"Seit 1962 entwickeln sich die Change Camps stetig weiter. Sie verbinden tiefe Gemeinschaft, starke Gotteserfahrungen und das Eintauchen in andere Kulturen. Durch kreative Outreaches mit Sport, praktischen Einsätzen, Worship und Prayer Walks wachsen wir in einen evangelistischen Lebensstil. Unsere Vision ist, Jesus in verschiedenen Nationen bekannt zu machen und Jugendliche für ein Leben zu begeistern, das Gott ehrt. Wir wollen lokale Kirchen unterstützen und ein Segen für Menschen vor Ort sein. Ein Change Camp soll das Leben der Teilnehmenden nachhaltig verändern, ihr Herz neu für Gott entfachen und sie mit Leidenschaft für Mitmenschen, Regionen und Nationen erfüllen – damit sie diese Begeisterung auch in ihren Alltag tragen."
We, the MSD team, shut down our office in Frutigen for a day and met up with our friends at CLZ Spiez for the MSD retreat. We can look back on an encouraging day with gratitude. I would like to give you a brief insight into what we were able to experience together on that day. Three things in particular stuck with me:
Firstly: the team. Once again, I felt a deep sense of gratitude towards the MSD team. We are not “just” colleagues, but above all friends. The warm, authentic, and cordial atmosphere makes a day like this here in Spiez particularly enjoyable. With this team, discussing vision, deadlines, and strategies during the retreat is not a tedious chore, but a joy and a privilege. We are different, with different talents, views, and interests. But what unites us is the desire to connect people with God. It is a great gift to be part of the MSD team.
Secondly: our friends. We deliberately chose not to hold the retreat in our own homes, but at the home of our friends at CLZ Spiez. In God's kingdom, we are not “loners,” but are allowed to walk together. In this “walking together,” we can learn from each other. I was encouraged to hear from Markus and Joel Bettler, the pastors of CLZ, on this day. They shared their vision, strategy, and challenges with us. The exchange was enriching and inspiring. An important insight was that the external forms—that is, “how” we build the kingdom of God—are less important than the vision that drives us. Why do we do what we do? – a valuable question for the retreat – and perhaps for you too?
Thirdly: humor is an important and healthy part of a team. I really appreciate the relaxed, family atmosphere at MSD. At this year's retreat, this was expressed through a somewhat unusual lunch. All employees were asked to bring a tin can of their choice – without a label. In return, everyone was allowed to explain why they had chosen that particular can. Between funny and profound stories, a colorful bouquet of narratives emerged before we ventured into the somewhat challenging task of planning the menu. In the end, we sat close together and enjoyed a meal that was as diverse as our team.
We can look back on our retreat with gratitude and encouragement. It was not a waste of time – on the contrary. We were encouraged anew and were able to focus on what is essential: our God, who unites us. Our vision remains to connect people with this God as well.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
"Seit 1962 entwickeln sich die Change Camps stetig weiter. Sie verbinden tiefe Gemeinschaft, starke Gotteserfahrungen und das Eintauchen in andere Kulturen. Durch kreative Outreaches mit Sport, praktischen Einsätzen, Worship und Prayer Walks wachsen wir in einen evangelistischen Lebensstil. Unsere Vision ist, Jesus in verschiedenen Nationen bekannt zu machen und Jugendliche für ein Leben zu begeistern, das Gott ehrt. Wir wollen lokale Kirchen unterstützen und ein Segen für Menschen vor Ort sein. Ein Change Camp soll das Leben der Teilnehmenden nachhaltig verändern, ihr Herz neu für Gott entfachen und sie mit Leidenschaft für Mitmenschen, Regionen und Nationen erfüllen – damit sie diese Begeisterung auch in ihren Alltag tragen."
On 6 December 2025, the fourth move event took place in Aarau. 380 young people from different denominations allowed themselves to be challenged, inspired and moved by God to try something new. We can look back on a successful event. Participants were challenged to give their whole lives to God and to do what God personally calls them to do – no matter what the cost – in order to bring the good news of His kingdom to people who have never heard it before.
Making yourself available to God The move event was opened by Manuela. Having grown up in a country in East Africa, she used the biblical story of Isaiah to explain what it means to be open to God's plan. Nate gave an impressive account of how the prophet had to go through great challenges. Nate himself experienced how the call he heard from God did not turn out as he had imagined. But God also guided him through this phase of his life and brought something beautiful out of it. Nino, part of ‘Eden Music’, created space with a young band to worship God and listen to him.
God's mission Jana, Rebekka, Patrick and Sonja talked about what mission can look like in everyday life in a round of interviews. Whether it's in your daily work in a nursing home, on the street with people you don't know, or in the preparations for a mission abroad. In various workshops, participants received inspiration on how their own identity relates to their calling or how they can discover their mission in everyday life. Nicole and Simon gave an insight into how they came to the decision to move to Kenya and what surprises and challenges the early days brought. Finally, Boppi invited the younger generation to engage personally with the topic of mission. ‘God is pursuing his mission in the world. The question is, are you an active part of his mission?’ Boppi followed this with an invitation to ‘shalomise’ the world, to bring God's peace to the world.
‘move’ continues In 2026, there will be various opportunities to get involved in Switzerland and abroad. The move event team encourages everyone who wants to take new steps with God, have unforgettable experiences and be a blessing to others to participate. Everyone is invited, regardless of whether they attended the move event in Aarau or not. Further information on move assignments can be found at www.move19.ch, as well as a wide range of other opportunities, including longer assignments, at www.mission.ch.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
"Seit 1962 entwickeln sich die Change Camps stetig weiter. Sie verbinden tiefe Gemeinschaft, starke Gotteserfahrungen und das Eintauchen in andere Kulturen. Durch kreative Outreaches mit Sport, praktischen Einsätzen, Worship und Prayer Walks wachsen wir in einen evangelistischen Lebensstil. Unsere Vision ist, Jesus in verschiedenen Nationen bekannt zu machen und Jugendliche für ein Leben zu begeistern, das Gott ehrt. Wir wollen lokale Kirchen unterstützen und ein Segen für Menschen vor Ort sein. Ein Change Camp soll das Leben der Teilnehmenden nachhaltig verändern, ihr Herz neu für Gott entfachen und sie mit Leidenschaft für Mitmenschen, Regionen und Nationen erfüllen – damit sie diese Begeisterung auch in ihren Alltag tragen."
Sometimes a journey takes you deeper than expected. That was certainly true of these three weeks in Africa, which were full of challenges, surprises, and moments of hope. Here is an insight into what I experienced.
Hello!
Yes, I arrived safely in Switzerland on Monday, November 17. As always, I returned with many impressions, and I would like to share a few of them here. If you would like more details or have any questions, just send me an email.
Africa remains turbulent, complicated, and yet full of hope! Africa continues to be plagued by real scourges and tragedies. Even a three-week visit and various encounters in just a few countries were enough to remind me vividly of scourges such as injustice, violence, counterproductive systems, political instability, persistent poverty, and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.
My trip to Togo got off to a rather bumpy start when I suddenly realized at the airport in Kigali that the bilateral travel agreements in Togo were no longer valid. No more express visas at the airport. I had to apply for one immediately, and it took four days for the application to be approved.
But during that waiting period, I came down with a severe flu that felt like a mixture of malaria and Covid. Fortunately, I was allowed to stay with my sister in Kigali, and her family took good care of me. So the trip via Rwanda turned out to be God's plan. What a clear reminder of God's providence!
But when I finally arrived in Togo, everything went very well. The visit to a Togolese colleague in central Togo was particularly inspiring. One of his many tasks is to train future farmers. It was encouraging to talk to the seven young men who had just completed a nine-month agricultural course. They confidently showed me what they had learned about growing vegetables and fruit and raising small livestock. They presented plans for their planned microfarm projects. I had the opportunity to encourage them to analyze the market and plan well in order to make their microfarms profitable.
I saw so much potential and was once again impressed by the realization that they could make a difference in their home regions if they received the necessary resources to implement their projects. The kind of support they need is exactly what we at PLENTIFUL GARDEN want to provide.
When I returned to Rwanda a week later, I did the same with two men from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite all the major challenges they face, they are motivated to train others and help them set up urban farming projects to feed their families, sell nutritious food throughout the city of Bukavu, and improve their livelihoods holistically. I hope that we can enable them to realize some of these dreams there in 2026.
My stay in Rwanda naturally gave me the opportunity to visit our small farm in the east of the country, where my brother and I were able to sow thousands of new seeds… seeds of pasture grasses and various multipurpose trees.
Many thanks to everyone who prayed for me during this whole endeavor.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
"Seit 1962 entwickeln sich die Change Camps stetig weiter. Sie verbinden tiefe Gemeinschaft, starke Gotteserfahrungen und das Eintauchen in andere Kulturen. Durch kreative Outreaches mit Sport, praktischen Einsätzen, Worship und Prayer Walks wachsen wir in einen evangelistischen Lebensstil. Unsere Vision ist, Jesus in verschiedenen Nationen bekannt zu machen und Jugendliche für ein Leben zu begeistern, das Gott ehrt. Wir wollen lokale Kirchen unterstützen und ein Segen für Menschen vor Ort sein. Ein Change Camp soll das Leben der Teilnehmenden nachhaltig verändern, ihr Herz neu für Gott entfachen und sie mit Leidenschaft für Mitmenschen, Regionen und Nationen erfüllen – damit sie diese Begeisterung auch in ihren Alltag tragen."
The Surf Change Camp took place again this year. In Santander, Spain, 20 young and adventurous people plunged into the waves to learn how to surf and, in doing so, get to know God better and allow themselves to be transformed by him.
The camp was characterized by a wonderful group dynamic, in which everyone helped each other, laughed together, and learned together how surfing works. We enjoyed beautiful weather in Spain and the waves were mostly ideal for practicing standing on the board.
In addition to surfing and spending time together, they also helped out with practical tasks in everyday camp life. We carried out three work assignments at two different locations. Firstly, we assisted with our accommodation in Santander. There we were allowed to do general gardening work around the house and thus serve our hostess. We carried out our second volunteer assignment in an old monastery, which is now used to provide a place of retreat for people who need it, such as those who want to break free from addiction or people who are searching for their calling. There we were allowed to help tidy up, clean, and prepare an abandoned old house in the forest for painting. This house will be used in the future as a retreat for prayer weekends and as a vacation home for missionaries.
An evangelistic outreach on the beach was also part of the Change Camp. Since many people in the Santander region speak little or no English, and we speak very little Spanish, we have sought creative ways to share the gospel. For example, we wrote Bible verses on the floor with chalk or distributed little notes with encouraging Bible verses. It was wonderful to see how the camp added some color to the beach parking lot and how people passing by were interested in what was written on the ground.
In the evening, we were able to spend time together with God. This was done in praise, in small groups, and also through a message that one of us had prepared and shared. Those were very moving and powerful times.
This week in Spain was a joy for us. It was incredibly beautiful to see how the participants were able to take something away with them for life and how their hearts were touched by God. After a week at Surf Change Camp, we didn't just go surfing, we made new friends, grew in our faith, and had a great time together. We are grateful for the good weather, the safe journey, and the wonderful moments on the surfboard.
"Seit 1962 entwickeln sich die Change Camps stetig weiter. Sie verbinden tiefe Gemeinschaft, starke Gotteserfahrungen und das Eintauchen in andere Kulturen. Durch kreative Outreaches mit Sport, praktischen Einsätzen, Worship und Prayer Walks wachsen wir in einen evangelistischen Lebensstil. Unsere Vision ist, Jesus in verschiedenen Nationen bekannt zu machen und Jugendliche für ein Leben zu begeistern, das Gott ehrt. Wir wollen lokale Kirchen unterstützen und ein Segen für Menschen vor Ort sein. Ein Change Camp soll das Leben der Teilnehmenden nachhaltig verändern, ihr Herz neu für Gott entfachen und sie mit Leidenschaft für Mitmenschen, Regionen und Nationen erfüllen – damit sie diese Begeisterung auch in ihren Alltag tragen."
An anniversary full of encounters, faith and blessings
Our 10th family camp in Tuscany was a very special anniversary: around 130 participants, from babies to seniors, enjoyed a week full of fellowship, beach, sports, delicious food and, above all, God's work. Under the motto ‘The Number 10’, we immersed ourselves in stories such as ‘Daniel's 10 Days of Probation’, ‘The 10 Commandments’ and ‘The 10 Bridesmaids’ and felt how these biblical impulses touched our everyday lives.
The weather was changeable, but our hearts were full of joy. On one day, small groups provided space for honest conversation, prayer and encouragement. People shared their challenges, found comfort and new hope. For example, in one group, difficult topics were shared, prayers were said for one another, anointing with oil took place and Holy Communion was celebrated. It was an unforgettable moment of deep fellowship and lasting blessing.
The encounters on site were particularly touching: in Volterra, we visited an artist in her studio. Upon entering, we suddenly felt the impulse to ask her when her birthday was. She said, surprised, that she would be celebrating it the next day. We were allowed to pray for her and bless her, which visibly moved her greatly. And so we felt God's presence in this simple moment of attentiveness.
Another unforgettable experience was Marcella, a woman from the region. With tears in her eyes, she kept saying, ‘Mi volete così bene!’ – ‘You are so kind to me!’ As we prayed together for her, she felt a genuine touch from God for the first time. She is now in contact with local Christians and will continue to receive support.
During our cleaning operation, a man from the city cleaning department was also deeply moved. With tears in his eyes, he described how impressed he was that young people were using their holidays to serve others, and spoke of the palpable love that was being created here: ‘Grazie, grazie, grazie!’
A highlight was the conclusion by the sea: a church service, baptisms and testimonies from young people who courageously shared their faith. We return to our everyday lives fulfilled, strengthened and changed. Carried by hope, faith and the certainty that God works great things in every little moment. This anniversary has shown us that where people come together, love comes alive, hope becomes tangible and faith can be experienced.
"Seit 1962 entwickeln sich die Change Camps stetig weiter. Sie verbinden tiefe Gemeinschaft, starke Gotteserfahrungen und das Eintauchen in andere Kulturen. Durch kreative Outreaches mit Sport, praktischen Einsätzen, Worship und Prayer Walks wachsen wir in einen evangelistischen Lebensstil. Unsere Vision ist, Jesus in verschiedenen Nationen bekannt zu machen und Jugendliche für ein Leben zu begeistern, das Gott ehrt. Wir wollen lokale Kirchen unterstützen und ein Segen für Menschen vor Ort sein. Ein Change Camp soll das Leben der Teilnehmenden nachhaltig verändern, ihr Herz neu für Gott entfachen und sie mit Leidenschaft für Mitmenschen, Regionen und Nationen erfüllen – damit sie diese Begeisterung auch in ihren Alltag tragen."
We dream of a young generation that stands up for God, devotedly and uncompromisingly following Jesus to the ends of the earth. Imagine what could happen with such a revived generation. What would be possible?
Because we don't want to stop at dreaming, but are determined to pursue this dream in concrete terms, it is important to us to create a space where young people can encounter God and experience him. ‘move’ is our answer to this dream (www.move19.ch). As the mission organisation msd, we are organising this event for the fourth time together with AVC, Campus für Christus, ISTL and Acts. A day full of inspiration and encounters, followed by various opportunities for service around the world. That is why we invite you to come to the next move event in Aarau on 6 December 2025 and be part of this dream.
We hope that this event will change our everyday lives. Captivating speakers will inspire and challenge us to take new steps with God. Talks and workshops will encourage and inspire us to discover God's calling for our lives. We want to offer opportunities for everyone to become a blessing in their own environment and for the whole world.
Will you help us call and mobilise people for this special day when God can set their lives in motion in a new way? We pray that God will move many more people in our country to choose a devoted lifestyle. Let's move!
"Seit 1962 entwickeln sich die Change Camps stetig weiter. Sie verbinden tiefe Gemeinschaft, starke Gotteserfahrungen und das Eintauchen in andere Kulturen. Durch kreative Outreaches mit Sport, praktischen Einsätzen, Worship und Prayer Walks wachsen wir in einen evangelistischen Lebensstil. Unsere Vision ist, Jesus in verschiedenen Nationen bekannt zu machen und Jugendliche für ein Leben zu begeistern, das Gott ehrt. Wir wollen lokale Kirchen unterstützen und ein Segen für Menschen vor Ort sein. Ein Change Camp soll das Leben der Teilnehmenden nachhaltig verändern, ihr Herz neu für Gott entfachen und sie mit Leidenschaft für Mitmenschen, Regionen und Nationen erfüllen – damit sie diese Begeisterung auch in ihren Alltag tragen."
