Addressing two holocaust-survivors

In a historic place

Sunday, 14th October.  In the morning I spoke to a congregation of 450 in the Mennonite Church Bechterdissen, near Bielefeld, in the evening I spoke in Hannover.

A 360° photo which tries to capture the history of the room and meeting’s atmosphere.  Café Jerusalem is located on the first floor of House Ahlem.  It was here that before the Second World War Jewish children were trained for various professions and it was from here that the Nazis sent many Jews on their final journey.  For years now this historic building houses a Christian work with drug addicts, but the Christian-Jewish dialogue continues.

There are only standing places left in the auditorium.  Among the audience are two Jews both in their nineties.  Together with the other 75 people gathered they hear Diospi Suyana’s amazing story.  Born from nothing.  Dependent on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 317,000 patients have been treated, a modern school and media work for South Peru have come into existence.  Simply unexplainable.

“For me the development of Diospi Suyana is a proof that God exists!” tells me a 50 year old man afterwards.  Many others share his view.  But how can one believe in God after Ausschwitz, Treblinka, Buchenwald and Theresienstadt? Why did God remain silent when these gruesome deeds were going on?

Perhaps we would the answer more easily, if we could look through the curtain to the other side of eternity, where God is waiting for us and will wipe away all our tears, where justice rules and forgiveness reigns triumphant and where the cemetery’s melancholy is over once and for all.

Michael Lenzen steps up to the microphone.  Michael has invested years of his life to help and support drug addicts.  He presents me with the book about the first thirty years of the organisation’s history, written by its founder, Jochen Buhrow.  “Once you start reading this book, you simply cannot put it down.  The story is so gripping!”  Is not it interesting: God writes stories everywhere!  They are authentic, exciting and challenging.  A perfect read for my flight back to Peru. /KDJ

A very special audience. For me it is a great privilege to speak to these dear people.
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