25.10.2012 Views

Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>Against</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Wind</strong><br />

a party…go out into <strong>the</strong> streets <strong>and</strong> invite <strong>the</strong> very poorest who can never invite<br />

you in return” (Luke 14:12). To Carl Franklin <strong>Arnold</strong>, this behavior was nothing<br />

short of insolent, <strong>and</strong> he ordered his son to stay in his room. Misunderst<strong>and</strong>ings<br />

between fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> son continued. Both suffered as a result.<br />

miSSionary ZEal<br />

Through <strong>the</strong> young pastor who had helped him take his first decisive steps,<br />

<strong>Eberhard</strong> found contacts with o<strong>the</strong>r young Christians. This pastor arranged a<br />

bible study group for older high school students. At first <strong>the</strong> only members o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

than <strong>Eberhard</strong> were two boys from ano<strong>the</strong>r high school. Toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y studied<br />

Mark’s Gosel. With <strong>the</strong> pastor’s encouragement, <strong>the</strong>y invited <strong>the</strong>ir classmates<br />

to join <strong>the</strong>m. <strong>Eberhard</strong> succeeded in interesting two friends from his “Suevia”<br />

days. In time, more than ten of his fellow students were infected by his glowing<br />

enthusiasm for Jesus. They ga<strong>the</strong>red for discussions at recess under <strong>the</strong> walnut<br />

trees on <strong>the</strong> school grounds. Alone or in small groups, <strong>the</strong>y visited <strong>Eberhard</strong> at his<br />

house <strong>and</strong> listened as he spoke about <strong>the</strong> joy of unconditional discipleship of Jesus<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> happiness <strong>and</strong> strength that Jesus can give. Clara <strong>Arnold</strong> describes how<br />

she <strong>and</strong> her siblings sometimes discovered <strong>Eberhard</strong> in <strong>the</strong> drawing room engaged<br />

in deep, earnest conversation with one or more of his friends. 21 Apparently he had<br />

helped some of <strong>the</strong>m find <strong>the</strong> same breakthrough that he had experienced.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> meantime <strong>the</strong> bible study group grew to fifty members. When <strong>the</strong> young<br />

pastor was transferred, leadership fell to <strong>Eberhard</strong>. His missionary zeal <strong>and</strong> his<br />

strong sense of responsibility for his friends as fellow seekers cost him much time<br />

<strong>and</strong> energy. Small wonder that his achievement level at high school sank once<br />

again.<br />

thE Salvation army<br />

<strong>Eberhard</strong> had felt drawn to <strong>the</strong> Salvation Army ever since meeting one of its members<br />

in his uncle’s Lichtenrade home. Their “soldiers,” as <strong>the</strong>se committed men <strong>and</strong><br />

women were called, cared for both body <strong>and</strong> soul – “soup, soap, <strong>and</strong> salvation” – <strong>and</strong><br />

went undaunted into <strong>the</strong> worst housing projects <strong>and</strong> seediest dives. 22 This struck a<br />

chord with <strong>Eberhard</strong>’s social conscience <strong>and</strong> with his enthusiasm for Jesus. Besides<br />

attending <strong>the</strong> bible study group, he went time <strong>and</strong> again to <strong>the</strong> local Salvation<br />

Army meeting place, a room in <strong>the</strong> cellar of a dilapidated house in <strong>the</strong> Stockgasse<br />

district – not exactly <strong>the</strong> most distinguished address in Breslau.<br />

10

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!