Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by titiakins: 4:58am On May 23, 2016 |
dancok: abi o,I attend winners,sometimes I don't feel like going to church if I don't have any nice dress to wear,because I know I will be looked down on by fellow Christian. that one Even better sef Go to house on the rock Na the car wey you go carry go you go dey think about |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by donodion(m): 5:46am On May 23, 2016 |
Schwartz: Hello All. Here is my experience at Church in Germany. So far I have attended 3 different churches in different cities here and I love it. This are churches by whites. Though there are one or two Naija churches around but personally I love this ones. I saw a lot of differences
No loud speakers outside: The norm has been during service, churches put on loud speakers outside so the neighborhood of the church hears every thing going on inside the church. To me I feel its noise pollution and unfair to neighbours because some times you have in one street alone in Naija over 5 churches blaring away. Here its so quiet outside the church building that if you don't get into the church you don't even notice there are people inside the church holding service.
Noone comes in gaily dressed: This people are so simple that they don't dress any different to church. If you don't have a nice Sunday wear no one cares. Picture attached was service today. Its summer now and people were wearing shorts to church! Also sleevless floral light dresses. There were no suits, no nice hats, no bogus jewelry, no nice shoes, no Italian bags, no one with nice hairdo. Its was just plain clothes, sneakers and sandals to church. You can't even differentiate between the rich and the poor. I remember in Naija when I used to take materials to my tailor to sew the latest dress so i can wear for church service. I remember all the outdoing and show off by members.
The pastor has no hairs around him: The simplicity of the whites is amazing. Even into the work of the ministry they carry it along. The pastor comes into church carrying his bag by himself. Goes round each member to greet you with a smile and a handshake and asks how you're doing. He is just a humble caring friend you can chat with and he prays for you. He reminds you there is a table he has set for coffee, tea or water. There is just nothing special about him. He just carries out the service normally. He has no special name like G.O or daddy etc. I just cant explain the simplicity of the 3 white pastors I met. At the end of the service they stand at the door for a goodbye handshake. Eyes are opening. Glad you saw this from outside and could compare. Churches in Naija is now more of a business empire. 2 Likes |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by creepsyme(f): 6:37am On May 23, 2016 |
Schwartz: Service today funny enof the members may not take him too seriously untill dey come to a church in naija. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by thesicilian: 6:41am On May 23, 2016 |
allhavesinned:
Point of Correction and For Your Information
Largest megachurches
Average weekly attendances are shown in parentheses:
Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, South Korea (253,000) Jotabeche Methodist P. Church, Santiago, Chile (150,000) Gereja Bethany Indonesia (Bethany Christian Church Indonesia) "Graha Bethany Nginden", Surabaya, Indonesia (135.000) Calvary Temple, Hyderabad, India (120,000) Deeper Life Bible Church, Lagos, Nigeria (120,000) Elim Church, San Salvador, El Salvador (117,000) Nambu Full Gospel, Seoul, South Korea (110,000) AOG Grace and Truth, Kyeonggi-do, South Korea (105,000) Santuário Nossa Senhora Mãe de Deus - Theotókos, Brazil (100,000) Myungsung Presbyterian Church, Gangdong, Seoul (90,000) Kum Ran Methodist, Seoul, South Korea (80,000) Vision de Futuro, Santa Fe, Argentina (70,000) Ondas del Luz, Buenos Aires, Argentina (70,000) Victory Christian Fellowship, Philippines (110,000) Christ's Commission Fellowship, Philippines (60,000) Young Nak Presbyterian Church, Seoul,South Korea (60,000) Winners Chapel, Ota, Nigeria (50,000) Soong Eui Methodist, Inchon, South Korea (47,000) Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas,USA (45,000) Church of the Highlands, Birmingham, Alabama, USA (40,000) El Lugar de Su Presencia, Bogota, Colombia (32,000) This is from Wikipedia: David O. Oyedepo (born September 27, 1954) is a Nigerian Christian author, preacher, the founder and presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church World Wide, also known as Winners' Chapel , and its affiliated international churches known as Winners Chapel International, with headquarters in Ota , Ogun State , Nigeria. Oyedepo is the senior pastor of Faith Tabernacle, a 50,000 seat church auditorium, reported to be the largest church auditorium in the world by the Guinness Book of Records. I can't authoritatively say you're wrong, since you clearly got this list from somewhere, what I'll say is, let's have your source so we can clarify this issue. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by DonaldGenes(m): 6:46am On May 23, 2016 |
buharisbae: Catholic church do use inner loudspeaker buh op u b gay? y u snapping that mans ass?? Hahahahahahaaha You want take laugh finish me |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by DonaldGenes(m): 6:47am On May 23, 2016 |
deife:
lmao. You're so funny. Hahahaha me too |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by Nobody: 6:56am On May 23, 2016 |
Schwartz:
The southern part. Yes, Germany is beautiful and very neat. Wow...very cool. Looking at coming in very soon. Can we chat on whatsapp? My number is 08036892360. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by dedons: 8:46am On May 23, 2016 |
toyinid78: guys. I need ur help I want my. Church to. Grow. Its foursquare in. Iyana ipaja. I did a. Lot yet we never grow,I even. Made a. Movie. Under foursquare to make d church grow wow! I'm also a foursquarian. Is ur church just a branch,zone or district? |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by WHIZKIDEFE(m): 9:02am On May 23, 2016 |
WHIZKIDEFE: So funny, but true. The relationship btw pastor and seed part got me Laughing.. In addition to that, if you want to know the latest fashion trend, visit Naija churches like.... ( i won't mention names o). These days one can barely differentiate a church from a fashion parade. I know some people who won't go to church if they don't buy new pairs of (clothes n shoes), i have been to a church where a pastor was urging it's members to be like a corrupt politician just because the politician( pays fat tithes n offerings in big envelops), the pastor reserves seat for these set of people cos they see them as(assets). I have been in a church where a pastor who doesn't know how his members get their daily bread, stand in the alter and digraced those who were unable to pay their(numerous) dues. What about politics going on in churches today, i guess you've read about CAN elections and godfatherism, so much atrocities in the house of God, pastors taking advantage of gullible members, make i end here jare. Only God can help/save us. All is well. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by greatman247(m): 9:05am On May 23, 2016 |
thesicilian: 1. why are u moving from church to church?
2. as for the loudspeaker issue, the reason we use them here is that our congregations are usually very large sometimes running into thousands. Don't for forgot the largest church in the world which is over 50,000 capacity in a single auditorium is in Nigeria, how do you address such a crowd without a public address system? Thought I must confess though, there are a few small churches who have no business with loudspeakers but use them anyway...
3. As for the one about pastors and their ego, well i think you're 99.995% right. Guy stop talking like dis. U can address 50,000 capacity in a single auditorium without the blaring speakers disturbing the neighbourhood. If the law is pass against churches now and the govt is serious about noise pollution in churches, do u want to tell me that churches will not look for a way to stamp out noise pollution? Just that if govt want to be serious around here they will tagged such govt end time govt. Tell the churches to pay taxes, they'll go against govt and meanwhile, the churches are involve in businesses too like other organisations that pay. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by thesicilian: 9:33am On May 23, 2016 |
greatman247:
Guy stop talking like dis. U can address 50,000 capacity in a single auditorium without the blaring speakers disturbing the neighbourhood. If the law is pass against churches now and the govt is serious about noise pollution in churches, do u want to tell me that churches will not look for a way to stamp out noise pollution? Just that if govt want to be serious around here they will tagged such govt end time govt. Tell the churches to pay taxes, they'll go against govt and meanwhile, the churches are involve in businesses too like other organisations that pay. Can't fault your line of reasoning. In Nigeria we have come to get used to the fact that almost anything goes and as long as the govt is not serious with law enforcement, things will remain the way they are |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by Revolva(m): 10:23am On May 23, 2016 |
buharisbae: Catholic church do use inner loudspeaker buh op u b gay? y u snapping that mans ass?? Wats gay therre you should think twice before u accuse someone don't you know he is holdin d camerra fone the way he canget any shot so it won't be as if he came to church to snap people face - any shot of snap is ok |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by Holyfield1(m): 10:56am On May 23, 2016 |
ichommy:
I guess your just learning Kudos sha, I speak German. Nice. German is actually very interesting if one is willing tol learn.Danke |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by Nobody: 11:23am On May 23, 2016 |
Yes I agree. However Some Nigerians Go to white Churches to get a Lady for Residency. That is why sometimes blacks are look upon with suspicion when they patronized white Churches,.Speaking from Experience. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by missingrib(f): 11:36am On May 23, 2016 |
Charly68: So churches in Nigeria are flamboyant or what are you saying here.. I want you to be sincere with your self on this post..if you are privilege to have an appointment with the President of a nation,how will you dress ? Casual or official ? Your response should give you the basic reason why Churches at this end encourage good dressing to the church services . hear ursef talk..everything in Nigerian is highly over emphasised ..people take churches as a fashion ground where u can showcase your clothes and shoes..I remembered while in school I invited a friend to my church Sunday service his response was that he doesn't have any good cloth to wear.. imagine that..the good cloth he was referring to is "new cloth".. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by StoneColdBiceps(m): 3:03pm On May 23, 2016 |
ottersberger:
Oga, the bolded parts of your contribution, are factually incorrect. hmmm, oya shoot... |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by ottersberger(m): 11:40pm On May 23, 2016 |
In furtherance of the on-going discussion, I inform that Germany has a collective religion tax known as Kirchenlohnsteuer.
Each of the 16 state inland revenue authority known as the Finanzamt collects and disburses this tax on behalf of all recognized religious bodies for the purpose of financing their religious activities.
The Finanzamt withholds a percentage of the collected tax to cover administration costs.
The imposition of religion taxation in Germany is regulated in Art. 140 of the German Constitution known as the Grundgesetz.
In addition to subventions and other official payments, the roman catholic church received a total of 5.5 billion euros in 2013. In the same year, the Pentecostal churches in Germany also received a total of 4.8 billion euros from religion tax.
In 2012, both confessions received a total 140 million euros in government payments exclusive of revenues from religion taxation.
In a representative opinion pool in 2015, 16 percent of pooled citizens supports the religion tax model.
With the exception of the state of Bavaria (Bayern) and Baden-Württemberg (Mercedes Benz and Porsche are based here) where the religion tax rate is 8 percent, the rest 14 federal states fixed its rate at 9 percent of taxable monthly income. periodically, these rates may be reviewed by the diocesan bishops and approved into law by the various state legislatures.
Let me emphasize that you may opt out of paying this tax entirely by declaring a no religion affiliation. You may do so by a simple declaration to your local tax authority. However, if you wish to enjoy the services of the church, eg. a church wedding or Confirmation for your children, you'll well served to be a tax paying church citizen.
A high ranking German bishop was removed and recalled by Rome a few years ago because he spent over 2 or 3 million euros on the renovation of the Bishop's residence. This singular incident was greeted with an audacious public condemnation here, prompting pope Benedict to recall the erring Bishop.
The church in Germany does not entirely subsist on offerings and collections. However, the madness in Nigeria need to be arrested like yesterday already. 1 Like |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by Adortem: 7:31am On May 24, 2016 |
Schwartz:
Nein, Ich spreche wenig Deutsch, aber ich lerne jetzt Deutsch Wunderbar! |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by Eke40seven(m): 4:54am On May 25, 2016 |
ottersberger: In furtherance of the on-going discussion, I inform that Germany has a collective religion tax known as Kirchenlohnsteuer.
Each of the 16 state inland revenue authority known as the Finanzamt collects and disburses this tax on behalf of all recognized religious bodies for the purpose of financing their religious activities.
The Finanzamt withholds a percentage of the collected tax to cover administration costs.
The imposition of religion taxation in Germany is regulated in Art. 140 of the German Constitution known as the Grundgesetz.
In addition to subventions and other official payments, the roman catholic church received a total of 5.5 billion euros in 2013. In the same year, the Pentecostal churches in Germany also received a total of 4.8 billion euros from religion tax.
In 2012, both confessions received a total 140 million euros in government payments exclusive of revenues from religion taxation.
In a representative opinion pool in 2015, 16 percent of pooled citizens supports the religion tax model.
With the exception of the state of Bavaria (Bayern) and Baden-Württemberg (Mercedes Benz and Porsche are based here) where the religion tax rate is 8 percent, the rest 14 federal states fixed its rate at 9 percent of taxable monthly income. periodically, these rates may be reviewed by the diocesan bishops and approved into law by the various state legislatures.
Let me emphasize that you may opt out of paying this tax entirely by declaring a no religion affiliation. You may do so by a simple declaration to your local tax authority. However, if you wish to enjoy the services of the church, eg. a church wedding or Confirmation for your children, you'll well served to be a tax paying church citizen.
A high ranking German bishop was removed and recalled by Rome a few years ago because he spent over 2 or 3 million euros on the renovation of the Bishop's residence. This singular incident was greeted with an audacious public condemnation here, prompting pope Benedict to recall the erring Bishop.
The church in Germany does not entirely subsist on offerings and collections. However, the madness in Nigeria need to be arrested like yesterday already. However, note that the only churches that enjoy these goodies are only Catholic and protestant churches. If you don't belong to either of these, or not a Muslim,your status will be written as "no religion" and you are not obliged to pay church taxes which are meanwhile limited to members. Note also, these churches run missionary and non governmental programmes where they spend millions upon millions of euros to fund. The tax itself is negligible. But here, you pay tithe, different categories of offerings, and 'seeds'. Truth be told though, most Europeans hardly attend churches. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by ottersberger(m): 1:47pm On May 25, 2016 |
Your observations are correct sir. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by Schwartz: 2:57pm On May 25, 2016 |
ottersberger: In furtherance of the on-going discussion, I inform that Germany has a collective religion tax known as Kirchenlohnsteuer.
by Rome a few years ago because he spent over 2 or 3 million euros on the renovation of the Bishop's residence. This singular incident was greeted with an audacious public condemnation here, prompting pope Benedict to recall the erring Bishop.
The church in Germany does not entirely subsist on offerings and collections. However, the madness in Nigeria need to be arrested like yesterday already. Tax is for Catholics and Protestants only. I am neither one of them. I am Pentecostal. My Church gains no tax money from the government. The pastor told us how difficult and time consuming it was before he was allowed to open this Church. Talking about the Catholic bishop I don't know if its true but here in Germany if you find anyone in a church on a Sunday then you should know that the person truly wants to serve God. The tradition on Sunday in Germany is to stay at home gardening, bike ridding or doing anything that pleases you. People hardly go to church here. The monies from this Tax is heavily used in Charities, refugees, hospitals, schools, retirement homes, medical care for the poor, palliative hospices and so much more. The Tax money is not for the church or Pastor to blow at will. The Protestant church I attended Lutheran, the Pastor rides a bicycle to church. Heck my Pastor rides the bus to church with us. 1 Like |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by ottersberger(m): 4:01pm On May 25, 2016 |
The above was not intended to stir up a debate about who receives what, but to show how things are structured in the location under focus.
I also brought up the fore-going for information and education purpose. The bishop i mentioned, was the former bishop of limburg, Bischop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst. You may want to google up on the story.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I may open a thread about Germany generally. Your thread has shown that our wealth of experiences may yet benefit others who will make the journey or wish to sojourn in this beautiful and accommodating country. |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by Nobody: 10:43am On Jun 07, 2016 |
Schwartz: No multiple offerings: the offering basket is usually close to the exit door. In the three churches in three different cities I attendend I have never heard a call for offering. At the end of the service as you exit you may choose to drop an offering, any amount of your choice.
No special seat for anyone: No special seat or special recognition for any titled person or senior politician etc. Nobody cares if you got money or not. No one is treated differently by the pastor or any member. Persons called to take the mic few times are people who are involved in missionary works. To intimate the congregation on efforts so far. Some people here just live to do missionary work alone. Its amazing.
Every one is friendly: Its kind of intimidating being the only black around. The members want to know your name, what you do, where you are from and what's happening with you. Everyone introduces themselves with a smile and a handshake. They make you feel at home, like a brother. I remember when we were told to wait for Mexican food because the Mexicans in the church were celebrating their anniversary. After taking food, I sat at a corner to eat. Lo and behold everyone was calling me to come seat with them and eat. It felt nice just seeing this now I went to church for the first time in Germany day before yesterday it was super! 1 Like |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by dolpaz: 11:22pm On Jul 10, 2016 |
Well, make I just dey observe ! |
Re: My Experience At Church Service In Germany by mostyg(m): 9:19am On Aug 25, 2016 |
Schwartz: Hello All. Here is my experience at Church in Germany. So far I have attended 3 different churches in different cities here and I love it. This are churches by whites. Though there are one or two Naija churches around but personally I love this ones. I saw a lot of differences
No loud speakers outside: The norm has been during service, churches put on loud speakers outside so the neighborhood of the church hears every thing going on inside the church. To me I feel its noise pollution and unfair to neighbours because some times you have in one street alone in Naija over 5 churches blaring away. Here its so quiet outside the church building that if you don't get into the church you don't even notice there are people inside the church holding service.
Noone comes in gaily dressed: This people are so simple that they don't dress any different to church. If you don't have a nice Sunday wear no one cares. Picture attached was service today. Its summer now and people were wearing shorts to church! Also sleevless floral light dresses. There were no suits, no nice hats, no bogus jewelry, no nice shoes, no Italian bags, no one with nice hairdo. Its was just plain clothes, sneakers and sandals to church. You can't even differentiate between the rich and the poor. I remember in Naija when I used to take materials to my tailor to sew the latest dress so i can wear for church service. I remember all the outdoing and show off by members.
The pastor has no hairs around him: The simplicity of the whites is amazing. Even into the work of the ministry they carry it along. The pastor comes into church carrying his bag by himself. Goes round each member to greet you with a smile and a handshake and asks how you're doing. He is just a humble caring friend you can chat with and he prays for you. He reminds you there is a table he has set for coffee, tea or water. There is just nothing special about him. He just carries out the service normally. He has no special name like G.O or daddy etc. I just cant explain the simplicity of the 3 white pastors I met. At the end of the service they stand at the door for a goodbye handshake. expecting you back at the general Germany visa thread |