When Luca Eichel walked through Frankfurter Berg for the first time, he couldn't find anything that united its residents except their postal code. That discovery became his calling. Today, he's preparing to plant Frankfurt's next multicultural church in a district where 60% of residents have migration backgrounds, creating Gospel community among people who share nothing but geography—and the transformative message of Jesus Christ.

From Mission Field to Church Planting

Luca's path began on the mission field in Ecuador, where a deep desire crystallized: "I wanted to contribute to God's mission with my life." Returning to study theology at Liebenzell, he encountered Berlin church planter Dirk Pfarr, whose approach revolutionized Luca's understanding of ministry. "It wasn't about choosing between a missionary project or becoming a pastor just for Christians," Luca reflects. "Church planting means the entire church is fully aligned with God's mission."

That realization captivated him. Here were people moving into major cities, intentionally learning their local context to become church for people who weren't there yet. "I found it fascinating—being so dependent on God while simultaneously so focused on everyday life, meeting people where they are instead of waiting for them to come."

The vision grew stronger: church planting offered the opportunity to embed mission DNA from the beginning, shaping a community that could multiply and create widespread impact.

Learning to Leading

After connecting with Jason Lim through Liebenzell Mission, Luca spent two and a half years as a church planting trainee at Mosaikkirche Nordwest. This wasn't just professional development—it was spiritual formation. "I didn't want to plant church just because I found existing church lacking. I wanted something positive in my mind, knowing what I wanted to reproduce."

The experience proved transformative. Leading a house church, mentoring emerging leaders, and learning to multiply disciples rather than just manage programs prepared him for the challenges ahead. Now, as he transitions from learner to planter, Luca carries forward hard-won wisdom about leadership development: "When I lead, my goal is the leadership of others. It's not just about successful programs—it's about creating leaders."

Vision for Frankfurter Berg

Luca and his wife dream of "a church for people who can't relate to Jesus"—specifically, a multicultural community in northeastern Frankfurt's most diverse district. Frankfurter Berg presents a unique challenge: with 60% migration backgrounds across multiple income levels, from social housing to middle-class families, the neighborhood defies easy categorization.

"We couldn't quickly answer what kind of church this place needs," Luca admits. "That's what fascinated us." The district is growing rapidly, well-connected by public transport, and attracts young families—but has virtually no evangelical Gospel presence beyond traditional state churches.

Their approach starts with radical openness. "We'll need tremendous openness to people's life stories," Luca explains. "As primarily German-background believers, we'll be engaging people shaped by completely different experiences." The presence of a local mosque adds another layer of cross-cultural ministry complexity.

Building Diverse Leadership

Currently, Luca and his wife make up the core team, with another young couple joining in spring 2026. But their vision extends far beyond this initial group. "I'd love to have people from different life phases and cultures directly represented in our church planting or leadership team," Luca shares. "That would help us include more diverse people in our community."

The strategy emphasizes relationship-first leadership development. Having experienced mentorship that identified potential before readiness, Luca applies the same approach: "Even when people aren't coming with us, it's valuable to say 'I see this in you.' That builds people up for their own journey."

Real Challenges, Gospel Dependence

Church planting in Frankfurter Berg presents significant challenges. "The biggest challenge is creating structures from scratch," Luca acknowledges. "Being full-time without established frameworks means building everything. I have respect for the frustration that might come when little happens and you have to start everything yourself."

Equally challenging is leaving comfort zones to build relationships with strangers. Unlike established churches with existing networks, Luca faces the daunting task of starting from zero: "Going proactively to people I don't know, who nobody introduced me to, who I simply need to get to know."

The spiritual dimension weighs heavily too. "It's contested, especially our relationship with Jesus," he admits. "I have to fight not to see myself primarily as a church planter or as some innovative, cool person, but to find my identity in being God's child."

Yet these challenges create opportunities. "We can try everything, we have nothing to lose," Luca notes. "We're not a large existing church that might fail, we're just a small project. If it goes wrong, we can always come home to our church."

Looking Forward: Multicultural Multiplication

The vision remains compelling: creating space where isolated people find home, where those feeling displaced in Germany discover belonging, where individuals encounter Jesus and are equipped to reach others Luca could never connect with. "We might meet people there who can reach people I could never reach as Luca," he reflects. "Something can continue that I simply can't do myself."

This multiplication mindset drives everything. Rather than building institutional success, Luca focuses on developing leaders who develop leaders, creating disciples who make disciples across cultural and generational lines. In one of Frankfurt's most diverse districts, that vision could catalyze Gospel movement throughout the entire city.

Current Prayer Needs:

• Housing in Frankfurter Berg that they can afford with adequate space for ministry

• God's preparation of neighbors and community members for Gospel encounters

• Team expansion beyond young German believers to include diverse generations and cultures

• Wisdom for authentic cross-cultural relationship building

• Protection of marriage and spiritual life amid ministry pressures

• Open doors for natural Gospel conversations in the community

Partnership Opportunities:

• Individuals willing to relocate to Frankfurt for multicultural ministry

• Financial support for full-time church planting work

• Cross-cultural ministry expertise and training

• Prayer partnership for this pioneering work in unreached territory

"The dream is a multicultural community of Christians fully aligned with God's mission for this district," Luca shares. "People from different cultures, generations, and personalities—united in Jesus and unified in mission."

Through patient relationship-building in one of Frankfurt's most diverse neighborhoods, Luca demonstrates that Gospel community transcends every boundary, creating authentic belonging for people who share nothing except their need for Jesus Christ.