Shortly after becoming born again in the early ’80s, Michael Tamme’s mother found Kenneth E. Hagin’s book I Believe in Visions on her bookshelf. Someone had placed it there unbeknownst to her. When she picked it up, the Holy Spirit said, “One day your whole family will go there.”

Almost a decade later, the Tamme family moved from Germany to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Michael’s parents graduated from Rhema USA in 1993.

Although 18-year-old Michael knew God called him to the ministry, he ran from it. He joined the military when his family returned to Germany. After completing a year of mandatory service, Michael eagerly began a career in the German Army as an Airborne Ranger. However, he sensed his time in the military was about to end.

Michael came to Winter Bible Seminar in 1997, wanting to receive direction from God. One night after praying for international ministers, Kenneth E. Hagin stopped. “The Lord arrested me,” he said. “I want everyone else who is international to come down here.”

Michael went forward, apprehensive but expectant. He didn’t know that what was coming next would change the trajectory of his life. As Brother Hagin laid hands on one person in the middle, the rest fell like dominos.

“Being the last person in the line, I took an extra step back so nobody would fall on me. And BAM, the holy power of God pulled me to the floor,” Michael recalls. While lying there, the Lord confirmed that he was to give up his military career, go to Rhema, and follow Him 100 percent. After leaving the Reserves, Michael returned to Broken Arrow to attend school.

Healed of Cancer

One person whose life was changed is Katharina. Feeling empty and stagnant in her relationship with God, she wanted to attend a Bible school and asked God to show her the right one. At that same time, Katharina was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. With death knocking at her door, she didn’t understand why she had such a strong desire to go to Bible school.

Two months after beginning radiation, Katharina’s church started holding midweek lessons on faith. She attended the sessions and loved what she heard. The guest teachers were from Rhema Germany. After listening to them, Katharina knew Rhema was the Bible school for her.

Katharina jumped on the opportunity to attend Rhema’s Get Acquainted Weekend. A few days beforehand, however, the hospital called. Her test results didn’t look good. But instead of going back to the hospital, she went to the Get Acquainted Weekend. While there, she thought, “This is crazy, why am I going to Bible school when I am facing death?”

“Resist the devil, and he shall flee from you” rose up from her heart!

Later that day, the director of Rhema Germany shared how a student was healed of a serious heart condition while sitting in class. That was the confirmation Katharina needed. Her mind was made up; she was going to Rhema! After undergoing more tests, the results came back good. Everything was okay!

Despite challenges early on, Katharina finished her first year strong. Today she is thriving physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

“These students have never heard this. It’s a whole new way of thinking,” says Kandra. “You see them come to class, and they’re clueless. When I see the light go on, I can cry!”

Reaching the Unchurched

Shortly after settling into their roles at Rhema Hamburg, Michael’s parents asked the pair to become the senior pastors of Lebendiges Wort. The Tammes concede that it has been a “juggle,” but they are more than up for the task. “What God has for us to do is so much bigger than ourselves,” says Kandra.

Hamburg, known as the city of bridges, is the second largest municipality in Germany. Like many European cities, most of Hamburg is “unchurched.” The Tammes are “building bridges” to change that.

“Through the love of God, new bridges are being built into churches that are ethnically secluded,” says Michael. The couple is also working to bridge the gap between denominations by developing connections with other pastors.

The Tammes want to see the message of faith taught to all God’s people. One way they plan to do that is to help establish churches.

“Only the local church can really reach and change a nation,” says Michael. “We’re here to help strengthen the local church. The goal is to get people to pioneer more churches.”

“As the students get the word of faith,” Kandra adds, “they will take it back and establish those churches. Then they train, coach, and multiply. It keeps going.” The vision is not only for Germany but for other nations too.

The spiritual atmosphere has changed since Michael and Kandra arrived almost 20 years ago. But they both agree much work needs to be done. “We want to equip and train people the same way Rhema has trained and equipped us,” says Kandra. “The Word is too good to keep for yourself. You gotta give it away.”