Karl Keiderling: Our group of 25 stood before the Kurhaus in the bright morning sun listening to Albrecht Esche and Elisabeth Schönhuth tell about the two Blumhardts and their life in Bad Boll. He told how both Blumhardts had a mission and a vision. Their mission: “Jesus is victor” and their vision: “God’s Kingdom is coming” inspired thousands of people and has the power to enthuse and move our hearts today. In the Kurhaus, now a modern rehabilitation clinic, there was a lot of activity and one could imagine the life that came together in those very same rooms and halls during the Blumhardts’ time. There was the Blumhardt Room where many came to visit, confess their sins and find healing, and the dining room which was built by Christoph Friedrich when the old one became too small. Albrecht Esche told us that some people were not in agreement to replace the old dining room that meant so much to them from the father Blumhardt. At this Christoph Friedrich became angry and said that although they should treasure the things of the past, there also has to be a time when something new comes and we can’t hang on to the old.

Karsten Hormann: The joy with which we were met by Albrecht Esche was astounding, as was that of Elisabeth Schönhuth. Somehow I had thought that we would have to “make” something out of the trip, as far as being excited about the Blumhardts’ vision. My view on things was radically changed within seconds of meeting Albrecht and Elisabeth, and it became more and more apparent that we didn’t have much to bring to the sites we visited and people we met. We could only learn from and try to take in what we heard and saw.

Kevin Keiderling: As Albrecht Esche, a theologian and “Blumhardt friend” as he called himself showed us around, he brought across in a fiery way Blumhardt´s certainty of Jesus´ victory over the whole world. As well as bringing Blumhardt´s huge vision across, visiting Bad Boll showed the down-to-earth nature of Blumhardt. He was a real man with two feet on the ground. As some letters show, he loved life, cracking jokes with friends, taking on practical aspects of Bad Boll, and caring for the needs right around him. He was a man who had a cause to live for, way beyond himself. After touring the two memorial areas within the Kurhaus while getting a feel of the vastness of the operations, we then walked across the grounds to the burial ground for the Blumhardts. As we walked, Elisabeth Schönhuth stopped to tell us stories.

Hannah Horning: Elisabeth Schönhuth, who is 82 years old, charged all over with us, all day long, telling memories nonstop and going faster than some of those in their 20’s.-A tiny unassuming woman, who when asked if she was managing replied, “Strength will be given somehow!” As we entered the burial ground it was clear that here was holy ground. It was a place that one can feel God used people to work for His kingdom. Johann Christoph Blumhardt has the following words on his grave. Jesus Christus, gestern, heute, und der Selbe in Ewigkeit. (Jesus Christ, yesterday, today, and the same throughout eternity.) Somehow when you think of this man and how simple and single-minded his faith was, these words describe it all. It also says, Siehe, er kommt! (Lo, he is coming!)

Erin Leblanc: On Friday morning all 25 of us plus the two young gardeners removed a trailer-full of weeds from the Blumhardt burial ground for a hot, hardworking 3 hours. It was peaceful, and by the end you could see what was inscribed on most of the gravestones. There were graves of people from China to the USA, still visited by people from those countries. Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt’s grave proclaims: “Daß Jesus siegt bleibt ewig ausgemacht. Sein wird die ganze Welt.“ (Jesus remains the Victor through all eternity. The whole world will be His.) These words stood out for me on this trip.

Miriam Potts: After that we visited a school near Bad Boll that Blumhardt had founded in Eckwälden. Apparently he felt that for some people in Bad Boll the Kurhaus was too loud and some of the mentally ill needed more quiet. After Blumhardt´s time it became a school for children who need special care. During WWII in Germany anyone who had a disability was at great risk. In every other similar school around, the children were taken and gassed. However, in this school the director told the Nazis he did not have the authority to relinquish the children and the Nazis turned around and left. We felt that this was a continuation of the miracles experienced in Blumhardts’ time. The director there told us that the war between good and evil still continues there today, evidenced by strange, inexplicable events. He told us a story from earlier years, when one of the staff was reading about Gottliebin Dittus (the Fight) and heard one of the children screaming downstairs. Upon asking the child what was the matter, she received the response: “Stop reading that book!” The child then proceeded to quote the exact words the teacher had just been reading.

Asenath Stanaway: On Saturday July 4 we arrived in Ostelsheim where we were met by Fritz Brandt. Ostelsheim is a village just a few kilometers from Möttlingen. He was waiting for us, ready to hike with us over towards Möttlingen. He explained as we went how Blumhardt must have done this walk in order to preach at the various villages. It was a beautiful hike, and at one point we stopped in an area in which a cross had been erected. This is now known as the Prediger Platz or preachers place where Blumhardt composed the words to the song, “Jesus is Victorious King!” and then sang it to a well known tune. As he and two other men were singing, the whole forest was as if filled with angels singing. The other men stopped singing but Blumhardt continued. When he got home to Möttlingen he found out that Gottliebin had heard the same words.

At the Prediger Platz in the woods we sang the same song. It was a very powerful experience. It was as if the Blumhardts and the many that have gone before were there. It is such a simple message in that song, but it says everything. That meant a lot to me.

Steve Fransham: It was an exciting feeling as we walked into the little village of Möttlingen nestled in a valley. At the Gottliebin Dittus House we met Friedrich Walz. He was such a joyful man, full of love and enthusiasm. It just streamed from him, quite amazing. Of course one has always heard about this plaque that appeared on the wall that says “Man think on eternity…”

Christine Rimes: The time spent in the Dittus` house was in a way the most special part of the trip for me. The bottom floor, which would have been where the Dittus family lived, was set up very much like it would have been, with furniture, cooking utensils and clothing hanging on the walls. It was striking how simple it was. The second floor was set up as a museum. It was occupied by a widow for a few years, before the time of the Fight. It was in the main room of the second floor apartment that our tour guide Herr Walz told us the history of the Fight and then the Awakening. Herr Waltz was so alive and inspired about what he was telling. The 1 ½ hrs we spent there seemed like only a few minutes.

Kevin Keiderling: It was amazing to stand in the house that Gottliebin Dittus lived in and think about what had happened there. For two years the demons had tried to win Gottliebin, and for two years Blumhardt fought against it using only prayer and fasting and rock solid faith in Jesus. Then, after the powers of darkness were there for so long, finally the victory was won and the words “Jesus is Victor” resounded out over the town.

Karl Keiderling: Sunday in Möttlingen: about 50 people attended the church service, with our group making up about half of the congregation. The organ played several hymns and we were welcomed heartily by Pastor Jörg Beißwenger. He then invited us up to the front where we sang several Blumhardt songs.

Miriam Barth: While standing under the almost 300- year-old patterned ceiling, I tried to imagine this tiny church once bursting at the seams with 500 people, young and old, crowding both floors and hundreds more craning to hear from outside its wide-open windows and doors. I imagined how over 100 years ago this man, Blumhardt, spoke to the crowds about the Kingdom of God. “Jesus is victorious King!”

The song vibrated through the now almost empty pews, save the few grey heads scattered near the rear. “…who o’er all his foes has conquered.” The words went made me think: who believes this today? Isn’t it promised that Jesus will again conquer the many demons – the demons of sin, of sickness, of hatred and bitterness? Isn’t Jesus still and forever Victor?

The coming promised Kingdom sometimes seems far off. Nevertheless, the spark is still tangible in many people. The courage expressed by Elisabeth, “We can’t give up hope! We have to await the coming Kingdom!” the longing of Fritz, “Pray for another awakening in Möttlingen!”, and the searching of Anna, “How can we young people approach others and tell them about Jesus?” all vividly express my longing, our longing.

 

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Responses

Dear friends,
Your site is really  deeply spiritual. Every time I read  something from Blumhardt or from Arnold my hart became full of Jesus.
Please notify me when a new article or ebook is posted. What about Bruderhoff ???

Sincerely yours,
Konstantinos Panopoulos
Athens, Greece

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