November 10, 2025

Church Planting & Revitalisation in Secular Europe: Oliver Ahlfeld on Relational Mission, Church Planting, and Hope for Germany

50 minutes

What does it look like to plant and renew churches in one of the most atheistic regions of the world? And how can relational mission bring new life to the church in Europe?

In this episode, Jason Watson sits down with Oliver Ahlfeld, head of Church Planting and Revitalization for the Gnadauer Verband, Germany’s largest evangelical movement. Together, they explore how the gospel is taking root in secular spaces, what’s working in church planting across Europe, and how a relational lifestyle of faith is essential for revitalizing the church today.

Oliver shares personal stories of transformation, practical lessons from revitalized congregations, and a hopeful vision for awakening in Germany and beyond.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Relational mission is the key challenge and opportunity — discipleship begins with open homes and open hearts.

Church planting in secular spaces requires contextual creativity, from coffeehouse churches to “messy church” family gatherings.

Revitalization starts small — even “five old ladies praying” can spark renewal.

Collaboration across traditions matters — Pentecostals, pietists, and free churches are learning from one another through the M4 network.

Simplify discipleship — cut fruitless programs and focus on relationships that bear gospel fruit.

Hope for Europe — though traditional structures are declining, God is still at work awakening His church in Germany.

🎧 Related Episodes:

Revival & Renewal: Seeking Awakening Among Europe’s Younger Generations with Sarah Breuel - https://lausanne.org/podcast/revival-renewal-seeking-awakening-among-europes-younger-generations-with-sarah-breuel

Explore how God is stirring revival among the next generation in Europe and what it means to pursue prayerful renewal in a post-Christian context.

**Pioneer Church Planting: Establishing Churches on the Frontlines (and Why Discipleship is the Ultimate Goal) with Ron Anderson -** https://lausanne.org/podcast/pioneer-church-planting-establishing-churches-on-the-frontlines-and-why-discipleship-is-the-ultimate-goal-with-ron-anderson

Learn from pioneering church planters in Spain about long-term mission, discipleship, and leadership in secular societies.

**Planting Churches, Transforming Cities with Guna Raman -** https://lausanne.org/podcast/planting-churches-transforming-cities-with-guna-raman

Discover how church-planting movements in Asia’s major cities are transforming culture and equipping leaders for gospel impact in secular and urban environments.

📚 Links & Resources:

Gnadauer Verband (Gnadauer Movement): https://www.gnadauer.de

M4 Europe Church Planting Network: https://m4europe.com

Joel Comiskey Group Resources on Cell Churches: https://joelcomiskeygroup.com

Lausanne Movement Podcast: https://lausanne.org/podcast

Guest Bio:

Oliver Ahlfeld (born 1968) currently serves as Head of the Division for Church-Planting and Revitalisation at the Evangelischer Gnadauer Gemeinschaftsverband e.V. (Gnadauer Verband) where he coaches teams in urban and rural Germany in launching new faith communities and renewing existing congregations. His vocational journey—from plasterer, driver and welder, to youth-worker, teacher of religion and social-pedagogue—has given him a robust, cross-vocational insight into church-planting praxis. Since February 2020 he has been steering the movement of church-plants and revitalisation efforts in Saxony-Anhalt and beyond, helping leaders move from vision to actionable mission and vibrant community.

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