Mike Garst and the Germany Baseball Camps for Jesus!

Mike Garst and the Germany Baseball Camps for Jesus
Prayer Coverage Needed

Mike Garst is a dear brother in Christ to me. We met in the mid-90s, and Mike and I have gone on many mission trips together, and we have seen God do some mighty and glorious things.

In the early 2000s, Mike went to Germany to participate in a baseball camp that was led by Chris Richey, who is also a dear brother in Christ. Chris had taken his youth group with us to Costa Rica several times, and Mike had met Chris on one of the Costa Rica mission trips. But Chris was also leading the Germany baseball camps. Mike went with Chris on one of these trips, and God stirred Mike’s heart to begin leading similar trips. I believe that Mike led his first Germany mission trip in 2002. He has been so faithful over the years. I don’t believe that he has missed going since then. Over these years, God has continued to bless and expand the ministry opportunities.

Mike left on Thursday, July 2, to go to Germany for around six weeks. Over these weeks, he will be leading three baseball camps and also connecting with many different people whom he has met over the past 24 years to encourage them to keep growing in their relationships with Christ!

It is SO VERY IMPORTANT for Mike to have the proper PRAYER COVERAGE as he leads these camps and ministers through these many different relationships. I am going to share with you a recent email that he sent out to his prayer warriors. I hope that you will take up the mantle and stand in the gap for him and for the ministry over the coming weeks. There are young adults who have been involved in these camps for years, and then there will be many youth showing up for the very first time. Mike does a good job of listing the prayer requests. I hope you will take the time today (NOW), and in the coming weeks, to lift Mike and this ministry up before the Lord for His grace, presence, and provision.

FROM MIKE:

Dear Prayer Warriors,

I’m sending this to all of you who have been on my distribution list for prayer requests and updates for the Germany Baseball Camp for Jesus mission trip, plus some new people this year. If any of you want to be removed from this distribution list, please let me know. I understand that we all have limited bandwidth.

Below is a schedule for the three camps and our specific prayer requests. All your prayers are needed and greatly appreciated!!

In Christ’s hope of glory,

Mike

Germany Baseball Camp for Jesus Prayer Requests – 2026

1st Camp – Aurich, July 6–10 (Travel Dates: July 2–12) – 18th Camp

This camp will have 18 Americans: 13 from Maryland, 3 from North Carolina, 1 from Kansas, and 1 from Texas (me). It looks like we will have over 100 participants. We already have some baptisms scheduled for Thursday of the camp. I’m looking forward to being in the water with at least two of them!!

2nd Camp – Osterholz-Scharmbeck, July 13–17 (Travel Dates: July 9–19) – 5th Camp

This camp will have 13 Americans, 7 who will have been at the first camp (3 from Maryland, 3 from North Carolina, and me), plus 3 more from Texas, 2 from Maryland, and 1 from Arkansas. We have close to 50 sign-ups so far, so it will be our biggest camp by far at this location.

Between the 2nd and 3rd camps, I’ll be traveling around Germany and visiting with friends I’ve made from previous camps.

3rd Camp – Vechta, August 3–7 (Travel Dates: July 30–August 9) – 11th Camp

This camp will have 12 Americans: 5 from Maryland, 3 from Virginia, and 4 from Texas, including myself. We should have at least 80 participants at this camp.

These are our main prayer requests, along with any other prayers the Holy Spirit leads you to pray.

1. That all the American and German leaders will prepare their hearts and minds to be ready to serve in any way the Lord prepares and leads them during the weeks of the camps.

2. God’s favor, blessings, and protection for everyone traveling to the baseball camps, especially that everyone would make their connections and that all the luggage and equipment would arrive on time as well. Pray also for good health for everyone involved in the camps.

3. That the American and German leaders would quickly unite their hearts and minds so they can share and demonstrate the love of Christ in a way that shows all the participants and helpers that they deeply care for each other and for all the people involved in the camps.

4. That the leaders who will be preaching, teaching, and sharing their testimonies would be ready and willing to boldly talk about their faith and how it has changed their priorities and lives.

5. Pray that God will remove every obstacle the enemy tries to use to keep participants who need to experience God’s love from coming to the camps.

6. That all the participants who are being drawn to the Lord for the first time would take that step of faith to follow Jesus and get connected with a believer who can mentor them on the journey.

7. That all the participants who have started the faith journey would take the next step to grow in their faith and love by connecting with other believers so they can encourage each other.

8. That God would provide favorable weather for playing baseball during each of the camps.

9. That the Americans would develop lasting relationships with new host-home families, and that those staying with host-home families they have stayed with before would continue to strengthen those relationships.

10. That all the German and American leaders would do their part to stay connected to their team members and continue to deepen their relationships with them.