“Leave with courage. Shape the future.” This is the central theme of the biennial conference of Christian leaders (Kongress Christlicherführungskräfte/KCF), attracting 3,000 participants from Germany and abroad last week. Organized by the ideas of evangelical news agencies, the event explored ways Christian values could help form leaders and navigate challenging times.
The 14th non-denominational and non-partisan event took place from Thursday to Saturday (March 6-8) at DM Arena in Karlsruhe. KCF25 featured discussions on leadership, faith and professional challenges, Idea reported.
Approximately 60 experts in business, politics, science and society led the sessions and shared their leadership experiences. The event also featured 200 fair exhibitors and a section for young professionals under the age of 35. Participants were offered opportunities for prayer, idyllic care and coaching.
Idea’s chairman Helmut Matthies recalled how it started 25 years ago “without experience, office or money,” but according to commentary published by Idea, it attracted 1,000 participants at its first event in 1999.
“The idea comes from two dev Swabian entrepreneurs: Karl Shock and Jorg Noblauch,” Matties said. “They visited me in 1997 at the headquarters of the Evangelical Communications Agency’s Ideas. Their wish: In an age of increasing secularization, the responsible Christians should meet. Goal: to encourage each other professionally and spiritually.”
Schock and Knoblauch convince Massies that the idea was an influence among evangelical leaders and was suitable to hold Congress accountable.
“As the head of ideas at the time, I was immediately convinced,” Matties said. “Our board agreed, and our chairman, Horst Marquhart, is now retired and has made this initiative his last life job. Jörg Knoblauch was enthusiastically supported him as vice-president of his company, Tempus.”
After the first event in 1999, organizers asked participants if another council was wanted.
“They wanted it… but they’ve been doing it ever since. It’s the 14th time,” added Mattis.
Values Award 2025 will be sent to Thuringia Entrepreneurs
Georg Jahn, an entrepreneur from the spa town of Bad Blankenburg in Thuringia, has received a “value award” in council, the idea reported.
“The award belongs to Jesus, who determines my life. Yarn brings him to life every day,” Yarn said, accepting awards that honor individuals who express Christian values in the workplace.
Yarn took over his father’s craft business as the sole trader in 1990, and now employs more than 500 people. He believes in Jesus’ ownership of business, according to the evangelical theologian Hans Martin Stubler, former executive director of the Business Association in Neuflingen near Stuttgart, who was awarded the award.
Stäbler recalls how Jahn continued his difficult economic times by relying on the prayers of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Stand by my side and keep misfortune and pain away from me. “He prayed the same prayers every day, and later signed a contract with a service provider on the German highway.
Yarn is also supporting local initiatives, including the construction of Morgenross, a four-star hotel in Bad Blankenburg, scheduled to open in the summer of 2025.
“He wants to be God’s ambassador not only personally, but also with his company,” Stebler said.
“When he goes to the construction site, the sun rises,” he added.
“I humbly accept this award,” Yahn said during the council. “I hope this award will help us move this company forward and build a future with Jesus Christ.”
In the closing service at KCF25, Jasir Eric, the bishop of the Anglican Church of Korntal Munchingen, originally from Sudan, asked participants to stand up boldly for their faith, show respect for the God he placed them in, and, according to the idea, respect God.
He warned of the abuse of power in business and politics, and encouraged participants to follow Jesus’ examples of brave and visionary leadership.
“He was the perfect leader because he was the perfect servant,” Eric said.
KCF25 aims to be broadly ecumenical with support from a variety of professional organizations, including the Evangelical Entrepreneurs Working Group and the Catholic Entrepreneurs Association.
The next KCF has already been announced and will be held in Leipzig, Germany from June 10th to 12th, 2027.
