HELLO, I'M KATJA
Serving on Young Life Staff in GERMANY
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HALLO!
Hallo, my name is Katja. I'm from Germany and I have the desire that young people meet Jesus and start a relationship with him. I'm on Young Life Staff in Germany, Freiburg where I lead a team. In Freiburg we mostly do Wyldlife (middle school) ministry so most of our teenagers are between 11 and 15 years old.
We work together with a Christian school. There we get to do contact work, spend time with the kids and also tell them about Jesus. We also have a English Day Camp at the school and two campaigner groups — one for the girls and one for the boys. As a team leader I work with the teenagers but I also get to recruit new leaders and work with the volunteer leaders. I'm really excited to see what God has prepared for us here in Freiburg and I am excited that I get to be part of it.
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MY STORY:
I grew up in a Christian household. My parents showed my siblings and me that a life with Jesus is not a tradition but about having a personal relationship with him. Already when I was young I knew that God is with me and that Jesus is my best friend.
When I was 12 years old I made the decision that I wanted to follow Jesus with every part of my life. After that it's been a process of learning more about Him, about who He is and being more and more transformed by Him.
During my studies I met someone from Young Life. She and her husband started Young Life in Freiburg. They introduced me to it and I really wanted to learn more about it. I've been involved with church ministry and Christian organizations my whole life, but I had never worked with a organization that focused on people who don't know the Lord yet. I really liked the vision and the methods of Young Life. So I became a volunteer leader, later a DGL and now staff. I love that Young Life focuses on the people that haven't meet Jesus and building relationships with them. The vision of Young Life is why I am pursuing a career on staff.
MY EDUCATION
DGL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Protestant University, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany - Bachelor of Arts, Religious Education and Deaconry 2024; Bachelor of Arts, Social Works 2025
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SERVE IN GERMANY
Although Protestantism has deep roots in Germany through Martin Luther, faith has steadily lost its place in the identity of today’s youth. Yet, as secularism has left many feeling disappointed and unfulfilled, there's a renewed curiosity about spiritual things among youth. They're searching for meaning, belonging, and identity, and that's why Young Life is uniquely positioned to meet them right where they are – it's an exciting time to be alive.
MY FUNDING NEEDS
To cover daily living expenses including housing, food, and transportation, I must raise my salary. Please consider joining my support team so that I can focus on ministry with the teenagers in my neighborhood and expand God's Kingdom in Germany.
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MY INTERESTS
Something you definitely need to know about me is that I love to dance — I am always ready for a good dance party! Besides that I really like to be outside, go for walks and do sports. In my freetime I love to hang out with my friends, watch a good movie or read a book.
A FAVORITE SCRIPTURE
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." —John 15:5
This verse has stayed with me ever since I chose to follow Jesus with all that I am and all that I have. Through my studies, church, Young Life, and life in general, I’ve experienced how God provides for me and blesses me for putting Him first. I truly desire for God to be in first place in my life—above everything and everyone else.
HOW DGL PREPARED ME FOR THIS
Studying was a wonderful but also really challenging time for me. I experienced a lot of growth during that time. A part of my studies was theology but the theology that was thought at my university was pretty progressive. I come from a different background and have a more conservative understanding of the Bible than what was taught. Because of that I was confronted with different beliefs. That was challenging and I started to struggle with my faith because of it. However, now I would say it made my faith stronger and it gave me a deeper understanding of what I actually believe.
Freiburg, germany
MY STORY
I was born into a Muslim household that followed Allah without any questions until my older sister received Christ and become a Christian. Our parents followed in the faith. Ever since my life has not been the same because Jesus is at the center of it now. I'm an ordained minister of the Gospel in my church. Now a Developing Global Leader, I am combining my gifts and passions and pursuing a degree in graphic design and video editing at Milton Margai Technical University.
My greatest strength is my ability to motivate and help the younger generation by bringing out the best in them. My vision is to remain actively involved in the next generation through Young Life and give counsel and help as they identify their own talents.
MY MINISTRY FOCUS
I work in a community where many teenagers have to work to support their families as street vendors, on farms, or low-paying informal jobs. Teenage pregnancies, early marriages, and the need to support family income often force teens—particularly girls—out of school. Crime, drug abuse, and gangs are a common threat.
That's why Young Life is such an important part of this community. We give kids opportunities for healthy friendships, fun activities, positive role models and, most of all, the chance to hear the gospel and grow in faith.
I currently lead two clubs, one in the city center and the other one that is just starting in a nearby neighborhood. Our focus is on high school kids and we are training leaders to open a Wyldlife club in the next six months.
MY PRAYER REQUESTS
• More volunteer leaders for the Waterloo club. We are expanding and reaching younger kids so we want to start a Wyldlife Club in that community but we do not have enough leaders to do it well.
• Upcoming camp - that we would be able to have dependable transportation there and that many kids hear and respond to the Gospel.
• For God's favor on my family – improved health for my mom. My sister is finishing secondary school and dreams of going to university. We are praying that she will receive a scholarship.
YL MINISTRY IMPACT IN NORWAY
LEARN MORE ABOUT DEVELOPING GLOBAL LEADERS
Through sponsorship, Young Life's Developing Global Leaders (DGL) Program offers Young Life leaders in the world's poorest developing countries a pathway to a future they never thought possible – the opportunity to attend university in their own country and impact their community with the Gospel. $250 per month is all it takes. LEARN MORE