well you know. we've got some hot tips for your bucket list. the magic corner chad. what's hot for some. and some great culture memorials to boot. travel we go. every 10 years the spotlight is on a small town and every area when its residents recreate the story of christ suffering and death half a 1000000 visitors flocks into oberammergau they come from all over the world but the villages don't perform the passion play just for 2 wrists they do it because

they made a vow to god to commemorate his goodness in this way when the plane the black death threaten their village with extinction 400 years ago as i type this persona spear the passion play lives from the fact that we have a message as many people and that we derive that message from the gospels that we ask ourselves what's important today when that's money and we focus on particular aspects of the story that's was like that if we look for the things that are important for contemporary society of course the death of jesus is central to the passion like this but we ask god why did he die on the cross on his own quotes that's what we need to focus on. why were the people so angry why were the religious leaders against him why did people follow him and what did he want to achieve we have to show all that in our passions like at least that's our intention avoiding that sayang.

oktober 2018. preparations are underway for the next oberon macau passion play. in a few minutes the names of the 2020 cost will appear on the sport for the past 10 years the direct to christian struggle has wrestled with the difficult question which of the town's residents is most suited to put trade jesus while his mother mary who punches pilot now he's made his choice and it's been confirmed by the town council behind closed doors both of those when they think they've given up on that in every other theater in the world the director chooses the cast he wants but here it's not so simple that every resident born in or around the gulf or is lived here for 20 years has the right to

a role in the passion play so whether i want to or not i have to cast them if i never start with a number from my 1st production in 1900 i have 1400 adults now we have 900 adults and 450 children to cuba and i like the fact that the qualification of being born in overall margot you're living here for 20 years says nothing about the person a social standing or religion their gender or their orientation mix. with a good bagel this is a cross section of our village to the stores this. is a lot of media interest who will try jesus to act as a chosen one of them has already played the role twice. frederick myatt remembers the 1st time he was cost. but i thought. i wasn't expecting it because i was an all of the part and then suddenly i saw my name on the board and i was gobsmacked it changes your life from one day to the next and that's he says leaving

sean as the man who portrays christ you have a responsibility towards the village and the passion play off as a few of the focus of attention and you have to deal with that it. must come with to be gain. there are 2 actors for each of the main roles they alternate in more than $100.00 performances but everybody listed on the board knows that their life will change after months of rehearsing they will perform the passion play for half a year that's hard to reconcile with a normal job to have a place one of the main roles usually has to take vacation for the length of the run the passion play demands everything of the participants. but it's not just the main roles that are announced today christians to kill an assistant director up to look aracoma have also decided who's to play roman

soldiers and residents of jerusalem. more than 2000 people will take part in the production. for most families it's a tradition that's passed down from one generation to the next yeah we need fossil fuel in that yes that tradition is almost 400 years old everybody has pictures in their home showing grandad as a roman soldier or grandma is mary magdalene more your book that leave it everybody has some kind of connection with and even people who have just arrived in the village or want to be involved in some way but it could be that basically the seat of the for 12 months people hardly talk about anything but that passion because you'll get people's personal spiritual for that. at the stroke who's being. even what role is the talk of the town in a few months the so-called hair and beard easy to be proclaimed from then on men may no longer shave will cut their hair less of course they're roman soldiers for

me here in the here's a song for me personally it's a sign that we're all getting ready for the passion play. quite literally growing into the role that by her to her name of allah the night of oxalis. with a population of some 4 and a half 1000 ober-ammergau lies 100 kilometers south of munich on the northern edge of the alps germany's highest peak the sushi pizza and king would fit the 2nd spirital palace and linda was a close by the wonder the village is one of the various most popular tourist destinations. below the passion play is staged only once every 10 years it has a permanent influence on the village. the gospel story is painted on the facades of houses in all its variations. an immersive inish up so carvings of science apostles and crucifixes. other ahmed al represents

a tradition that makes the gospel narrative accessible in many forms. the villages crucifix carvers are as famous as its passion play which has been attracting visitors since the 19th century. some with them were english green excels it was free the british the swedish and the danish royals and the austrian houseparents have all been here little. frederick myatt knows he'll be tied up here for the next 10 months 5 times a week from mid may until october the residents of oberammergau will rehearse jesus's suffering and death each performance lasts more than 5 hours it's a mammoth undertaking device to come from for the $1500.00. 1000 visitors come from all over the world to see the passion play at the end is jesus you are at the center of things that's where you just so you have a responsibility each day that you appear on the stage to perform as well as you

possibly can to go to bed early the night before to know other lives and to stay healthy because really after portraying jesus has had a bad day it's especially noticeable on those of. these a festive atmosphere in oberon macau today the villages enjoy celebrating and they also like to do so on stage 12 months before the passion play they put on a show depicting the play that led to the village committing itself to a tradition of religious theater. was the midst of. this. experience $1633.00 the black death is ravaging southern germany bringing still more death and destruction in the wake of the 30 years war the village goes into lockdown to stave off the epidemic but a man from a neighboring village already infected with the plague manages to circumvent the

watchmen the result is predictable my. the black death carries off children women and men but. the grave digger played by raucous ripple was also one of the actors portraying jesus in the passion play as his hands for my finally the residents of oberammergau discover a way out of their suffering i've tried to say i guess i'd say. the that's the concept that my dad other. big god's image to. us is that i was sad to take that. i feel that i shall have. to promise to stage

a passion play every 10 years eventually defeated the plague the village chronicle relates that from the day they took the vow nobody in the village died of the disease well. i decide this here i am. october the 20th 20 a chain on this stage it's not just actors appearing on the stage at the ober-ammergau theater but real priests in an ecumenical service the village residence for a new devout. 16th and she's 3 as they did before every stage of the passion play. i did this this i think it tried the fresh. fish knockout. ranks of this past year and should be out.

the. israel jewish christian music by quiet must among speak is one of the great passion hymns from the trumpet i was in the bottom of the on on the outside on the set some i think there's a different approach to religion. but often outside of the church the church has the same problems here as in the neighboring villages in the. i have received. the ober-ammergau performs don't view their passion play is a specifically catholic event and have been for decades the winter right to christian one of the main malls to a muslim because something of a stir. i can also pray in arabic because we muslims also pray in arabic. from my whole family who live as muslims even my relatives in turkey and in the my grandmothers and grandfathers and

my cousins are all pleased you know this age they know very well but it's a christian play but they say it's great you're doing it most of you don't have to be a christian to understand religion or state. where. the council's presented to the media this special interest in the fact that change is good or a muslim will be playing a train teachings use. to do this for us all the focus is. i've been asked if it's a provocation that a young man from a turkish family is playing judas no it's not and casting the roles my only consideration is who i can envision playing who i see in the role. how good to see our stage. they'll devour sheep and cattle they will not stop to get worked up. a. winter 2019 the 1st rehearsals of cold they held in the town small theater the

actors familiarize themselves with a new script in small groups playing judas genghis guru tries to persuade jesus to lead a rebellion against the roman occupiers this concentrated work on the script opens up new perspectives. man you suspect it's you my me gets high and nothing my image of jesus has changed a bit after all the changes to the script were changing the performance a bit and also seeing the roles a bit differently so he's also thought to myself it's jesus is really more than jesus and that is why he was a person who wanted to teach people how to behave towards each other to love one another even when it's hard. it's violence is no solution as it divides can and you have to draw the good out of people's this and not simply hope for the best selves and people have to stand up and do something themselves and the people don't understand that dimension is pushed on if they're stupid. when somebody slaps us in the face we're supposed to tolerate it. you. know

they're. still cool isn't system the act is imagine how they can relate to thinks and feels this involves dealing with religious issues. that they see fit is if you aren't really interested in what we're pre-training here and that includes an interest in religion then you can be part of it in many of the discussions we've had here of course i've noticed that he brings a different perspective a muslim perspective to the last supper and other things he has a genuine interest in the production truck with. you you go to lead them the people will rise and will drive the wretched romans from our land . you do not be afraid of the romans do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body love your enemies. and on course in 100 most most

of course when you have one of the big roles you have to approach it differently it was possible and i must say i found a completely new understanding through the passion play and by portraying jesus team in order. i think about the james and jesus's message it slightly differently . i have to say i developed a new enthusiasm for the themes from the heart i view it as a great gift to be able to think about these issues so intensely and since it's the myth otherwise you can perhaps only do this as a student of theology we have the opportunity to think about them intensely every 10 years and i don't. have enough of that after the years assist specific of i often used to think that

jesus is arrogant when he says i am the way but i think he means it differently so i am the way to god to show you i'll tell you if you do this and be like this decision of this is tied in which we live would be better and if jesus is often quite pragmatic and straightforward talk matters and then he says if somebody is hungry give them something to eat and when somebody is naked even close to scott's and when he's a stranger give them shelter that's very simple. and that's what makes me think these are so i jesus is like a compass as a device he knows what's good and what's bad is off the dimension actually everyone knows intuitively what's good and what's bad uses for in jesus challenges us to follow that inner voice and say do what's good and don't do what the bad tooth and for that's very simple it's constant. orientate you are god not in what's better in the world what sort of and what's more just best service in the event of

a stiff this event and to stop. he's a boat and i think that churches have sometimes forgotten how to bring this message across. they often focus on whether it's right to let divorcees who remarried go to communion in the bishop so suddenly important. but jesus was definitely with the people. they mention he broke bread with judas. nobody's perfect you have to be able to forgive and he shared bread with somebody maybe did something wrong by this human. life i think jesus wouldn't think about it for a 2nd but when it went off thinking they've been stuck in my skin then marriages can crash and sometimes it happens like. this inside so when somebody finds a new partner he shouldn't be excluded off of the he also just lost and done a lot of. tennis because. that's going to have.

had. time to make if you. know if you it's something if you. own it was loopy this is my 4th production and i remember when i was 25 and directed the passion play for the 1st time the actor playing jesus had to take a lot from me. i was a young rebel so jesus had to be rebellious too it was very important to me that jesus was rebellious. but one grows older and suddenly in 2010 i thought it's not important to me at all whether he's loud. and suddenly i discovered places in the gospels that said i will not cry out and one will not hear my voice in the streets he wasn't somebody who got ahead through a noise and rebelliousness but resolutely and it's really interesting that you

discover jesus a new every 10 years it's. it gets that's what's on for the 2020 production the context only became much more important to me that's all refugees and people on the margins of society are treated. i discovered the social jesus much more strongly and i thought it's crazy that there were similar social issues 2000 years ago that we have i was a stranger and you didn't give me shelter if i was poor and you didn't give me anything to eat if you look in that direction if you suddenly find that jesus gives very clear answers as to how we treat foreigners and refugees or people on the margins of society we shouldn't treat them as we do it's not what jesus intended. oberammergau out in the group of bishop called even though there haven't been the usual heavy snowfalls this year the passion play theater is the largest building in

if you know each and was constructed in 898 is specially to stage the play some other musical and theatrical performances also take place here but it's 1st and foremost the passion play theater. it. is. the full rehearsals are held in freezing temperatures for the 1st time in the history of the passion play each actor is registered elektra mcleish attendance at rehearsals is compulsory another reason to check attendance even actors playing minor roles receive some financial compensation. the men under c.s. tomorrow practice the 1st rehearsals in a passion play theatre to give you a wonderful feeling and before that the song rehearsed in the little theatre that's employed that you would hear you have the feeling that these people are people

you've hardly seen for 10 years in the minds of this. certainly the village gathers and stands together on the stage in the future and there are many wonderful people among them since the author of all the fun is made on you come to the passion play theater for the 1st time aged 4 or 6 or 7 then 10 years later you're a teenager and you recognize that it's a great experience inside the village has a great time putting on this production with an audience of people develop an emotional connection to the passion play the very young as a child or as a teenager that's the office to know the youngest have just as much right to be on stage as the oldest people over 90 and it's a great experience for all of them and wonderful time soon it's. this year rehearsals one of the shadows by allowing reports of a life threatening virus on march the 11th the world health organization to keep it

closed that 19 pandemic could apply still be staged. with just 3 months to go before the 1st performance unfinished props lie scattered around the woody turin. italy is the passion play is part of our d.n.a. we need it as you get that feeling at rehearsals i have it now when i call a rehearsal for 450 kids they come straight away it was for a lot of ways of going to form little groups run around in shout big about out or shout softly softly old sheep and goats kick up our racket partner to get out of the. rut the that's the orchestra pit watch out it's over with up this week i always say that's why the passion play has survived so long because it's our biggest social event. everyone needs out from every section of society women men children and teenagers old and

young or if you do it simply out. the biggest social event and everybody wants to take part is. that i. was. due date i'll start this. is a hands on to right now. for all the after the august low well guess both have the box right what they have got was right there right. now can't have it shocked out i don't think the trunk up off of. much 92028. flags at the entrance to advertise the great event but a shadow who's for them on the production this year the village council which even embellishments come to vons with the passion play has cooled to press conference the play has to be cancelled you said the did it become a bunch of over time ago has of course become economically dependent on the passion

play and this will probably hit lots of people hard. what we've seen very clearly at rehearsals during the past few weeks is that the residents of oberammergau are totally committed to their passion play and everybody sorry it won't take place now evolving from the moment at that moment i felt almost relieved but the actors were also standing around the square other people who i knew were crushed by the decision they take an unpaid vacation or dropped out of university for a term used to. weaver hearst almost every evening for months on end. all of them did the month it looked as if i was a it was like a bubble burst they've been open and i also feel deflated to. be able to talk a little plots. off the opposite when they cancelled the play lots of people were depressed so was

i it was like somebody calling the rug out from under your feet all my plans for next year were turned upside down it's not all it was decided yesterday evening that we won't cancel the passion play so it's postponed until may 21st 2022 for shipping. it's i want to call that the threat of a pandemic what's made ober-ammergau famous for 400 years has now temporarily closed the village. the portrayal of christ suffering and death which the residents of oberammergau vowed to perform when their village was struck by the plague in 1633 famously ends with christ's resurrection that message of hope is part of up around the gas legacy this time the actors will just have to wait another 2 years to proclaim it but to start suddenly christiane said everyone

will play the same parts will all come together in 2 years let's hope in good health you know i'm already looking forward to it.

i. think he's quite as simple as it seems. to understand the world better we need to take a closer. experience knowledge tomorrow to judge. strong due diligence. missing berlin nico flu this shows us things that we can still do despite corona and the pandemic sell off to be underground to discover incredible architecture in

the german capitals branden subway stations and when these years the theatres close again what exactly does berlin have to offer to sell their kids even now a lot to discover. him 16. to. happiness fears for everyone schuman penises are very different from primates peanuts we have a totally ridiculous romanticized view of nature and their feet and this is climate change for a good sex happiness and 3 books you get smarter for free you know be books on.

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this is news live from berlin mass detentions at the highest level in jordan officials insist the former crown prince is part of a malicious plot to destabilize the kingdom also coming up the u.s. state of florida is facing a potential ecological disaster officials fear a leaking reservoir could set off a huge wave of toxic waste water the governor declares that emergency and hundreds are ordered to leave their homes. and in the bundesliga berlin's cool leads a charmed life as the visitors frustrate arch rivals in the capital city dark.

next by sir welcome to the program. jordan says it has uncovered a plot to destabilize the kingdom involving the former crown prince the government maintains hams have been hussein and others were undermining security as many as 20 high level officials have been arrested hamza denies being part of a conspiracy according to jordan security officials the king's half bravo hum's a bin hussein had been under investigation for some time the country's foreign minister said the form of crown prince was trying to mobilize tribal leaders against the government with support from abroad. the investigations monitored interference including calls with foreign parties were guarding the suitable timing to start steps to shake the security of our steady jordan. 16

people including a former advisor to king abdullah and another member of the royal family were arrested the military initially denied arresting hum's up and hussein and said it had issued him a warning for his actions but in a video statement sent to media on saturday prince holmes that claimed he had been placed under house arrest for associating with critics of the royal family there is no conspiracy. or of any conspiracy. overtones. it's my movement has restricted it's my ability to communicate has been restricted but people have been arrested to try and distract from the fundamental forces. have become common in our system as a result of. and incompetence of. though he no longer holds an official title

remains a popular figure in the country. live you know it's just not right for prince holmes or to be linked to these people these are people who jordanians see as questionable who are really frowned upon. and what. we do not want to see anything no matter how small happened in this country this country is known and stable and secure and i ask god to have this country remain stable and secure. and many see the stability in king abdul of the 2nd he has enjoyed widespread popularity during his reign jordan is widely seen as an island of carbon a troubled region strategically located between israel syria saudi arabia and iraq the u.s. u.k. and several arab nations of all expressed their full support for the reigning monarch and for more on this we're joined now by. he's a political analyst and columnist the deputy prime minister is accusing france

hands of working with what he calls foreign parties to undermine the security of jordan what does he mean by that. well actually this is surprising this is a very surprising statement by the foreign minister and actually we usually in gordon we don't have any let's say enemies or somebody or any foreign policy that is interested in this applies in the country so basically this was a bit surprising and as long as the foreign minister talked about this i guess there should be also concrete evidence as for there so basically this might lead to a mule. let's say a confrontation for gordon with this new reality although all we in jordan believe . that there is nobody targeting the internal situation of jordan so the issue is been explained as well from their reaction of most of the countries to the

issue yesterday happened yesterday like the support endorsement of king of the lucky him from all over the world so this means that. in reality we don't feel that there is anybody interested in this destabilisation of jordan so i think the government is a blight soon to reveal these concrete evidence as in order to be credible and then and especially also toward the interior an audience on the part jordanian public opinion i mean what when he talks about foreign parties there's a could be a number of countries including saudi arabia your neighbor who were mohamed bin salman has been engaged in a number of foreign adventures that are people talking about that as a possibility. well i don't think that there is an evidence for there simply may be there are not meant of that resting of power the law works where the moments of man might lead to this muchness not forget that king abdullah law's last visit was time for madmen so the man and he went along with the crown prince and this might

be linked also to what's happening here then immediately the 1st country to endorse . his majesty's airports was was the saudi arabia this means there. are politically speaking or diplomatically speaking there is no proof that the saudis might be interested in such issue otherwise i think there are the law wouldn't have been arrested in this way prince hamza spoke of poor and incompetent governance in that video without naming a king but could this be the remark of a bitter half brother deprived of his status as crown prince or is there truth behind me saying. well last night knew that he left. his death as a crown princess more than 15 years now that he is not a crown prince so basically i don't see direct link between that specie that he after that he had a lot of very famous letter saying that he has no desire or up the title governance

and he would understand this then he appeared in recent years morse lee engaging in domestic issues so it's not it's something unusual surprising to see that the use words which is common and boredom i though it recently in public opinion there's very high criticism toward the public the food let's say governance of governments not being said from a member of the royal family is a bit shocking or surprising and for sure it's a risky because it opens. let's see a kind of affection which is not a story in jordan but in fact jordan is based on the strength and unity of this time elite we never were there so if i want to remember. in the previous. can call saying it was a very smooth transition and therefore it's a bit surprising foci will thank you so much for helping us try to understand the

surprise political analyst in a math christians around the world have been celebrating easter under the shadow of the pandemic for the 2nd year running pope francis has given his traditional blessing from st peter's basilica in rome he stressed the importance of vaccines and urged rich countries to ensure supplies are fairly distributed to their poor neighbors. it didn't seem to be putting a blessing for the faithful. pope francis address just a small crowd compared to the usual tens of thousands on easter sunday but his message was one for the world. you know spirito the internet the entire international community. in the spirit of global responsibility. to commit to overcoming delays in the distribution of vaccines. better facilitate the distribution especially in the poorest countries in. the pupil very

traditional resort to catholic leader focused his message on the world's most vulnerable including those suffering from the coronavirus pandemic and he called for an end to armed conflicts around the globe like that in syria where many also gathered to mark one of the most important christian holidays of the year. and middle man missy had it just as christ suffered this week the holy week for christians for the salvation of humanity we are also suffering every day with a long war that came to us with the coronavirus pandemic the economic pressure and the families who emigrate. they were among the millions across the world who found ways to celebrate despite the covert 9000 restriction. in jerusalem however this year's

worshipers were allowed to participate in mass at the holy settled considered the holiest place in christianity but even there the pandemic was front of mind. i think about my. brazil they are and. they cannot sit by. the. church. like the pope in rome they to speak of hope amid the pandemic. the u.s. state of florida is facing a potential ecological catastrophe officials fear a leaking reservoir could collapse unleashing a 20 foot wall of water hundreds of residents have been ordered to leave their homes the governor has declared a state of emergency the race is on to drain the reservoir before the

walls gave way polluted water has been gushing out of a break in the final lining of the pool at the piney point plant for the last week officials are alarmed. were hoping that we can just continue to get the water out in an efficient way and to prevent a catastrophic event if it's to plug the leak have failed emergency crews and the national guard are trying to pump the water out in time to head off disastrous flooding. it's a rural area but there are $300.00 homes nearby residents have been ordered to leave the wastewater comes from an old phosphate plant and contains high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen some social media posts claim the water is radioactive florida's governor has a reassuring message. but to be clear the water being discharged to port manatee is

not radio active as primarily salt water from the port manatee dredge project mixed with legacy process water and storm water runoff. the governor says the company operating the site should be held responsible for local people can only hope that the reservoir rules keep holding up. time for sports now the bundestag has big game on sunday. when young were looking for a win that would keep them in the hunt for european qualification qualification and keep their city rivals mired in relegation trouble but at other ideas. were forced into a change for the darby. positive kovac 1000 test meant alexander was pressed into service and goal. urged on by their funds fireworks outside the

ground started with a bang. reacted well to push over cush approvals 2nd minute header. but there was nothing the stand in keeper could do moments later. a rocket from what made it one nil to after 10 minutes. my it looked like it would take an eastern miracle for heritage to get back into the match and one julien arrived when the referee deemed this challenge a material game does eat worthy of a penalty. stepped up and sent this new to the wrong way 1135 minutes and that's the way it finished after a 2nd half in which no one could quite get it right in front of goal. the spoils shared in the darby to the point and has done neither sight much good. and should were looking to boost their chances of european qualification with

a win over visitors braman a drab game was settled perhaps fittingly by an own goal from raymonds. with just 9 minutes left to play and sad result for brainless stuttgart to 7th place just one below the european qualification spots dropped to 30. a look then at the results of the 27th match day of the bundesliga season with just 7 more to go again there is the draw in the berlin darby saturday's big match saw biron defeat 2nd place live seek frankfurt beat dortmund well spurs was a winner and mentioned back defeated freiburg. you're watching news coming up next is reporter last chance church asylum don't forget you can stay up to date with all the latest headlines on our web site d w dot com on next ice or thanks for watching.

let's get right to the. good times are for the. warming. up of the most well caught yet. the industry is controlling your thoughts the great books of the 20th century. the present day hoaxes. crazy. actually no it's stores may 3rd double.

up today don't miss our highlights w. program. w dot com highlights. pastor gertrude martin's gives blessings in farsi the language of iran his church is open to among others refugees slated for deportation this may be their last chance for the ira from iran and of afghanistan as christians they were persecuted in their own countries and even face the death penalty they ought to be allowed to stay in germany says pastor martens for years he's acted in defiance of the german courts of i'm not worried about that in the least then they should just send me to prison.

when berlin's church of the holy trinity was built a century or so ago the basement was meant to be used as a fellowship hall but now it's become home to refugees most of them from iran and afghanistan protestant pastor dr godfried martins has granted them church sanctuary the immigration authority and the police don't get past the door. now we're entering an area that at the present not even the church members are allowed into so we can maintain the security of. reasonable price and also here in this area there's a quarantine room for newcomers. noir but when they come to us they have to go into quarantine for 14 days before they can live in the community with the others.

that someone is in there now no no no he's done and another ones and only one person has just been released and now the other one goes. you know. the big fellowship area only a little spaces left. on this side we have the sleeping quarters where our church refugees can spend the night. nothing current does you know this is a room with a kitchenette a little fellowship room and it's a kind of living room for the refugees from the increase in. the rooms generally housed 10 men are so they are all slated for deportation and only allowed to remain in germany until their data arrives most of them profess a christian faith and actively practice it. that means they pronounced islam and act punishable by death in iran the right comes from tehran knows he cannot return

to iran he's trying to adjust to life in germany and learn the language we feel forced to leave. the east the. east wants to. believe. that you know. you know iran i wasn't allowed to profess christianity officially learn more about christianity that your thora g.'s would have arrested or killed me. call with and then done with. the only opportunity i had to be active in it was through the internet and my own research and i was a member of a home congregation. and i would hear you so much when it all came out i received threats and my family came under pressure they intimidated me for the. more sure that you should wear those.

in the church has gained a reputation for his delicious soup. when he fled iran he passed to bulgaria and romania and eventually arrived in germany. could put a horse to water. he knocked on the church door and pastor martens let him in. and i was a really. big if i told a hungry person jesus loves you and then sent them away without giving them something to eat so if i saw someone whose life was in danger and didn't take action. it would if i did that i completely destroyed my own credibility. even in germany christian converts often live dangerously in the refugee shelters there are radical muslims who see converts as a past hate infidels and threaten the course this is what happened to alice

a lot of afghanistan. i'm out of those i had a roommate at the refugee shelter who was a muslim. who started when he saw me wearing a cross. it was disrespectful to me and threatened me that on the mic i reported it to the shelters managers and they warned him that the threats didn't stop. even trying to throw me out the window on the 5th floor and jump out on a point over the past 15 years well over a 1000 refugees have found sanctuary with pastor martens now they make up the majority of his congregation most of the german members are getting on in years many of them help out the refugees with learning german for example often converts the pastor to baptize them 1st they have to attend a preparation course regularly among the topics of the christian doctrine and

differences to islam at this session they discuss the church position on divorce the neophytes complete the course with an exam. well this is kinds a this is no a guaranteed pass. i've had some courses where over half the students fail and only when these people have convinced me beyond any doubt that they seriously desire to become christians and that they understand why they want to become christians and i baptize them if somebody were just to say i want to become a christian because i think islam is silly that's not reason enough for me to baptize them in so toll from their rot and elissa law both attend the preparation course at the church regularly they hope to be ready for their baptism by easter night the principal church service before the resurrection of christ. that's ahead and i'm already looking forward to the exam because i can get baptized

afterwards i can be born again into a new eternal life so i'm really looking forward to it. now get in on it with you i don't think up to some exam would be hard for me so he would not even know my thoughts are completely focused on the baptism that i'll be born into and. receive the peace i have always sought after in my life but even if they do convince the pastor that they quite seriously desire to become christian that means little to earth or it is their decision on asylum applications is made on a case by case basis and is often anything but transparent. it's him up yet again and again i'm just stunned at this arrogance the decision makers and judges display when they say things like yes the pastor overlooked it for years but within just 2 or 3 hours we figured out that something wasn't right here to me. the assumption is that refugees are just pretending to be christians to get asylum.

or the german immigration authorities may see it that way. but to me that's what's most important is that in my heart i'm a christian. i'm not alone with my christian faith so i've already experienced that back in iran. and while i'm a c.e.o. but too often that fails to impress the authorities and the asylum seekers often hear cynical arguments as to why they are to be sent back to their home countries that's a good idea let's just last week i read a transcript of a hearing where at the end of the decision maker said these are you say that you believe in eternal life then it shouldn't be any problem for you to go back to iran and actually been sentenced to death because then you get eternal life and that you should aspire to it to the book common wish to be. zoe read stuff like that week

after week. that was a direct quote the cynicism and unfairness only served to spur pastor martens on and his efforts as a rule germany tolerates the churches granting sanctuary to asylum seekers to save them from deportation currently that totals about 500 people in germany even so time and again legal action has been taken against clergy who offer sanctuary in their churches. i'm not worried about that in the least then they should just send me to prison a good thing compared to what's in store for our people in iran and afghanistan even a prison in germany is still a luxury. the. pastor martin visits ideal in an iranian who was paralyzed in an accident.

by dean can't come to the church so the pastor administers communion to him at home . 35 year old i.d.n. had already come in contact with the christian faith in iran but that drew the attention of the authorities to him the muslim clergy have openly stated that they see the biggest threat to iran's internal security in underground christian communities meanwhile more and more iranians are taking ideas view of islam the state religion. as in iran because by that the relationship will be good for we can't leave to be to give the form because you should marry is. it's not cool if you or muslim and changes the leisure it's very very never.

a service at the church of the holy trinity the refugees have come up from below to join him but because of the pandemic only a very few worshippers who registered in advance are allowed to take part. ringback in the all 58 year old pastor martens preaches and farsi it's become routine for him he started to himself over the years he has no family of his own he's devoted his life entirely to working for his congregation. the next step for elisa law and paradis baptism. our eye on them the bottom of my future lies in the hands of jesus christ all of them are through he'll have a good plan for my life again will i trust on that. man 2000 a year i've had problems to deal with since my early childhood but yeah. but when i

look back now i know that jesus christ has always helped me. quarter. by way of the baptism i want to be with him always round the town for the on the way for us and that's a kosher. so often in the mean time both have passed their baptism exam if the pandemic allows they'll be baptized into the christian faith on easter night but whether that will convince the authorities to grant them asylum is another matter. or. is quite as simple as it seems. to understand the world

better we need to take a closer. to the edge of. the. missing berlin you call this shows us things that we can still do despite corona and the pandemic sells off to be underground to discover incredible architecture in the german capitals brand new subway stations and when new zealand dealers close again what exactly does berlin have to offer so there is even now a lot to discover. in 30 minutes. passion drama competition while marketing numbers atmosphere fight at times

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