Helmut
As an ambitious young manager, I was very committed to my job. One day, our preacher lent me the book „Und ihre Lampen verlöschen“ (J. F. Lövgren, Brockhaus). It made me realise that you can be very active in the church without being a real Christian. Then I read the book „I was a gangster“ (Jim Vaus, Brockhaus). The gangster Jim Vaus was converted, confessed his sins unreservedly, replaced stolen goods and renounced his fellow gangsters. I was amazed at God's guidance in his life. I asked myself, „Why doesn't God intervene more clearly in my life?“. So I prayed: „Lord, with your help I will now confess all my sins and put my life in order. I also want to get up an hour earlier and dedicate this time to the Word of God and prayer. Then I will see if you intervene in my life too.”
I put into practice what I had discussed with God. Firstly, I confessed my sins to God and put various things right. In doing so, I asked God to prepare the people concerned. The results were so encouraging that I kept this order. I realised that investing an hour of time in daily devotions was not a loss of time, but a gain for the whole day.
A visit from two friends gave me the idea of attending Newbold College in England for a year to study English and some Bible subjects. When I made a preliminary enquiry to my boss about a possible leave of absence, he firmly refused.
In a prayer in the morning, I asked God to tell me whether I should go to England or not. Afterwards, I was silent and got the impression: „Go to England.“ But shortly after praying, I was unsure whether this was an answer from God or my imagination. So the next morning I brought my request to God again. In the silence, I again felt the answer: „Go to England“. Again I was unsure. I also realised that it was absolutely necessary to go to England if that was God's will for me. That would also have meant quitting my good job if my boss stuck to his no. So I prayed again on the third morning: „Father, don't be angry that I am asking you again for an answer. You know that I have no experience of listening to your voice. Besides, I may have to resign my position.
What's more, Ingrid would then be alone with our son during this time. I therefore also ask that you give Ingrid clarity, independently of me, and that I then find confirmation in your word.“ In the silence, God told me again, „Go to England“. Then I also found confirmation in the Bible. After my prayer, my wife said to me: „Do you already have an answer about England? It's clear to me: you should go to England.“
We prayed that my boss would grant me leave for my nine-month stay in England without me having to resign from my position. So the next morning I reported back to my boss from my holiday and immediately made my request. He approved it on the spot. Later, he was annoyed, but he didn't go back on his word.
On a subsequent business trip, my boss told me that he had increased my salary. This extra money later covered the entire school fees. A few years earlier, I had established a business relationship that was very profitable for the company. So I asked God if I should ask for the DM 500 salary to be continued during my stay in England. God gave me no answer. So I decided not to ask my boss for the money and left the matter to God. A short time later, the boss told me: „I have some good news for you. When you are in England, you will continue to receive DM 500 in salary.“ We were amazed and thanked God.
Years earlier, two doctors had told us that my wife would not conceive another child. But ten years later, she was suddenly pregnant again. Despite my initial doubts about cancelling my study trip to England under these circumstances, I took the overnight express train via Brussels - Ostend - Dover to London at the end of August 1965.
I found a friend in Erik at the mission school. He was a preacher and youth secretary of the Swedish Association. One Friday afternoon, Erik was playing football with the younger students. While running, he collapsed dead. I was very sad. Almost immediately after hearing about it, the question arose in me: „Who will the Lord call to preach the gospel in his place?“ A few hours later, a second question came to my mind: „What if God were to call you?“ There was no way I wanted to be a preacher. I was an enthusiastic businessman, had a very interesting job, was highly valued in my company and lived in one of the most beautiful areas of Germany. The question worried me a lot. I said to God: „Not everyone needs to become a preacher. I work in the church and I can get even more involved.“ This went on day after day for a whole week. As I knelt by my bed again on Friday evening, the thought quietly came to me: „God loves you! He also loves your wife and your baby boy and the unborn child. He won't call you to be a preacher and then make you and your loved ones unhappy. And if he should call you, then he will also equip you with the necessary gifts for this ministry. Since he loves you, he will guide you in the best possible way.“
So in November 1965 I said to God: ’Father in heaven, I believe in your love, omniscience and omnipotence. I'm sorry to have to tell you that I don't want to become a preacher of my own accord. But if you want me to, then I'm ready for it. From now on, I want to do your will in all things. I'll never come forward as a prospective preacher. If you want me, then you have to call me.“ After that prayer, I was at peace. I didn't realise at the time that some friends were praying that I would choose the preaching ministry. The Lord had answered their prayer.
I finished my studies at Newbold College in the early summer of 1966 and then went back to work at my company. Another year later, when I arrived at a meeting of the Southern Bavarian Association Committee, I met the chairman in the entrance area. He wanted to speak to me for a moment. I knew then what was coming. He said: „Due to the lack of training during the war and the death of several preachers, a large gap has arisen. So we want to call some brothers from the churches into the preaching ministry. We have come to the conclusion that you could be one of these brothers.“ I thanked him for his trust and asked him to think about it. My wife and I decided to pray and fast for four weeks for this purpose. We both came to the certainty that this was God's call. So in 1968, at the age of almost 38, I became a preacher.
When I was seventeen years old, I decided to be baptised at a call. I was convinced that the Seventh-day Adventist Church represented the truth and that it was God's church of the last days. However, 19 years later, through my experience in England, I realised that I had only accepted the general teachings of the Word of God. I had not accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord. Until then, I had determined my own path in life and prayed that the Lord would bless it. The decision to accept Jesus as Lord in November 1965 and to follow him in everything changed my whole life for the better.
