Horst

In 1958, my mother gave me the book The path to maturity by Ellen White on the confirmation table. Unfortunately, the book did not find the desired resonance at the time. I put it aside. It was a time when „real“ boys preferred to swap adventure novels with each other.

But my parents' advice to seek God stayed with me throughout my life. As a family, we had always overcome our difficulties with prayer: The flight from the Sudetenland, an atheistic upbringing in the GDR and the war-related separation and later reunification of the family. So I also tried to hold on to God - for example by becoming a member of the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association).

My training as a careers counsellor at the Kassel job centre brought me into contact with people time and again.

But the more I looked into the vicissitudes of life, the more questions I had. They intensified when I was confronted with the harsh realities of life during my military service in the navy.

Later, I had to give a client information about a correspondence school in a case where I had been transferred to the labour office in Darmstadt. I found the address in a directory. At the same time, I also came across information for me personally: Bible distance learning, „Stimme der Hoffnung“ (Voice of Hope), Darmstadt. I wanted to take part. So I gave myself some good advice as a career counsellor. Or were angels involved? A Bible correspondence developed over two years, which was kept flowing by reminder letters: „Mr Eichler, please carry on!“ That was a good foundation for my faith.

In 1973/74, God obviously got serious with me. At that time, I had to undergo a painful operation and take a break from work for months. In addition, there were agonising questions about a loved one who had died, namely my grandmother. She had carried me on her back during the war. Was she really going to suffer in purgatory now, as the priest had told us at the grave? Thanks to the good follow-up support in the Bible Correspondence, I received an invitation to an evangelisation on current prophetic issues during this time. Among other things, it was about the Middle East. The lectures were interesting. I therefore gladly agreed to the subsequent Bible study with the speaker. The first discussion brought clarity about the question of death and what comes afterwards. I trusted that we have a good God even in judgement.

In a later long-term evangelisation with Kurt Hasel, God continued to build on my foundation of faith. I attended most of the 80 evenings. In a handover meeting, I tearfully threw all the junk of esotericism and wrong living overboard. It was the day of a happy rebirth under the sign: „I live, and you shall live also!“ (John 14:19) Later, when I was studying to become a preacher at Marienhöhe, I came across my confirmation book again. It was in the subject of education. If I had read it earlier, I would probably have been spared many a diversion in life. Fortunately, we have a patient God.