Missionswerk Karlsruhe

Missionswerk Karlsruhe is a cross-denominational, Pentecostal-influenced free church and mission society based in Karlsruhe, Germany. It operates as a non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH) and a foundation, and is affiliated with the Evangelical Alliance of Karlsruhe. Rather than having formal members, it refers to its adherents as "friends." The organization is internationally known under the slogan "Hoffnung geben – Zukunft leben" (Give hope – live the future). Founded in 1945 by Erwin Müller, the Missionswerk was taken over in 1974 by his son Siegfried Müller, a former construction entrepreneur who was inspired by contacts with David Yonggi Cho to build a large congregation. Since 2006, his grandson Daniel Müller has led the organization. All three leaders have been lay preachers. The Missionswerk's activities focus on so-called miracle healings, evangelism in the wider region and through modern media, as well as diaconal work, particularly in India and Israel. The organization has an annual budget of three million euros (as of 2015), of which about one million euros flows into social projects. It employs 26 full-time and 200 volunteer staff. Its home is a building complex around the Christus-Kathedrale (Christ Cathedral) on the grounds of a former Karlsruhe furniture factory in the Grünwinkel district. The complex includes the Christuskathedrale, Johanneskapelle, Pauluskapelle, and ancillary rooms. The Christus-Kathedrale was completed in 1989 and seats 1,800 visitors; it houses Europe's largest digital/pipe combination organ with 113 sounding stops, seven of which are pipe stops. In January 2026, it was announced that the neighboring free church ICF Karlsruhe would take over the building complex, as it is hardly used by the Missionswerk anymore. The Missionswerk operates a telephone devotion service (since 1983) and has been broadcasting on television since March 2006, currently via Bibel TV, Anixe+, and Rhein-Main TV. It also publishes a monthly magazine, "Freude am Leben" (formerly "Der Weg zur Freude"), and its own publishing house releases books by Siegfried Müller and German translations of works by other evangelists. The organization runs a church service every Sunday at 10 a.m., which is translated into Russian, among other languages, and streamed live on YouTube. It also organizes events such as Bible study trips to Greece and bistro talks.

Missionswerk Karlsruhe was founded in 1945 by Erwin Müller. In 1974, it was taken over by his son Siegfried Müller, a former construction entrepreneur. Inspired by contacts with David Yonggi Cho, Siegfried Müller set out to build a large congregation. Since 2006, his grandson Daniel Müller has led the organization. All three leaders have been lay preachers. The organization's engagement focuses on so-called miracle healings, evangelism in the wider region and through modern media, as well as diaconal work, particularly in India and Israel. The Missionswerk has an annual budget of three million euros (as of 2015), of which about one million euros flows into social projects. It employs 26 full-time and 200 volunteer staff. Its home is a building complex around the Christus-Kathedrale on the grounds of a former Karlsruhe furniture factory in the Grünwinkel district, at the Südtangente opposite the "Kühler Krug" brewery. The complex, which incorporates an older building, consists of the Christuskathedrale, Johanneskapelle, Pauluskapelle, and ancillary rooms. The Christus-Kathedrale was completed in 1989. Its facade is adorned with a tall cross that is illuminated at night with fluorescent lamps. The cathedral's dome is translucent. The barrier-free visitor room offers seating for 1,800 worshippers in its tiers. It houses Europe's largest digital/pipe combination organ with 113 sounding stops, seven of which are pipe stops. In January 2026, it was announced that the neighboring free church ICF Karlsruhe would take over the building complex, as it is hardly used by the Missionswerk anymore. The Missionswerk Karlsruhe operated an outlying congregation in the Tailfingen district of Albstadt in the Zollernalbkreis, Baden-Württemberg, until early 2006. This was handed over to the Christian association Tübinger Offensive Stadtmission (TOS). After a transitional phase, the TOS Zentrum Schwäbische Alb was founded from the outlying congregation in May 2006. In media, Siegfried Müller is the author of a series of books about his work and teaching. The Missionswerk's publishing house also releases German translations of works by other evangelists. Since 1983, Missionswerk Karlsruhe has offered a telephone devotion whose biblical message is updated daily. Since March 2006, it has also broadcast on television. Initially, a program was aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings on the television channel Das Vierte. As of December 2023, the Missionswerk's programs are broadcast via the TV channels Bibel TV, Anixe+, and Rhein-Main TV. The church services can almost always be followed live in full length via the homepage. The periodical "Freude am Leben" is a monthly magazine (formerly "Der Weg zur Freude").

• 2026

  Announcement that ICF Karlsruhe will take over the building complex

• 2006

  Daniel Müller becomes leader; television broadcasts begin; outlying congregation in Tailfingen handed over to TOS

• 1989

  Christus-Kathedrale completed

• 1983

  Telephone devotion service started

• 1974

  Taken over by Siegfried Müller

• 1945

  Founded by Erwin Müller

Cross-denominational, Pentecostal-influenced free church and mission society focused on evangelism, media outreach, and social projects.

• Freude am Leben

• Telephone devotion

• Television programs

• Books and publications

1. 1Missionswerk Karlsruhe - Freude am Lebenmissionswerk.de
2. 2Verkaufe nicht deine Berufung! - Missionswerk Karlsruhemissionswerk.de
3. 3Missionswerk Karlsruhewikidata.org
4. 4Missionswerk Karlsruhede.wikipedia.org