Projects
HCI Children’s Village in Dorohoi (Romania)
From vision to mission: When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989 and the borders to Eastern European countries opened, we saw images of neglected, hospitalized children in Romanian children’s homes on our screens. The impression of the abandoned and orphaned children moved several women from Germany to travel with aid teams to the far north-east of Romania – to the town of Dorohoi – and bring help for these children. After a few visits to Romania, it was clear that nothing had remained of the aid that had been provided the last time until the next visit.
It turned out that the only way to provide effective help was to look after the children locally. So two of the women decided to move permanently to Dorohoi (Romania) and take in children in an apartment, live with them and show them that they are loved by God.
Over the next few years, these beginnings gave rise to a children’s village with 28 children in four families, a kindergarten and a school. The circle of children and families cared for has long since grown. The children come from all over the area. Today, 70 children attend the kindergarten and around 200 children attend the Cornerstone School.
We – the “Freie evangelische Gemeinde” in Saarbruecken – have been supporting the HCI Children’s Village since 1999. Over the years, several teams from our congregation have been on site for various aid and work assignments – and we always look forward to seeing the children and mothers again.
Further information can be found on the HCI International website.
MAF Flight Service in Arnhem Land (Australia)
Volker and Susanne, two active members of our congregation, are currently preparing for their mission with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship). Starting in 2026, they will live in Arnhem Land in northern Australia, where they will work together to support MAF’s ministry.
MAF is an international Christian air service that supports people in hard-to-reach regions of the world. With a fleet of 116 aircraft, MAF delivers medical supplies, food, drinking water, and personnel from approximately 1,400 partner organizations to more than 1,000 destinations in 24 countries. In this way, aid, hope, and practical support reach places where geographic barriers, natural disasters, or political unrest make access difficult.
After many years as a private pilot, Volker recently completed his training to become a commercial pilot. In Arnhem Land, he will serve as an MAF pilot, safely transporting missionaries, aid organizations, and the local population to their destinations. Susanne will manage the family’s daily life and use her gifts to contribute to the diverse tasks and interactions they’ll encounter there.
Arnhem Land is a remote region in northern Australia about the size of England. The predominantly Indigenous communities are spread far apart. Roads are rare, and during the rainy season, many places are completely cut off from the outside world. At such times, air travel is often the only link to the outside world. MAF has been flying in Arnhem Land for more than 50 years, helping to ensure that people can be reliably reached and that vital aid can be delivered.
For more information, visit the MAF website.
Theological Education at the China Lutheran Seminary (Taiwan)
The Marburg Mission works with local Christian congregations around the world to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to people of all languages, peoples, and nations. Among its projects is support for the China Lutheran Seminary. There, future pastors and church leaders are trained and strengthened in the Reformation heritage of Martin Luther – particularly in the doctrine of justification by faith, the foundation of the Gospel. In this way, they are prepared to lead congregations and pass on the Christian faith within their cultural context.
Cammy Pui Yee Pong works as an instructor in religious education at the China Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Taiwan. She is sent and supported by the Marburg Mission. Both on site in Taiwan and from her home office in Saarbrücken, she teaches future pastors and church leaders. With her theological specialization in religious education, she focuses on how the church can convey the Christian faith in a way that is understandable and relevant to everyday life – especially to children and young people.
Since 2026, our congregation has been supporting Cammy and her ministry through prayer and donations.
Cammy and her husband Sven are dedicated members of our congregation. They help organize and lead the evening service and regularly enrich our services with their music.
For more information, visit the websites of the Marburg Mission and the China Lutheran Seminary.
Linguistic Research in the Context of Bible Translation in Cameroon
According to Wycliffe, a nonprofit, international Christian organization, approximately 1.5 billion people do not have access to a Bible in their own language. For 180 million people, there isn’t even a single Bible verse available in their native language. Wycliff’s vision is to end this lack of access to the Bible and to provide everyone in the world with access to the Bible – God’s living Word.
Dr. Rahel Beyer has been living and working in Cameroon (Africa) for several years. She researches local languages and the linguistic situations of ethnic minorities in order to prepare for – and indeed make possible – the actual translation of the Bible. Rahel’s husband, Kosso, is also involved in Bible translation work. He coordinates activities and manages the budgets for various Bible translation projects.
Imagine if the Bible were available only in a language you don’t understand. How would you feel if God didn’t speak your language? How could you even get to know God? These questions inspired us in 2022 to support the important work of Rahel and Kosso.
You can find more information on the Wycliffe website.