Leaders: Captains Frank and Regina Heinrich
Address: Alfred-Neubert-Str. 17, 09123 Chemnitz, Germany View Map
Email: chemnitz@heilsarmee.de
Website: http://www.heilsarmee-chemnitz.de/heckert.html
Area Website: www.heilsarmee.org/
Phone: +49.(0)371.28 32 969
Fax: +49.(0)371.38 39 02-22
Greetings from Captains Frank and Regina Heinrich. Chemnitz project The Salvation Army in Chemnitz has been growing community since 1997. We have a vibrant community of kids and youth. We are active in social work.
We have many people gathering for church each week. We have a good strong regular Sunday service, so many come that we meet twice on a Sunday just to fit everyone in. We also meet at other times in the circus, the movie theatre and other extraordinary places. We have a large number of visitors that come each week. We have people of all ages and backgrounds. We get a lot of 25- 30 year olds joining us.
The main work of the social program is with children and youth. They are our future. We work with many children from the biggest housing estate. We have a weekly program for 6-12year olds, with the theatre bus. We drive the bus to the housing estate and we give the children a show from the bus, with plays, stories, and songs. The theatre lasts for two hours, and the Christian message is a foundational part of the program. Each week kids say it’s the best part of their week. We follow up with families and each of the children’s families receives a home visit from the Salvation Army kids team each week. The theatre bus has been a huge success. It has become clear to us that we should invest more in this area.
New thoughts. GOD has provided like always for everything we need. We have been allowed to use a former bank, which is a great building. So not only do we have humans that stand with passion, but we have a building we give Glory to God for. The address is 17 Afred Neubert road, 09123 Chemnitz
The former “Fritz” area of the city consists of 4 boroughs, which today still have more than 40,000 inhabitants (at one time up to 80.000). Two churches were permitted to be in the Fritz area, but this under serves the huge population. The current two churches are also difficult to get to. The church that we are planting in this area has the heart of 614 from the words of Isaiah 61:4.
“They will rebuild the ancient ruins, and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”
This is what Jesus has asked us to do in this area. God’s word says that “His spirit is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour”. These have been our starting thoughts in this area.
Due to the economic collapse of the area many shops stand empty. There are not many options for people looking for jobs. Unemployment stands at 20%. Many of these are young people coming on to the job market. Those who can try and leave and look for jobs “in the West”.
There are many reasons for people to be disillusioned, to be without hope. However we are being God’s vessels of hop. Not only to preach it but to live it.
John 1:14 (The Message) “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”
We have become an incarnational model of community. We will carry these words, and bring Christ to our neighbours, to all we meet. We will live it.