Martje Kaatze’s Journey to Faith
It is perfectly normal for a person to ask humanity’s existential questions. Where do I come from, and where am I going? No matter how intelligent we are, and regardless of any philosophical background we may have, we want to get to the bottom of transcendence—if such a thing even exists.
For some, this search begins with a cry for justice. For others, perhaps because of their fear of death. If God were to have created this universe and were to imbue the infinite galaxies with His meaning, then there would be absolute truths, the knowledge of which would be of the utmost importance to us. If, and perhaps. We are navigating the uncertain realm of the subjunctive.
Martje Kaatze is studying medicine at the University of Hamburg and is currently completing a clinical rotation at Diospi Suyana Hospital. As soon as she opens her mouth, you can tell right away that this young woman is blessed with intelligence. She is also well-read, well-educated, and self-assured. It’s no surprise that she comes from a stable, upper-class German family. Caring parents, two younger siblings, and no personal tragedies.
During her childhood, her family, mindful of tradition, attended Christmas services at a Protestant church in Essen. On these festive days, they would sometimes pick up the children’s Bible. Prayers were not really part of their daily routine. Discussions about God, faith, and religion were important for general knowledge, but they weren’t an expression of something close to her heart. Martje has fond memories of her confirmation classes. The pastor was dedicated and came across as genuine. Even though she learned some biblical content, it was clear to the 14-year-old that the Bible had no personal relevance to her life.
In short, Martje is an attractive young woman with everything it takes to lead a successful life and climb the career ladder.
In 2019, she spent a school year abroad in Seville. The Spaniards in this region are Catholic. The church is a cultural asset and part of a people’s history, without exerting far-reaching influence on their way of life. In this Andalusian city, the Grand Inquisitor wreaked havoc in one of Dostoevsky’s novels—a chapter from *The Brothers Karamazov*. In his monumental contribution to world literature, the Russian philosopher explains with brutal candor the arguments for and against belief in God. The scenes take place in the midst of the turmoil of the Inquisition in the 16th century. Five hundred years later, these religious ideas are still completely unknown to Martje. She is enjoying her months in Southern Europe with its warm weather and enchanting Mediterranean charm.
Toward the end of her stay in southern Spain, Martje meets a nice girl from Düsseldorf. She learns that her new friend reads the Bible regularly and prays. It’s kind of fascinating. And yet Martje remains quite skeptical.
The year 2020 arrives. The coronavirus pandemic forces students to stay at home. Homeschooling, social isolation, and even a certain amount of boredom are part of an unfamiliar reality. Martje has time on her hands, so she orders a do-it-yourself Bible from Amazon. The language of the modern translation is easy to understand. She begins reading the Gospel of John—which is quite far back in the book. Unlike back in her church classes, Martje is now somehow interested and eager to learn. The words from the fourth Gospel suddenly have an unexpected power. “What if all of this were true?” Martje doesn’t just want to gain knowledge about the Book of Books; she’s searching for answers to her questions about meaning and truth. Over the course of several weeks, the high school senior makes an astonishing observation. The verses from the New Testament repeatedly speak directly to her life situation. This phenomenon occurs so often that coincidence is no longer a valid explanation. Could it be that she is actually encountering the Almighty in this book? Martje listens to worship music on Spotify. The lyrics and melodies fill her heart, and she realizes how deeply within her the longing for the eternal is steadily growing.
In her personal circle, her Bible study is met with a certain amount of surprise. “Believing in God is fine, but should you devote your whole life to it?” This, however, does not deter Martje from intensifying her exploration. She has now read the Bible from cover to cover. The description of humanity as in need of salvation makes sense to her, and sometime in 2021, Martje realizes that she is a committed Christian. Looking back, the student remarks, “For me, it was a gradual process—without a specific date and without any mysterious experience!”
In the Bible, God promises that He will transform a person of faith. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, a whole new quality of life emerges. For example, in his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes that God can fill us with His peace—a peace that defies all human attempts to explain it. A peace that does not depend on health, success, or money. Martje’s words practically resonate as she says, “When I read this passage, I felt that this peace truly exists and that I am experiencing it in my life!”
The young Christian woman begins her journey back to the church and becomes active in local youth ministry. During her studies, she seeks out like-minded people at the university and at a free church in Hamburg. She is passionate about her faith and doesn’t want to lose this connection to God. In May 2024, the student is baptized in the Elbe River—a public declaration of her love for Jesus Christ.
Following a recommendation, Martje orders all four books on the history of Diospi Suyana. She is truly amazed that the God of the Bible is still at work today in such a mysterious and powerful way. She would love to visit this mission hospital someday. When the opportunity arises, Martje books her ticket and flies to South America. And that’s also the reason why our paths crossed and she’s sitting across from me in my office.
“Martje, what do you think is the meaning of life right now?”—The aspiring doctor doesn’t have to think long. “I want to get to know God more and more, live close to Him, and make a difference through His love!”
