Mission Organization
ReachGlobal
Ministry Overview
Berlin Team, Urban Leadership and Outreach
Supported by First Free since
2006
Background
Katie grew up in Chaska, MN where she experienced cross-cultural ministry through short-term trips to Mexico and Romania with her home church, Valley EFC. While in college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she spent a semester in Central America and furthered her interest in what God was doing in Latin America and around the world. After graduating with a B.A. in International Relations in 2000, she spent a year working with a church planting team in Xalapa, Mexico through ReachGlobal.
Ministry Experience
In 2002, Katie began serving with ReachGlobal at the national office in Minneapolis, primarily preparing young adults for cross-cultural ministry and working with U.S. churches to mobilize and disciple young adults. In January of 2006, Katie sensed God leading her to get more theological training and moved to California to begin a degree at Talbot School of Theology. While completing her Master of Divinity, she worked at First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton in women’s ministries and young adult ministries. In the fall of 2011, Katie was persuaded by the spiritual context of Europe and moved to Madrid with ReachGlobal, Spain to work with young adults and professionals.
In 2012, she was certified in Cultural Intelligence, a tool to equip individuals, churches, non-profits and the corporate world to navigate cultural differences. As part of her ministry responsibilities in Madrid, she was asked to learn more about the ReachGlobal ministry initiative in Berlin that focused on seeing gospel transformation in cities. Although she had never been open to working in Germany before, she was drawn to the innovative approach to ministry in the diverse, post-Christian city of Berlin. She has been in Berlin since 2013, initially learning German and helping to expand the team in order to meet the incredible needs of the city.
Current Ministry
Berlin is a learning laboratory for urban ministry, and Katie is passionate about developing new ways to express the gospel in a secular context. Katie currently serves as one of the assistant leaders of the Berlin Team, providing oversight to short-term staff, cultural training and other strategic priorities. In addition to supporting and resourcing current gospel initiatives in the city, she invests time in local community relationships.
Vision
The Berlin Team wants to see the city of Berlin transformed by the power of the gospel in a way that leads to a regional and global impact for Christ. We are trusting God to do this through the development of 100 gospel initiatives throughout the city in partnership with U.S. churches, local German churches and leaders. To that end, we want to be part of equipping the next generation of Christian leaders to engage and serve urban centers around the world and at home.
Website
www.charrette.co (the collaborative effort of ReachGlobal in Berlin)