Last weekend we held our Encounter Night in Munich — for the first time in this new format. Until now, Encounter Night was always a single evening that included everything: an encounter with the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the Gospel. To give both of these more space, we decided to turn one night into two:
The first evening had a clear focus. Our agenda was to make room for the Holy Spirit — to move, to speak, and to touch hearts. On the second evening, the Gospel was preached, and people from young to old made the decision to give their lives to Jesus.
An Encounter That Moved Us
One story in particular deeply moved us: a person who only came to Encounter Night in the first place because of a friend. Curious — but also cautious. The first evening didn’t turn out the way they had hoped. As a result, they didn’t want to come back for the second night — the night when the Gospel would be shared.
When we heard about it, we couldn’t shake it. We reached out personally, listened, and invited them again with honesty — no pressure, just the desire that they would experience what these evenings are truly about. And they did come back. Not alone, but even bringing a friend with them.
Even before the service began, we were able to talk, and we personally apologized. And then something happened that we can never “make” happen — but that we’re allowed to witness again and again: in God’s presence, the distance from the night before suddenly turned into openness.
The Gospel did what it is meant to do: it touched this person’s heart. Not because we shared only a half-truth focused on love alone — but quite the opposite: because we proclaimed the truth in love. When the call came to entrust their life to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin, the person stood up. Tears streamed down their face. And they walked to the front.
Moments like these remind us why we host Encounter Night: because Jesus pursues people. Because healing is possible. And because a single evening can change everything when someone encounters Jesus.
