ENGLAND—Twenty-three members from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, England and the United States met in the scenic southern region of Hohenfels, Germany, for Pentecost this year. Headquarters Preaching Elder Ryan Malone and his wife, Paula, joined European brethren for the Sabbath and holy day, and all three services were entirely held in the German language.

Mrs. Malone sang special music twice in German, one piece by Johann Sebastian Bach and one by Felix Mendelssohn. Mr. Malone devoted considerable time and effort to prepare and deliver his two sermons and offertory in German. Members said they were delighted to have services in their own native language and that it made the messages significantly more meaningful.

Mr. Malone had also helped the translations department complete the German-language Bible Hymnal, a long-term project that had just been completed a few months earlier. This enabled members to sing all the hymns during services in German.

Members dined together for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and took a group walk beside Lake Constance.

“It was a very nice family celebration for us,” German member Daniel Stich said. “The size of the group was ideal for talking more intensively with a lot of the brethren and getting to know them better.”

Switzerland member Madeleine Catussatto said, “I was impressed by how Mr. Malone presented his two sermons in German …. Mrs. Malone sang beautifully, also in German, and I loved the Mendelssohn song.”

Austria member Rita Kleinschuster said the experience was “a great enrichment to meet with the brethren and minister. We were most impressed by Mr. Malone that he preached the sermons in German; also that Mr. and Mrs. Malone spoke so much with us in German.”

German member Daniela Danieli called the holy day weekend a “little Feast of Tabernacles” and a “wonderful family reunion.” She said, “Being able to spend it with the brethren at Hohenfels Castle was an absolute joy. And listening to the wonderful sermons was a real treat. The quality of Mr. Emmanuel Michels’ sermonettes and the translation was absolutely wonderful, and to be able to experience the spiritual dedication with which Mr. Malone prepared his German sermons and delivered them so clearly was remarkable. It was a great example of God’s standard for me. Mr. Malone must have put an incredible amount of thought, effort and energy into the preparation of his sermons in order to serve us, the German-speaking brethren. That is love.”

Members said they are looking forward to more fellowship opportunities and growth in the region as the PCG reaches out to former members and delivers a warning message to the German-speaking people.