Free Evangelical Community in Oldenburg Celebrates 25th Anniversary (Oldenburg, Germany)

The Free Evangelical Community (FeG) in Oldenburg has celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of service and community engagement. Pastor Martin Dammann emphasized the church’s mission to be more than a place of worship, describing it as a meeting point for the district. The anniversary events were open to all, reflecting the FeG’s commitment to inclusivity and outreach.

The FeG has also expanded its presence to the Kreyenzentrum in Wuuml, where it continues to focus on creating spaces for encounter and exchange. Dammann explained that the initiative for new congregations in larger cities originated from the domestic mission of the Federation of Free Evangelical Communities. Oldenburg was seen as a central and exciting location, prompting three families to move to Bloherfelde to establish the community.

Initially, the FeG had around 50 members when the first pastor, Dieter Scholze, left twelve years ago. The congregation has since grown to double that number, with members coming from surrounding areas such as Petersfehn and Friedrichsfehn. Weekly services include about 30 children, though Dammann noted that the events attract far more attendees. The 39-year-old pastor, a father of four, traces his spiritual roots to the Protestant Church and beyond.

The Federation of Free Protestant Communities, to which the FeG belongs, comprises self-sufficient local communities and is part of the classical Free Churches. The first German FeG was founded in Elberfeld (Wuppertal) in 1854 as an alternative to the state church. Members who choose to join the church are baptized, with infant baptism excluded.

Currently, the federation includes about 500 congregations with approximately 41,000 members. These congregations are part of the Christian Churches Working Group, ACK. Sunday services take place in the auditorium of the Gymnasium Eversten, and the community’s catchment area has expanded. In addition to Bloherfelde, the FeG has been active in the Kreyenzentrum since March of this year, continuing its focus on encounter and exchange.

Source: Read the original report (translated from German)