Hundreds of Muslims convert

The number of Muslim immigrants in Germany converting to Christianity is increasing, according to media reports, writes Christa Pongratz-Lippitt.

The pastor of the Iranian Pentecostal church in Hamburg, Albert Babayan, expects to baptise up to 600 immigrants this year.

Babayan admits that his community wants to expand but he does not make conversion easy. Every would-be convert has to do a three-month course that includes studying the Bible and the Christian faith but also compulsory German courses.

Not every one is baptised after completing the course. Moreover, “if I have the impression that converts do not really believe with all their hearts, then they have to do the entire course all over again”, Babayan says.

The German Protestant Church (EKD) published guidelines advising pastors on how to deal with requests for baptisms some time ago. While the Protestant Church was glad that for people from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan “Christianity [was increasingly] attractive”, it took on a special responsibility when it baptised people, the guidelines said.

The guidelines advise pastors to accompany newly converted migrants to the authorities, as the latter often suspect motives to do with seeking asylum. The Catholic Church is reluctant to speak about conversions as many Muslim immigrants who have become Catholic are frightened of reprisals against their families at home.