Forum Wiedenest

Forum Wiedenest is a German evangelical Christian non-profit organisation that operates as a centre for education, mission and events. It traces its origins to the Allianz-Bibelschule (Alliance Bible School), founded in Berlin in 1905 by leading figures of the Evangelical Alliance to train evangelists for Tsarist Russia. After World War I, economic hardship forced the school to move to Wiedenest, now part of Bergneustadt, in 1919. Over the decades it grew into a multifaceted ministry, adding a mission house in 1952 and expanding its educational and conference work. In 2009 the name was changed from Missionshaus Bibelschule Wiedenest e. V. to Forum Wiedenest e. V. to reflect its contemporary identity. The organisation is based on the faith basis of the Evangelical Alliance Germany and maintains close historical ties to the Brethren assemblies and the Union of Evangelical Free Churches. Today Forum Wiedenest has three main areas of work: Worldwide Mission, the Biblical-Theological Academy (BTA), and the Youth and Community Forum. The BTA trains around 160 young people theologically and diaconally, with an additional 26 participants in an orientation year. The Worldwide Mission branch sends and supports approximately 190 long- and short-term workers in over 30 countries, engaged in social-diagonal projects and church work. The Community Forum, including the Young Generation ministry, organises conferences, training sessions, retreats and events with several thousand participants each year. The organisation also runs 'herzwerk', a ten-month orientation year for young adults aged 18 to 25, combining community living, character development and vocational internships. Forum Wiedenest is led by Ulrich Neuenhausen as overall director since 1 December 2010, with Dr. Volker Aßmann as chairman of the board. The organisation is a registered non-profit association (e. V.) and is not listed on any stock exchange. Its mission statement expresses a passion for people to grow in faith, churches to flourish, and the Gospel to spread worldwide. The current claim, adopted in 2024, is 'Gott begegnen – weltbewegend' (Encountering God – world-moving).

The history of Forum Wiedenest begins in 1905 with the founding of the Allianz-Bibelschule (Alliance Bible School) in Berlin-Steglitz. Leading representatives of the Evangelical Alliance saw the need to train evangelists for Tsarist Russia and Eastern Europe. The first teachers were Christoph Köhler and Johannes Warns, both connected to the Brethren movement but open to all believers in Christ. In 1908 the school moved to the premises of the 'Christian Community' on Hohenstaufenstraße in Berlin-Schöneberg. After World War I, the economic hardship of supplying students in the big city forced the Bible school to relocate to Wiedenest, today a district of Bergneustadt, in 1919. It initially acquired a former inn, and within weeks a second house across the street, laying the foundation for a mission house and the Bible school. The inauguration ceremony took place on 5 October 1919. By 1928, several hundred brothers, mainly from Russia and Germany but also from many other European countries, had attended the school. Graduates were sent out as missionaries to countries on all continents. In 1930 a new hall building with classrooms and rooms for Bible students was dedicated. In 1938 the school began holding Bible weeks alongside its two- to three-year training programme. From 1943, the bombed-out Baptist preachers' seminary was hosted in Wiedenest for several years. In 1952 the mission house was founded, and a year later the Bible school began training female students as well. In 1958 a teaching and assembly building with 900 seats was dedicated. In 1970 a sisters' home was built, followed by a brothers' home for students in 1977. In 1982 construction of a new teaching building began, and in 1999 the new training and encounter centre was dedicated. In the 1930s to 1950s, the Bible school was known above all through Erich Sauer and his publications, which made the grand lines of salvation history accessible. Under the leadership of Ernst Schrupp, co-founder of the German Student Mission (SMD) and the Working Group of Evangelical Missions (AEM), an independent mission branch was established in 1952. In 1998 the 'domestic services' that had grown since the 1960s were consolidated into the Community Forum. In September 2009 the name was changed from Missionshaus Bibelschule Wiedenest e. V. to Forum Wiedenest e. V. to adapt to contemporary language, with the new slogan 'Christliche Impulse für Gemeinden. Weltweit.' In 2024 the claim was revised again to 'Gott begegnen – weltbewegend', and the logo and corporate colours were renewed. Dr. Volker Aßmann from Frankenberg is chairman of the board. Since 1 December 2010, Ulrich Neuenhausen has been the overall director of the work. Today Forum Wiedenest is a non-profit Christian centre for education, mission and events. Its Biblical-Theological Academy (BTA) has around 150 students, about 120 in the regular training programme and about 30 in the academic postgraduate programme. From 1905 to 2013, approximately 4,000 students were trained. The BTA is an interdenominational institution cooperating with various church associations and organisations, and since 2019 it has been a corporate member of the Working Group for Evangelical Theology. In autumn 2025 it launched BTA.dual, a part-time theological foundation programme at the Christian Education Centre Erzgebirge in Oelsnitz. The Worldwide Mission branch works with about 170 missionaries (long- and short-term workers) worldwide. The Youth and Community Forum offers conferences, seminars and workshops, focusing on training leaders and responsible church workers, counsellors, church musicians, and workers in women's, men's, children's and youth ministries. It also provides church counselling, for example in conflict situations. 'herzwerk' is an orientation year for young people after school, aged 18 to 25, who live together for ten months, receive professional support for vocational orientation, character development and Christian faith, work in social projects and do internships.

• 2025

  BTA.dual launched at Christliches Bildungszentrum Erzgebirge in Oelsnitz.

• 2024

  New claim 'Gott begegnen – weltbewegend'; logo and colours renewed.

• 2019

  BTA became a corporate member of the Working Group for Evangelical Theology.

• 2010

  Ulrich Neuenhausen became overall director on 1 December.

• 2009

  Name changed to Forum Wiedenest e. V.; new slogan 'Christliche Impulse für Gemeinden. Weltweit.'

• 1999

  New training and encounter centre dedicated.

• 1998

  Domestic services consolidated into the Community Forum.

• 1982

  Construction of a new teaching building began.

• 1977

  Brothers' home for students built.

• 1970

  Sisters' home built.

• 1958

  Teaching and assembly building with 900 seats dedicated.

• 1953

  Bible school began training female students.

• 1952

  Mission house founded; independent mission branch established under Ernst Schrupp.

• 1943

  Bombed-out Baptist preachers' seminary hosted for several years.

• 1938

  Bible weeks began alongside the regular training programme.

• 1930

  New hall building with classrooms and student rooms dedicated.

• 1928

  Several hundred students had attended, mainly from Russia and Germany.

• 1919

  Relocated to Wiedenest; inauguration on 5 October.

• 1908

  Moved to premises of the 'Christian Community' in Berlin-Schöneberg.

• 1905

  Founded in Berlin as 'Allianz-Bibelschule' to train evangelists for Tsarist Russia.

Evangelical Christian centre for education, mission and events, rooted in the Evangelical Alliance and historically close to Brethren assemblies and Free Churches.

• Biblisch-Theologische Akademie (BTA)

  Theological and diaconal training for around 160 young people, with about 150 students in regular and postgraduate programmes.

• Weltweite Mission (Worldwide Mission)

  Sending and supporting around 190 long- and short-term workers in over 30 countries.

• Gemeindeforum (Community Forum)

  Conferences, training, retreats and events with several thousand participants per year.

• herzwerk

  A ten-month orientation year for young adults aged 18 to 25, combining community living, vocational internships and Christian discipleship.

1. 1Forum Wiedenest | Forum Wiedenestwiedenest.de
2. 2Geschichte | Forum Wiedenestwiedenest.de
3. 3Aranjas Geschichte | Forum Wiedenestwiedenest.de
4. 4Über uns | Forum Wiedenestwiedenest.de
5. 5Forum Wiedenestwikidata.org
6. 6Forum Wiedenestde.wikipedia.org