“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). This wisdom from God’s Word holds a promise for kids around the world in every country.
In Berlin, Germany, William and Sheila Whittenberg recently celebrated the 20th birthday of their main partner church, Berlinprojekt. Sheila oversees the children, youth, and family ministry there. Her work includes training, managing, and coaching seven different teams that mentor children and teenagers from birth to 18 years old, as well as shaping the vision and philosophy of the ministry.
“We feel so privileged to be able to serve alongside this visionary church filled with young people right in the heart of Berlin,” Sheila states.
For many years, there were not enough teenagers in the church to form a cohesive youth group. This started to change in August 2023 when Sheila formed a team to lead teenagers in grades 7 to 9 through a faith formation course that was designed by a group of theologians and educators in the church. When these teenagers finished the one-and-a-half-year long course, they had been so integrated into church life that Sheila was able to catalyze a new youth group in January 2025.
This past fall, thirteen more teens signed up for the next round of the faith formation course. Many of these teenagers came from outside the church and attended because they heard from friends how great the program was. As a result, the youth group has literally doubled.
The children’s ministry at Berlinprojekt is also going strong and growing. The Minis program, for 0 to 3-year-olds and their parents, is one of the only groups in the city that offers age-appropriate spiritual content, as most churches in Germany just offer a playroom for one parent to look after their children during the sermon. (“Nursery” is not a thing in German churches.) As a result of the strength of this community, the next age group, 4 years to 2nd grade, is now bursting at the seams.
Sheila and her team serve faithfully and with joy, realizing how important it is to pour into children and families. But like with any ministry, there are some difficulties. The Whittenbergs covet your prayers for more adults who would want to share their faith journey with children in grades 3 to 6, the one age group that is struggling for leadership.
Clearly, God is moving in the heart of Berlin by working in the lives and hearts of the young people there. If you are interested in learning more about Communitas and their partners, please reach out to us.
