My name is Samuel Merz and I am 19 years old. I come from the Mennonite congregation in Bielefeld, Stelle Sieker. Since August 2022, I have been serving in the Hohenau 1 colony, part of the Neues Leben congregation. My ministry consists mainly of teaching at school and a little support work in the field of music.
Even as a child, I was able to surrender my life to the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am very grateful to my believing parents for the good influence, upbringing and support they have given me throughout my life. The subject of mission has been on my mind ever since my early days in the children’s group, and even back then I had the desire to dedicate a year to the Lord after completing my A-levels. I am very grateful to all those who have shaped and supported me on my journey to this point. Above all, however, to the staff in the children’s and youth groups.
We often find ourselves thinking in terms of ‘missionaries’ and ‘non-missionaries’, but the Lord calls us all to mission. Some to a distant land, and others to the city centre of their home town. So I encourage everyone to start right where they are and serve the Lord. That said, there is a difference between mission work at home and in another country. When you step out of your comfort zone, Satan attacks all the more fiercely. Naturally, therefore, no one is forbidden from praying for me.
My hope is that my ministry here may be a blessing and bear fruit for eternity.
