In the Tiefental Valley: a walk to the origens

ELM's international ecumenical staffperson, Cristina Scherer, explored the Tiefental Valley on the fringes of the mission festival, the heathland on the edge of Hermannsburg, where the first mission festivals were celebrated with Ludwig Harms.

We celebrated the mission festival, and Hermannsburg was full of guests from all over Germany and all corners of the world. There were many reasons for this: 175 years of ELM history, 175 years of mission, of supporting people, churches, and projects. Celebrations took place from June 21 to 23, 2024.

On Saturday afternoon, the main celebration of the day was behind us. What should we do in Hermannsburg while we waited for the next appointment in the evening? We had the idea of going for a walk along the beautiful paths of the typical heathland vegetation. My mentor, Pastor Friedel Fischer, who was a student at the missionary seminary, suggested that my family and I take a hike to the place where it all began. The temperature was pleasant, so we set off on the 7 kilometre walk under Friedel's guidance. We reached Tiefental, where Pastor Ludwig Harms held numerous meetings and where the mission festival originated 175 years ago.

What an experience! Two pastors - one from Brazil, one from Germany - were now standing in the place where it all began. We took photos, captured the moment, tried to imagine the people sitting there, in this valley, listening to the word of God, praying, celebrating, living together, with their families, friends, the community. They didn't have all our technology or structure, but they did have the most important thing that cannot be taken away from anyone, cf. Luke 10:42.

In fact, the Misselhorn Heath with its deep valley is still an inspiring place today that gives us food for thought: yes, mission is always possible, with the means and gifts that God gives us at all times, with the people he places on and around our path.

God constantly strengthens us with his word, which never changes and remains the same from generation to generation. God, who has energised so many people in the past, is with us and never leaves us helpless in our time today. There are different challenges, resources and people, but his mission, the "Missio Dei", remains the same in every place, on every street and in every valley. Jesus already showed at his baptism what mission he was sent on: "I have come to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). Let us allow the justice that Christ brought and experienced also inspire our mission today, in different ways, projects and valleys, in abundance and plenty, love and peace!

by Cristina Scherer, ELM International Ecumenism Officer and Pastor in the Walsrode church district