What's up? Principles of Next Door.

Next Door is a Protestant missionary initiative in Rotensee, a district of the city of Bergen on the Ruegen Island at the German Baltic Sea. This living area is typical for eastern German cities with its architecture of apartment building made from prefabricated cement-slabs.

Next Door's vision is to follow Jesus' example, of whom is written: And the Word became flesh and lived among us. (John 1,14). God became human in Jesus and became a part of Judaism. He spoke the language of the people around him. He went were people were. He preached the gospel at the kitchen table. Jesus was next door. Within reach. Then and now.

Like Jesus, Next Door wants to be where the people are. This is why we live in the district of Rotensee. We want to take part in people's lives as Jesus did. We want to share their joy and pain. We want to visit them, eat with them, have tea or coffee together. We want to help where help is needed. We want to give our time to people. We want to love people as Jesus loves them. In all of this we want to live there as Christians, who live their belief in Jesus with devotion and excitement – with devotion for this and in this special place (Acts 1,8). We want to be salt and light (Matthew 5,13-16). Salt that makes thirsty for life. Light, that illuminates darkened souls and makes them full of hope. In everyday life. On the streets of Rotensee, in a supermarket and a pub. We want to be next door. Reachable. Available.

That is why we greet the people we meet on the street. This greeting itself is an expression of Jesus' life – approaching people with a friendly look and wish them well on their way. This greeting on the street or the staircase is a repeated knocking and waiting for people to build up trust and get open for a talk or closer contact (Revelation 3,20).

The Emmaus experience of the two disciples (Luke 24, 13-35) is exemplary for Next Door. Jesus suddenly comes up on their way. He joins them, walks along with them. He accompanies them. And his first question is: „What are you discussing together as you walk along?” Before Jesus tells them why he has to die and rise up, before he preaches them the gospel, he listens to them. Like Jesus, we see ourselves on the way with our neighbours. We join them on the way of their lives, walk with them, accompany them. We want to be sensitive to what they tell us and listen to them. In this way we trust that Emmaus happens again and thus the topic of the gospel comes up.

When we visit people we believe that, with us, Christ comes up to them (John 13,20). We are sure that Jesus acts even by our simple conversation, our listening, sharing and practical help. We are sure: HE will open the door for preaching his good message. HE will make a way to people's hearts. HE is already acting (Psalm 22,29).

In our work we want to share – not only share our neighbours' needs, but also share our own live (1 Thessalonians 2,8). Next Door is not a communicative one way street. In this way we want to witness to people how God acts in our lives. Consequent life in following Jesus has an effect to others that should not be underestimated. We want to be a letter written by Christ that is read by everyone (2 Corinthians 3,2f).

Next Door works in a team. As a team we reflect what Christian fellowship can look like. We have experienced how such a fellowship radiates. Praying for our living area is an important part of our life together.

Next Door sees itself as a new expression of congregational Life. Our aim is that Next Door becomes a congregation one day: a congregation especially from and with people from Rotensee. A congregation, where people find a way out of their isolation and experience a change in their lives. We want to commit this way of developing a congregation to God. We believe that HE goes with and in front of us in all things.

After trying to establish events and offers, we emphasize simple life as a community on site as followers of Jesus. Encounters in everyday life and continiuing contact to each person, simply a consequent going together (Matthew 28,19) to build relationships is and continues to be the focus of our missionary work. We have experienced and are convinced that this way is a patient but very fascinating way to approach people who do not know Jesus yet. A way that enables healing and change in people.