Faith Facts

• The Danube Church of Christ in Vienna gathers believers from Iran, Ukraine, Germany, and America who worship together despite conflicts between their homelands
• An 18-year-old Iranian refugee named Arshia delivered a communion meditation emphasizing that Jesus invites all believers regardless of their past
• Four church members read Ephesians 2:1-10 in their native languages — German, English, Farsi, and Ukrainian — demonstrating the unity found in Christ

VIENNA — In a small congregation near the heart of Austria’s capital, the Lord’s Supper transcends language barriers and national boundaries. The Danube Church of Christ gathers believers from nations in conflict, united by a common faith that offers new beginnings to all who come.

Arshia, an 18-year-old Iranian Christian who made the perilous journey from his homeland to Vienna two years ago, recently delivered a communion devotional that captured the essence of what brings this diverse body together. Speaking in German while missionary Jake Haskew translated into English, the young believer described communion not merely as remembrance, but as invitation.

“True life begins when we let go of our fear, of our past, and then something new comes,” Arshia said.

He acknowledged the struggle to forget past mistakes and persistent troubling thoughts. But he emphasized that when believers take the bread and wine to remember Jesus’ sacrifice, it carries a profound message.

“It’s as if he’s saying, ‘I know where you are, but regardless, you are still invited,'” Arshia explained.

The congregation recently relocated to a facility in central Vienna, strategically positioned near multiple universities and the city’s U-Bahn subway system. This multinational, multilingual family demonstrates the power of Christ to unite people whose homelands remain divided by earthly conflicts.

During a recent service, four church members illustrated this unity by reading Ephesians 2:1-10 in their native tongues. Stefan Krassnig, a longtime minister in Vienna, read in German.

Jonah Wilcox, a student participating in Oklahoma Christian University’s study abroad program, read in English. Amir, another refugee from Iran, read in Farsi.

Artum Budzhak, an immigrant from Chernivtsi, Ukraine, read in Ukrainian. Together, their voices proclaimed the apostle Paul’s message to the church in Ephesus — that believers once dead in sin have been made alive in Christ.

“But God, because of his great love, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions… For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,” the passage declares.

After the multilingual Scripture reading, Arshia reflected on its significance.

“I think that tells us everything that we need to know,” he said.

Before the congregation partook of the bread and fruit of the vine, the young Iranian Christian posed challenging questions for his brothers and sisters to consider. “When was your beginning? What did it feel like?”

“Or has it begun? How can we encourage others to start their new beginning?” he asked.

The Danube Church of Christ stands as a living testimony to the reconciling power of the Gospel. In a world marked by division, conflict, and ancient enmities, this small congregation demonstrates that Christ breaks down every wall of hostility.

Their worship — conducted in multiple languages, drawing from multiple nations — reflects the biblical vision of people from every tribe and tongue gathered before the throne of God. It’s a foretaste of the eternal kingdom where earthly divisions cease and all believers share one common identity in Christ.

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