center of continental Europe
- CologneHistoric city on the Rhine, famous for its Gothic cathedral
Climate and temperature
Brezel
Pretzel-shaped bread, salty and traditional, a symbol of German cuisine.
Bratwurst
Grilled sausage served with bread and mustard, common at fairs and festivals.
Schweinshaxe
Roasted pork knuckle, crispy outside and juicy inside, typical of the south.
Sauerkraut
Fermented cabbage, a classic side dish for meats.
Kartoffelsalat
Potato salad served hot or cold, found on nearly every table.
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
Black Forest cake, with chocolate, cream, and cherries.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Punctuality and order
Keeping schedules and rules is a sign of respect and seriousness.
Direct and to the point
Germans value frankness and clarity in communication.
Respected privacy
Personal space and privacy are taken seriously.
Work ethic
Discipline, quality, and responsibility are deeply valued.
Regional traditions
Festivals, dialects, and customs vary widely between north and south.
Love of nature
Hiking, forests, and outdoor life are part of national identity.
- Being late to appointments Punctuality is seen as a matter of respect and character.
- Forcing quick intimacy Friendships are built over time; closeness comes gradually.
- Ignoring rules and norms Cutting in line or bending rules causes strong social disapproval.
- Joking about Nazism or the Holocaust This is a serious and painful subject, treated with gravity.
- Mistaking Germans for their neighbors Respect the distinct identity from Austrians and Swiss.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Faith has been relegated to the past, and many live as though God did not exist.
Comfort, consumption, and stability have become the center of life for many.
Faith survives as tradition and heritage, without a living relationship with Christ.
Excessive trust in human reason draws the heart away from dependence on God.
Church buildings are closing, and the faith of past generations is being lost.
Despite prosperity, loneliness is growing, especially among the elderly and the young.
Personal identity and worth become tied to professional performance.
The weight of the wars and the Holocaust still marks the nation's soul.
Entire communities live in the cities with no access to the gospel.
Esotericism and mysticism fill the void left by abandoned faith.
Germany guarantees broad religious freedom, and Christians can live and express their faith without fear of persecution from the State. The Constitution protects worship, and the historic churches maintain a recognized institutional presence.
The greatest challenge is not hostility, but indifference. In a deeply secularized society, faith is often seen as outdated, and those who take the gospel seriously may face mockery or social marginalization. Among immigrant communities, converts from other religions sometimes face pressure from their own families and groups.
The overall picture, then, is one of full freedom amid a climate of widespread unbelief. The obstacle to faith in Germany is less open opposition and more the spiritual emptiness of a nation that has forgotten the God of its ancestors.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Germany brings together dozens of people groups, including large immigrant communities little reached by the gospel. Turks, Kurds, Syrians, Afghans, and others live in the major cities, many coming from regions where they would rarely hear of Christ. Alongside them are millions of secularized Germans, who know Christianity only as a distant cultural inheritance.
- 6M Unreached 7,1%
- 1.3M Minimally reached 1,5%
- 12.8M Superficially reached 15,2%
- 63.7M Partially reached 75,8%
- 319K Significantly reached 0,4%
- 42 Unreached 38,9%
- 4 Minimally reached 3,7%
- 34 Superficially reached 31,5%
- 22 Partially reached 20,4%
- 6 Significantly reached 5,6%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Kabardian, East Circassian Frontier
Judeu tat Frontier
Zaza-alevica Frontier
Cazaque
Southern Pashtun Frontier
Western Punjabi Frontier
Judeu persa de Mashhad Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
expensive by global standards, though more affordable than London or Paris
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn German: although many speak English, the local language opens doors and shows respect.
- Be punctual for every appointment; lateness is frowned upon.
- Carry cash: many places still do not accept cards.
- Respect waste separation: recycling is taken very seriously.
- Use public transportation, efficient and punctual in the cities.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.