Berlin, a post-Christian city known for partying and sex clubs, is a difficult place to follow Jesus. The spiritual atmosphere of the city is heavy, like living in a world where you’re always walking through jello. And yet, Jesus is on the move.
Whether it’s through believers hungry to be on mission with Jesus, or a stripper-turned-bouncer sharing the gospel in clubs no one else can access, the light of Christ is breaking through in surprising ways. And Novo staff Johnny and Rachel Bruder feel incredibly privileged to be a part of it.
A Darkened Culture
Germany has a rich Christian heritage, but that heritage has been largely forgotten. Wittenburg, the “home of the Reformation” is only a two hour drive from Berlin, but today the city of Berlin is less than 2% Christian.
At the same time, Berlin’s clubs and brothels are thriving. Prostitution is legal throughout the city, and there are hundreds of brothels and strip clubs, with an estimated 6,000–8,000 sex workers. This part of Berlin’s culture is not only widely accepted, but often celebrated.
After nearly a decade in Berlin, Johnny and Rachel have identified three major strongholds shaping the city: lust, loneliness, and anger. They intentionally minister with those realities in mind—through prayer, hospitality, friendship with neighbors who don’t know Jesus, and encouraging and equipping believers.
Johnny and Rachel long to see a gospel movement in Berlin—one where the light of Christ pushes back darkness and transforms lives and culture. They know that vision is far bigger than they are, and only Jesus can bring it about. Still, they are committed to faithfully joining what God is already doing in the city and encouraging others to do the same.
Bringing Light in the Brothels
Soon after Johnny and Rachel arrived in Berlin, they began volunteering with anti-trafficking ministries as a way of being a gospel presence in one of the city’s most vulnerable spaces. As they got involved, Johnny and Rachel saw both the beauty and the weight of this work. There was real fruit, but the need was immense, and many of the people serving in this space were getting burned out.
As Johnny and Rachel connected with others who saw the same need, an idea began to take shape: What if more churches in the city felt inspired and equipped to share the love of Jesus with sex workers in their community?
So in 2024, Johnny, Rachel, and two other believers formed a new anti-trafficking organization called Tür der Hoffnung—Door of Hope—with a focus on equipping the church. The training they developed explores God’s heart for those impacted by the sex trade, how churches can grow as safe and welcoming places, and how to engage in effective outreach and prayer. Their hope is that more people feel equipped to step in where God leads them—whether that means volunteering with existing ministries or simply learning how to love and respond well to the hurting people all around them.
One of the women who helped start Door of Hope had a beautiful vision from Jesus—of the Lord changing brothels into places of light. Often, it is not the powerful or highly educated people at the center of a gospel movement, but the poor, hurting, and oppressed. What if the brothels were the very places where a gospel movement could begin and spread light across the city?
Johnny and Rachel aren’t seeing gospel movement in the brothels yet, but they are watching Jesus use unexpected people and circumstances to bring light there. After one young man who was a cross-dresser in a strip club chose to follow Jesus, he stopped stripping and became a bouncer outside of another strip club. Now he is building relationships there and praying with women before their shifts begin. Through him, the gospel is being shared in a place few can go.
Offering Light to Believers
Raising up more workers has become a theme in Johnny and Rachel’s ministry—not just in the brothel space, but across the city. They see both the need for more laborers and the very real struggle believers face trying to remain faithful to Jesus in a culture that does not know him.
“Living in Berlin,” Rachel shared, “the spiritual climate is so heavy. Everything has this added resistance. And because of that, it’s hard for believers here.”
Most believers in Berlin feel they don’t have energy or vision to live missionally. And often, “living on mission” can sound overwhelming—like you have to evangelize every person you meet. Johnny and Rachel realized that what many believers needed was not more pressure, but simple, Spirit-led ways to begin.
Novo’s Activating Prayer and Disciple-Making Cohorts have been a simple place to start. While many believers in Berlin are not yet ready to engage missionally, others are longing for it. For them, these Cohorts have been life-giving—offering practical tools to pray, listen, and engage their communities without simply adding more to an already full life.
Johnny and Rachel have loved watching people immediately put these tools into practice. One woman from the Activating Prayer Cohort used blessing prayer in the brothels the same night she learned it. Another man who completed the Disciple-Making Cohort was so moved by what he experienced that he wanted to bring it back to his church—and Johnny is now equipping him to lead it.
Light Breaking Through
Despite Berlin’s spiritual darkness, there is growing evidence of real spiritual hunger. Many ministries and missionaries who have been there for years are beginning to sense a shift.
Last year, during a large evangelism effort in the city, 700 people gave their lives to Jesus. “The fact that 700 people were hungry enough that someone randomly walked up to them on the street and they were willing to stop and talk and pray… that is a huge thing in Berlin!” Rachel shared. “I have a lot of excitement and hope for this city.”
There’s not a gospel movement happening in Berlin yet—but each prayer prayed, each church equipped, and each believer feeling empowered to shine the light of Christ brings it closer.
Jesus is moving in unexpected people and unexpected ways.
And the light is coming.
What About You?
As you read about the light of Jesus breaking through in Berlin, what stirs in you?
How would you describe the spiritual climate of the place you live?
What strongholds might shape your city or neighborhood, and how might Jesus want you to pray?
What might be the next step for you in showing the light of Christ in the places you live, work, and play? If you’re not sure, why not ask Jesus for some ideas!
ABOUT THIS STORY
Johnny and Rachel Bruder began their journey together in cross-cultural ministry in 2015 in China. They moved to Germany in 2017 and joined Novo staff two years later. In addition to their ministries in anti-trafficking and equipping believers for gospel movement, Johnny and Rachel find great joy in hosting German friends in their home for special gatherings and game nights, and are always ready to give Jesus their “yes” when opportunities for deeper relationship or mentoring emerge. They have two young children, William and Adelaide, who enjoy being part of local German schools and friend groups.