Although he resigned from the mission two years later, he has continued his ministry to non-believers, students and political refugees. For 19 years he has operated the bookstore for a major evangelical German seminary, Freie Theologische Akademie, importing theological books for a European academic audience. In addition, Ford is involved at an Evangelical Free church with a congregation of 1, Fewer than 20 German churches attract this many people.
While 50 million Germans belong to the state Protestant and Catholic churches and pay mandatory church taxes , only 7 percent attend regularly. Ford also leads a Bible Study group for new converts and seekers, works with church outreach programs to refugees, and serves as a mentor for the Studentenmission Deutschland SMD an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship partner at a university in Giessen. Presenting the gospel to students in the secular German culture is challenging as faith is considered a private matter.
Being challenged to think at Westmont has helped Ford in his ministry. My Westmont mentors were thinkers and those in my peer group became thinkers, too. The challenge to think that I got at Westmont has served me very well here in Europe, in Christian ministry, in academic disciplines and in personal relationships.
A double major in religious studies and philosophy, Ford spent six months in Jerusalem at the Institute for Holy Land Studies, an experience he values highly, even after two decades. What does the future hold? Ford is willing to stay where he is, go somewhere else in Europe or return to the United States. You can really learn to serve anywhere. Westmont Magazine Seeking Reformation in Germany.
