If you were going to create an urban center of influence for young people, how would you do it?

In 2003, a few Adventist families in Hanover, Germany, began exploring possibilities. They discovered that the Kronsberg district of Hanover had a large population of children. When they surveyed residents about their needs, the top request was for a safe place where kids could enjoy outdoor activities.

The church members secured an undeveloped plot of land, erected a 65-foot climbing tower, and named it Kronsberg Life Tower.

Life Tower is open on Wednesday afternoons during warm weather for supervised climbing, group activities, and games. The evening culminates around a campfire, where everyone gathers to roast “stick bread.” There must be something deeply satisfying about wrapping a piece of bread dough around the end of a stick and holding it over the glowing coals, with friends close on either side. The weekly program is so popular, it’s called Stick Bread Kids.

The climbing tower, Stick Bread Kids, soccer, and beach volleyball have attracted children and their families to Life Tower since 2005. But in 2021, the center took on a new dimension.

Christian Lutsch, a young theology graduate from Hanover, had planned to spend a year abroad teaching before beginning pastoral ministry. When the pandemic interrupted his plans, he returned home.

“I’m not doing anything, so let me know if you need any help,” Christian told his friend Marco Knorr, a social worker who runs Life Tower. Marco was thrilled—this was an answer to prayer. With help from the Friedensau Institute for Evaluation, an Adventist entity that helps organizations improve their projects, they cast a new vision for Life Tower.

Christian and Marco noticed that many children came from refugee families from various countries and that the kids rarely mixed outside their groups. So, they focused on activities designed to build trust and understanding. As the children play together, friendships form regardless of ethnic or religious background. Slowly, walls of fear and prejudice begin to crumble.

Parents have noticed the open-hearted environment. “As soon as we enter this place, we feel peace,” said one parent. “We feel at home and welcome.” This acceptance is significant for mothers who face racism and suspicion daily because they wear a hijab or have many children.

Life Tower is registered as a nonprofit organization and can’t use religious content in its programming. However, the local Adventist church can sponsor an outdoor church service once a month. So far, the service has attracted only a few individuals, but it’s reaching one unlikely person—a man in a wheelchair who hated the Bible.

“Away with this book!” he told Christian. “It’s caused so much suffering in this world, and you can’t imagine the suffering I’ve seen. What kind of God would allow this?” Angry yet curious, he continues to attend.

One day, after Christian preached on God’s righteousness and justice, the man approached him with tears in his eyes. “I wish I had the faith that you have,” he said.

Christian and Marco also restarted the Pathfinder club, which was first established by Life Tower’s founders, and invited the young people to join. Now, the entire Pathfinder membership consists of non-Adventist kids!

When Christian took eight Pathfinders to a camporee, they started asking questions. They wanted to know more about God and what the Adventist church is like. “Because they ask questions,” Christian said, “we have the right to share the gospel with them.”

God is using Kronsberg Life Tower to bring peace to people in Kronsberg—young and old—with a climbing tower, stick bread, and His Word.

Please pray that God will continue to bless Kronsberg Life Tower as they plan to reach even more children for Jesus.