Dear intercessors,

We continue to pray this month for unity within the new government and the people in Germany by trusting more in God and seeking guidance from Him.

Interestingly enough, there is also prayer this month for further healing between "East and West - A heart for Germany". As you will read:

"Even more than three decades after reunification, we sense that our country has not yet truly become one. Old divisions between East and West have not disappeared. Many East Germans still carry the experience of being disregarded or devalued. In the West, we sometimes get taken over by arrogance, we look down on the East, there is a lack of understanding, and much more. And yet we need each other."

The prayer letter also offers a response in prayer:

"Let us not only pray for healing, but for genuine encounters: that we listen to one another with open hearts. Sharing our own life stories often brings deep comfort and inner healing. Pray for a new perspective and an understanding of the spiritual treasures from the East – not overlooking their wisdom, but embracing it as an enrichment to the West."

We can imagine that there may be a need for such prayer in other countries to solve long-standing problems of division between people groups. We trust that this item in the prayer letter will enable Christians to contribute through their prayers and actions to much needed healing in these countries also.

We also recommend the article on "The harvest and the shepherd for the sheep" if you are looking for encouragement and some good Biblical teaching on proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Many blessings to all our readers from:

Your Call of the Watchmen Team - Germany and International.

PS: Please consider using the "Sway" version (the large print, colour graphic version) of the prayer letter in your prayer groups, projected onto a wide-screen, if possible, as this can really help you to follow the prayer topics as you pray together.

Our Perspective

A hot summer is slowly coming to an end. But there are many concerns that have been and continue to be hot, and are still burning issues in our minds and hearts. Yet when we open our inner eyes and gaze into the heavenly realm, we also perceive the ever- extending shalom peace. God’s kingdom of peace has no end and is coming more into our lives and His entire creation. (Isaiah 9:6).

As always, it is all about on what we focus in life: is it on our fears, our social and physical insecurity, on the threats of war, on our many personal challenges, on the confusing global political situation? Or is it on His finished work on the cross, on the eternal victory He has established forever, and on the solutions that result from this for every problem and annoyance, no matter how large or small?

What if we truly “consider it pure joy … whenever you face troubles of many kinds” (James 1:2), and take troubles as an opportunity to expect a wonderful solution from our loving Father in heaven, which we can develop together with Him, trustingly and joyfully, or rather, let Him develop such a solution in our lives? It would then definitely be much less stressful. I often think of the comforting verse from Paul Gerhardt's well-known hymn "Commit Your Ways to the Lord":

It is simply so crucial, in these turbulent times, to be constantly at peace

“In the Lord you must trust, if you are to prosper; you must look to His work, if your work is to stand firm.

God undertakes nothing through the cares, grief, and pain you have for yourself - He must be entreated in prayer.”

Or as Jesus said: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6:34). So let us always consciously direct our gaze to the flowers and the birds, simply to the beauty of creation, as a symbol of the provision that our loving Father in heaven constantly provides for all living beings, great and small. This can be of great help in those times in our lives when we are unable to sense very much spiritually, and when it is even more important to bring our souls to complete rest. It is simply so crucial, in these turbulent times, to be constantly at peace, and to keep a "cool head", which then protects our heart and the living streams of God that can flow through it.

Alexander Schlüter

From division to unity

Our society seems to be trapped in division: left versus right, right versus wrong, good versus evil. Arguments are rife: "This one is right!" - "That one is wrong!" But these battles only divide us further and leave us weary. We often think that if only we could see everything correctly, we could change everything. But that is an illusion. Human analysis does not save us. What we need is not an even better argument, but closeness, connection, and trust, as well as a perspective from God.

God invites us to pray with him. We are asked to move away from human debates in which we try to explain to Him how we see the situation, towards a simple and profound trust: "Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” These words are enough. They shift the focus from our need to be right to God's sovereign action. They remind us: We do not carry the world on our shoulders. We can let go. We do not have to bear the entire burden. God is the Lord of history – not us. And so we may pray: “Thank You that You do everything”. When we no longer torment ourselves with "right" and "wrong", room is then created in our minds for a completely new approach ... to open a new perspective. In this spirit, let us pray for our Chancellor, the government, our country, and those who bear responsibility, and listen to what heaven is praying for and how we as watchmen can become one, with unity in prayer and action.

Alexander Schlüter

Protecting the Basic Law in Germany

Following the postponed election of the constitutional judges in the Federal Parliament on July 11, 2025, media and legal experts have highlighted further statements and opinions in publications by the Law-Professor Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf which question fundamental articles of the Basic Law. She has indeed repeatedly spoken out against the understanding of family as it is under the special protection of the state in Article 6 of the Basic Law. She defines marriage as an alliance between at least two people to provide specific support and responsibility for families with children in society and are thus considers polygamy to be fully compatible with the Basic Law. Co-motherhood and co-fatherhood, egg donation as well as surrogacy are to be legalised, while the splitting of income between spouses for lower taxes, non-contributory co-insurance of spouses, and widow's pensions are to be abolished. Parents should be entitled to a state-run full-time child-care service from the birth of a child.

The protests in wide sections of the German population against her election as a constitutional judge were primarily triggered by her position regarding human worth and the right to life of yet unborn children. In one of her writings, Brosius-Gersdorf describes the Federal Constitutional Court's jurisprudence, which up until now states that human life, wherever it exists, is entitled to a special worth under Article 1 of the Basic Law, as a “biological-naturalistic fallacy”. In 2024, in the final report of the commission on Section 218 appointed by the previous “traffic-light – red/green/yellow” coalition government, she wrote: "There are good reasons why the guarantee of human worth only applies from actual birth." This in fact supported her plea for the legalisation of abortions in the early stages of pregnancy. Brosius-Gersdorf also advocated mandatory COVID vaccination, the withdrawal of fundamental rights for those who refuse vaccination, and a ban on the AfD (Alternative for Deutschland).

Brosius-Gersdorf then withdrew her candidacy for the Federal Constitutional Court at the beginning of August.

By reinterpreting fundamental provisions of the Basic Law, Brosius-Gersdorf is placing her political views above the law. This would cause massive damage to the separation of powers, both for and through the Federal Constitutional Court which is not a legislature, but rather is intended to review legislative acts for their compatibility with the Basic Law. The relativising of human worth would undermine a cornerstone of the constitutional state which is Germany – with unforeseeable consequences for law, freedom, and conscience in our society.

Brosius-Gersdorf then withdrew her candidacy for the Federal Constitutional Court at the beginning of August. Leading media outlets are portraying her as the victim of a right-wing extremist campaign to which the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) has succumbed. The second SPD (Social-Democratic Party Deutschland) candidate, Ann- Katrin Kaufhold, is striving for an ecological transformation of the Basic Law and wants to give fundamental rights over to nature, undermining fundamental human rights.

Prayer:

• Thanks for the time that is given to consider the election of constitutional judges. (Psalm 97)
• For new candidates who administer the law according to the Basic Law instead of abusing it politically. (Isaiah 5:20-24)
• That the CDU stands on the Christian foundation of the Basic Law and points the way forward. (Matthew 5:13-18)

Karin Heepen

East and West – A heart for Germany

Germany is more than political parties, headlines, and elections. It is a country full of people – with stories, hopes, and hurts. Even more than three decades after reunification, we sense that our country has not yet truly become one. Old divisions between East and West have not disappeared. Many East Germans still carry the experience of being disregarded or devalued. In the West, we sometimes get taken over by arrogance, we look down on the East, there is a lack of understanding, and much more. And yet we need each other. We need to hear the diversity of opinions and voices, the different experiences in life, other perspectives – including on the state of our country. Because only together can we form a complete picture of the current situation.

Are we actually seen and recognised – by what has influenced and shaped us?

At its core, it is about more than politics: It is about the deep longing for recognition, respect, and true community. It is about the question: Are we actually seen and recognised – by what has influenced and shaped us? There is a spiritual dimension here, for God sees not only systems and organisations, but people. He knows the hurt in the East as well as the arrogance in the West and calls us to be bridge-builders: to listen, not to judge too quickly, but to take wounds seriously. The Bible says that we are "one body, many parts”. (1 Corinthians 12). What one part suffers, the whole suffers. If one part of our country feels overlooked, the whole country suffers. How can we come more closely together? By listening – without immediately judging. Understanding begins with really listening and then being prepared to change our perspective. Consciously looking as best as we can through the eyes of others. Behind all our differences lies the same longing for love, security, and hope. Let us take steps toward togetherness. Ask questions, perhaps say it again more clearly, ask if have we understood the other correctly, and be grateful for diversity. Being right will no longer get us anywhere. Learning to understand one another is not a sign of weakness, but an expression of love. It takes time, humility, and patience – but it brings healing to families, peace to our society, and depth to our faith.

Prayer:

• Let us not only pray for healing, but for genuine encounters: that we listen to one another with open hearts. Sharing our own life stories often brings deep comfort and inner healing.
• Pray for a new perspective and an understanding of the spiritual treasures from the East – not overlooking their wisdom, but embracing it as an enrichment to the West.
• May freedom and democracy in our country be more than mere concepts. May the fact that these are truly the basis of government in our land be tangible in all our personal interactions, through a living respect for the worth of every human being. Let us honour one another, showing genuine support and understanding in all circumstances.

Alexander Schlüter

The harvest and the shepherd for the sheep

Jesus spoke repeatedly about the harvest during his time on earth—both in parables and in very practical teaching with his disciples. Interestingly, in the Gospel of Matthew, he did this as he saw the people's distress, misery, and suffering. He saw that they were harassed and helpless. He saw them in their instability and lack of perspective and security, just like sheep without a shepherd, and he was deeply moved by this. And he also saw at the same time a prepared harvest, waiting to be gathered and brought home, and he instructed his disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. His response to what he saw was not to stop at what he was seeing, but to look beyond it. He looked at the spiritual dimension and the distress in these people's helplessness and disorientation, and then spoke about the "solution" within the Kingdom of God, namely to bring them to a real and safe home, security, identity, healing, salvation, and liberation. In short: to make them aware of Him as the “good shepherd” for whom their hearts long. They were ready to hear this. This was the way to reach their hearts.

In the natural world, we are currently in the middle of the harvest season. Socially and politically, we find ourselves in a time strongly characterised by uncertainty, a lack of perspective and orientation, and without the power to live safely – somewhat like sheep without a shepherd. When we look at the people around us, but also at politicians and those in power, are we inwardly moved? Not just by anger, but by heartfelt compassion and mercy? Do we recognise in all of this a plentiful harvest that is waiting to be brought home? Let us ask the “Lord of the harvest” for workers – and let us ourselves be ready to bring people the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Prayer:

• Pray for a personal change of perspective regarding the plentiful harvest, for an increase in the desire to witness to those around us, and to be filled with His love for the lost sheep. (Matthew 9:35-38; Colossions 3:12, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 2:14)
• Pray for open doors to proclaim the gospel,
  1. among politicians – in our own land, in Israel, and worldwide,
  2. in our society among all generations and
  3. among Muslims in our land, in the Middle East, and worldwide. (Colossions. 4:3; Luke 10:2)

Tanja Frank

May God’s blessing be with you always, wherever you are,

Alexander Schlüter and Team