Bernd
The candles on the Christmas tree flickered, the hay from the oversized nativity scene smelled fragrant and the church was full of people. Their eyes shone with pre-Christmas joy. Together we sang the well-known Christmas carols. Like every year at this time, I was there with enthusiasm. It was the only time my parents attended a church service with me every year. But this time it wasn't just the festivity that appealed to me. A question came to my mind that wouldn't let me go: every year there is a story about Jesus, about the shepherds and the wise men. The story seemed important. But who is this Jesus Christ? And what does he have to do with me?
When we got home that evening, I asked my father exactly these questions. But he couldn't give me an answer. Two years later, he said to me: „You wanted to know who Jesus Christ is. Now you're 14 and can go to confirmation classes. Would you like that?“ Of course I wanted to! And so from then on I regularly attended confirmation classes.
But even here I didn't find out who Jesus Christ was. We hardly ever read the Bible. So I decided to read the Bible myself. I started at the beginning. Of course, I didn't find anything about Jesus there. By the time I got to the first genealogy, my interest was over.
At this point, my story could be over. But this is exactly where God intervened. I was sitting on the bus on the way to school in the morning. Suddenly I heard a voice that clearly said to me: „You said you wanted to read the Bible!“ I flinched and looked around. But it didn't seem to be anyone present who had spoken to me. However, I decided to start reading the Bible again. A few minutes later, however, I had forgotten this decision. But the voice kept coming back - for example when I was standing in front of my bookshelf. So I tried again. But again I got stuck in a boring place.
This game was repeated several times. Then my parents and I moved from Berlin to Darmstadt. I was now 19 years old and had started an apprenticeship as a landscape gardener. One day, as I was once again standing in front of my bookshelf, the voice returned after a long pause: „You said you wanted to read the Bible!“ This time I began to argue with this voice. „Yes, I wanted to! But I can't do it!“ And the voice said something else for the very first time. It said: „There must be people who can help you!“ This answer silenced me. Who did I know who could help me? I thought about it: My work colleagues? Neighbours? Some priest?
Exactly three minutes after I asked, the doorbell rang. A man was collecting money for a children's aid organisation. He also gave me a voucher card for a free Bible correspondence course at the „Voice of Hope“. That was the turning point in my life. Now I learnt who Jesus Christ is, that my life has a purpose and a future. I attended an evangelisation, received Bible lessons, surrendered my life to Jesus Christ and was baptised 18 months later.
