Berlin Mission Update: Raising Kids, Learning German, and Watching God Move

In this episode of The Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob sits down with Austen and Sara Bolves, missionaries serving the church in Berlin, Germany, for an honest, inspiring update on life and ministry overseas.

Austen and Sara share how they became Christians, how they met in the campus ministry at the University of Washington, and what led them to leave stability in the U.S. to help strengthen the church in Europe. They open up about the real challenges of leading a church in a different culture, building a leadership team from the ground up, learning German, and raising three small children on the mission field.

They also share powerful stories of how God has been working in Berlin—especially through conversions with people who have little to no background in Christianity—and how hardship has deepened their faith, including Sara's ongoing journey with her father Greg's stage four cancer diagnosis.

If you've ever wondered what modern missions really looks like, this conversation will encourage you to embrace discomfort, love people deeply, and make your life count—wherever you live.

In This Episode, You'll Hear:

How Austen and Sara became Christians and met in campus ministry
Why they felt called to overseas missions and how Berlin opened up
What the Berlin church was like when they arrived (and what surprised them)
Rebuilding leadership and navigating church health in a new culture
Preaching and leading in German (and the challenges of learning the language)
Seeing conversions among people with no Bible background
How they're staying joyful through stress, parenting, and ministry pressure
Sara's update on her father Greg and how faith has carried their family
Their biggest advice for disciples who want to make this life count

Key Scripture Mentioned

Romans 8:31 — "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Connect with Austin & Sarah (as shared in the episode)

Berlin Church contact via Disciples Today (Berlin church listing)
Email: austenbolves@gmail.com
Email: sara.bolves@gmail.com
Instagram (Sara): Sara Marie Bolves

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Live a no-regrets life. Make this life count.

387. Berlin Mission Update: Raising Kids, Learning German, and Watching God Move