What is your ministry?
I am the director of the Pontes Institute for Science, Culture, and Faith. I work as an evangelist and apologist — speaking at universities, in the business context, and to young people mainly in German-speaking Europe but also beyond. I teach at a theological Seminary in Germany and lead the biggest evangelistic initiative for young people in DACH called True Story. I have published an apologetic book.
When did you trust Christ?
I do not come from a Christian family, but I got to know the Lord through the local Lutheran church when I was 10.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
At the age of 18, I received a call into Christian ministry and evangelism. Subsequently, I went to a theological Seminar in Germany, which was a special time of Christian formation and discipleship, as well as studying great Bible-based theology. I also worked in England for a year as an associate university evangelist, which again taught me a lot about evangelism as well as strengthened my faith that the truth, the power, and the beauty of the Gospel are still relevant today, even in the most difficult places. I have also known times of great difficulty both in ministry and in my personal life. Those have been defining moments with Christ as they have deepened both my dependence and my trust in His every present love and care.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
The Forum is a great place to be inspired, receive from the Lord, and form new ideas and partnerships. For example, from one conversation I had last year, a whole week of evangelistic outreach at different universities in Poland has developed, which will (God-willing) help to bring about an impulse for the nearly dying student movement in Poland. I also hope to be able to pass on some of what the Lord has entrusted me in the different seminars I speak at and thereby strengthen and encourage other Christian leaders.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
I have worked with the German IFES movement for 8 years and took over leadership at Pontes 4 years ago. I have been on the board of Christival, the biggest interdenominational youth festival in Germany, and of the Coalition for Youth Evangelisation (AGJE). Since 2022 I have been on the steering committee of the FEUER network (European University Evangelist Network by IFES). I am also co-founder of an NGO that seeks to provide education for young people in Peru and on the board with IJM Germany (International Justice Mission).
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
As Europe has become an exporter of unbelief to the whole world, we believe the Lord has uniquely positioned us in central Europe – the German-speaking countries – to show the relevance, the beauty, and the truth of the Gospel to a society that longs for moral orientation and spirituality but would never seek for it in the church. Therefore, we go to them, in the workplace, the universities, and to the media. We also serve the church across the different denominations by teaching Christians apologetics and showing them that it is possible to have respectful dialogue that points others to Christ. By mentoring young evangelists both in the DACH region and beyond we try to inspire others and help advance the kingdom in other parts of Europe, too.
