Wieger, Erich & Diane

Erich and Diane came to the Lord as teenagers. They met while serving on an Operation Mobilization team in Berlin doing gospel outreach among guest workers and refugees. They married in 1984. A year later, Erich entered the Discipleship Intern Training Program at his home assembly in San Leandro, California. Thereafter, Erich and Diane were commended by the San Leandro assembly, Fairhaven Bible Chapel, and  moved to Istanbul, Turkey, in 1988. They learned Turkish there, then moved to Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. The Wiegers co-laobored with a few of servants of the Lord there, and a new church was born. By that time, they were a family of seven. In 1999 they moved to the west of the Turkey, in a town next to the ruins of Ephesus, where Erich taught courses at a Bible school and shared the ministry of the Word at the church there. His work in eastern side of the country continued with monthly week-long itineraries. In 2003, the family moved to Izmir (Smyrna), where they began to help establish a church. Erich preached, met with the leadership, did Kurdish-language Bible readings, and continued his eastern itineraries. In 2009 the family returned to California to facilitate their children’s entry to universities and adult life. Diane obtained her teaching certification and taught in a public elementary school.  Erich finished his BA in International Relations, and a MA in History at San Francisco State University. Erich was able to study the Middle East and the Mediterranean, both ancient and modern, including languages that aid his ministry. Since 2014 Erich has travelled extensively from the USA to Turkey and nearby countries, to teach the Word of God and encourage believers. Diane and Erich are moving back to the region this summer (2021).  Diane will teach the children of Christian workers and Erich will continue his ministry.