Germany is witnessing a huge response to the gospel. Many of the Muslims migrants from the Middle East are converting to Christianity, according to reports.
One of the converts, Mohammed Ali Zonoobi, said his friends introduced him to Bible when he was 18, and since then he had been attending secret Bible services in Iran. He had to flee to Germany when many of his friends were detained for their Christian faith.
Five months ago, he came to Germany with his wife Afsaneh and two children. Mohammed changed his name to Martin, and Afsaneh to Katarina at Trinity Church in Berlin.
"Now we are free and can be ourselves," Afsaneh told the Associated Press.
The congregation at the Trinity Church grew from 150 to over 600 in the last two years, according to Pastor Gottfried Martens, who also said that the rate of conversions was nothing less than a 'miracle'.
Some were critical of the conversions taking place in Germany, arguing that refugees are claiming they are converting to Christianity to increase their chances of being granted asylum. In many of the Muslim countries, conversion from Islam to Christianity is a crime deserving capital punishment, and thus, it is unlikely the German government would send back Christian converts to their home countries.
Another EU nation Cyprus has said that it would only accept Christian refugees and would also "seek for them" to be Orthodox Christians.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has assured the migrants that immigration will not consider their religion while permitting them to stay in Germany.
Pastor Martens said that there is a possibility that Muslims might want to change their religion to boost their hope of permanent stay in Germany. But he said that only a few, about one in ten, of the converts did not come back to church to listen to more messages. Martens added that these messages have changed many lives, such that over 80 migrants are awaiting their turn to be baptized.
Approximately 2,500 people come into the country every day, while about 20,000 arrived over the last weekend. Over 800,000 asylum-seekers may flow into Germany this year. The country has set apart an additional $6.7 billion to assist the refugee cause on its homeland.
"I know there are - again and again - people coming here because they have some kind of hope regarding their asylum.. I am inviting them to join us because I know that whoever comes here will not be left unchanged," Pastor Martens said.
