Tuesday Night Picnics in Kandern

Summer of Celebration Series …

Celebrating the Faithfulness of God in Ordinary Places

There is something sacred about gathering around a table.

Or in this case… around picnic tables, paper plates, grills, laughter, and long conversations that stretch into the evening air of a small German village.

At first glance, a weekly church picnic may not seem particularly significant. It certainly does not sound flashy or groundbreaking. No stage lights. No conferences. No massive outreach campaign.

Just people.

People eating together.
Talking together.
Lingering together.
Connecting together.

And perhaps that is exactly why it mattered so much.

Last summer, Rick and Connie traveled to Kandern, Germany to serve alongside missionaries connected to their daughter Hannah and son-in-law, Caleb. Kandern sits quietly in the southern Black Forest region and serves as home to many missionary families and international ministries. It is a beautiful place filled with deeply committed people carrying significant Kingdom responsibilities.

But missionaries are still human.

They still become tired.
They still become isolated.
And they still deeply need connection.

Relationships Matter More Than We Realize

Connie reflected recently that relationships matter more than we often realize.

For many years, they supported missionaries financially and prayerfully, but stepping into life alongside them changed their understanding completely. Being present creates a different kind of investment. Over time, through repeated visits and faithful relationship-building, trust developed. That trust opened the door for meaningful ministry opportunities.

One of those opportunities became the Tuesday night picnics.

These weekly gatherings were designed to intentionally bring people together throughout the summer months. Missionaries, pastors, families, students, and community members would gather simply to fellowship, eat, laugh, and rest together outside the constant demands of ministry life.

The picnics had always happened.

But like many good things in ministry, they often happened because exhausted people pushed through one more responsibility.

Pastors and leaders were trying to coordinate supplies at the last minute, clean the space, prepare grills, organize food, and still somehow have enough emotional energy left to engage meaningfully with people once everyone arrived.

Over time, even good things can begin to feel heavy.

Lifting the Weight Off Weary Shoulders

That is where Rick and Connie quietly stepped in.

Because they had the margin and willingness to serve, they began handling many of the behind-the-scenes details nobody really notices unless they are missing. They cleaned grills and prepared the pavilion. They organized supplies ahead of time. They made shopping runs before things became emergencies. They planned instead of scrambling.

And suddenly the atmosphere changed.

One pastor shared:

“Thank you for doing this for us. This freed me up to be able to just be with the people and fellowship. It took a weight off my shoulders.”

That statement says more than most people realize.

Sometimes ministry is not about creating something new. Sometimes it is about lifting enough weight off weary shoulders so people can simply breathe again.

The missionaries in Kandern genuinely care for one another. They are deeply invested in each other’s lives and ministries. But when every person involved is already carrying full schedules, even community-building events can become another responsibility to manage rather than a place of refreshment.

Rick and Connie arrived energized instead of exhausted.

That mattered.

They were able to step into practical needs so others could step into relationship.

And that is where the real beauty of the Tuesday picnics began to unfold.

The Ministry of Presence

Week after week, people came.

And week after week, more people stayed longer.

Conversations deepened. Children played. Laughter lingered. Missionaries connected outside of meetings and ministry obligations. People who were used to constantly serving others were finally able to simply sit down and enjoy being together.

Because every person craves connection.

Every person.

No matter the country.
No matter the culture.
No matter the ministry role.

We were created for fellowship.

One of the more interesting observations from the summer actually came through the food itself.

When Rick and Connie later brought the same picnic concept back to their home church in North Carolina, the difference was immediately noticeable. In America, people arrived carrying large casseroles, oversized desserts, and enough food to feed twice the crowd. At the end of the evening, there was still an abundance left over.

Germany looked different.

People there tend to shop every couple of days. Food is purchased fresh and in smaller quantities. There were rarely piles of leftovers sitting around at the end of the evening.

But what stood out most was not the difference in food.

It was the sameness of people.

Whether in Germany or the United States, people lingered when they felt welcomed. They stayed when they felt safe. They opened up when someone created space for connection.

And perhaps that is part of the deeper lesson God was teaching through these Tuesday nights.

The Kingdom Often Moves Through Ordinary Hospitality

The Kingdom of God often moves powerfully through ordinary hospitality.

Not elaborate productions.
Not perfection.
Not performance.

Just intentional presence.

A clean pavilion.
Prepared food tables.
Grills ready to go.
Space created for people to gather.

Connie’s gifts of hospitality and discerning needs paired beautifully with Rick’s organizational leadership and ability to connect with people. Together, God used their unique personalities and experiences to strengthen an entire community of missionaries simply by helping create room for fellowship to flourish.

And isn’t that just like God?

He takes the ordinary things we know how to do — organizing, cooking, planning, welcoming, serving — and uses them to refresh His people.

Even this year, only 48 hours after arriving back in Germany, Rick and Connie were once again stepping into picnic ministry during the combined 70th anniversary celebration for Black Forest Academy and the 50th anniversary of Black Forest Christian Fellowship. Rick spent hours grilling alongside other volunteers while Connie organized food areas, decorated cakes, and helped serve nearly 700 people.

Not because they needed recognition.

But because they came ready to serve.

Summer of Celebration

Summer of Celebration is not ultimately about events.

It is about people.

People seen.
People refreshed.
People strengthened.
People reminded they are not alone.

And sometimes one of the holiest things we can do is simply make space for others to sit down, stay awhile, and connect.