Hans
When I was four, my mum taught me to believe in God and to pray. I never lost this connection to faith. Because I wanted to get to know the world, I later applied for a job as an engineering assistant in the shipping industry. I hoped to spend my first New Year on board in the harbour. But on New Year's Eve afternoon, the agency sent us out to sea. We left in such a hurry that none of us were able to get any reading material beforehand.
In my chamber, I searched the boarding for something readable. I actually found a small black booklet that another sailor had obviously lost there: a New Testament with Psalms! I was speechless and took my find as a sign from Jesus. I later got myself a complete Bible. It became my constant companion. After 10 years, I went ashore for good and from then on sold marine electrical installations.
Professionally, I was successful; eventually I moved up into the management of my company. A period of socialising began, but my relationship with Jesus weakened. And then came the crash: I lost my family and my house; suddenly everything was over. All that was left was debt. An acquaintance who belonged to the board of an evangelical church organised a place for me at a closed meeting for leaders of the Marburg Circle. This is a working group of committed Christians from various professions and denominations. At this conference, I realised that Jesus expected a complete surrender from me. I was allowed to let go. And that's what I did. I gave my life to Jesus.
A little later, during a rehabilitation programme, I witnessed how people from my environment bullied a lady and refused to let her go for a walk together. That challenged me. That's how I got to know a petite, attractive lady. The fact that she was an Adventist meant nothing to me at the time. It was icy winter weather outside. We walked together through the winter forest outside the door. It didn't stop at this one walk. We enjoyed talking about the Bible. I was amazed at her vast knowledge in this area.
At Christmas, I visited the nearby village church. I met her there again and sat next to her. The sermon was on Psalm 103 and my neighbour was crying. She didn't know whether she would ever be able to walk again without help. I prayed for her. And another year came to an end. I had no idea what the new one would bring.
A few days later, the lady from rehab invited me to her church, the Adventist Church. I had never heard of Seventh-day Adventists before. The year-end devotional was about Psalm 103 and I had never heard such a clear biblical proclamation since the Marburg Circle retreat. I spontaneously said - loudly and audibly: „Here I stay!“
Because of my biblical background, I was able to affirm everything I heard in the sermons and devotions. Out of the joy of this experience and out of reverence for the divine word, I took baptism lessons from the local preacher and a little later I was baptised as an adult.
