Although the brothers J. Jakobsh and H.D. Nimz had already made their first contacts in Mexico during their 1974 trip and visited many people in various colonies, especially in the Swift Colony, I know little about it — except that Sister Peters and her daughter had been converted, which we only found out later.
When they visited us in ‘Hoffnungsfeld’ on their second mission trip in February 1975, after a brief conversation, we invited them to dinner to get to know them better. They gladly accepted the invitation. Since many in the village had heard of their visit, some of our relatives, including some young people, came to our house that evening to meet the visitors. There was conversation, singing, prayer, and testimonies shared by the brothers. Some hearts were moved, and so the first seeds were sown.
Before they left that evening, I asked Brother Jakobsh if we could possibly have a service on Sunday. Since they had already promised to hold services in the Swift Colony on Sunday morning and evening, they promised to come in the afternoon — provided we could offer space and seating, which we assured them we could. At that time, there was no car in the village that could have taken us to the services in the Swift Colony, so we set up the large room at Brother J. Redekop’s house for Sunday afternoon.
The hour came, and the service began with singing and prayer. After two short messages, one or two testimonies, a closing song and prayer, the service ended. Some people stayed behind to talk with the brothers. I believe that most had already made up their minds during that time, whether they agreed or disagreed with the doctrine these brothers were preaching.
Five families from Hoffnungsfeld decided that something had to happen. How and what exactly, we hardly knew at the time. After that Sunday, the brothers visited the farm once more to say their farewells. At Brother Jakobsh’s invitation, I soon traveled to Aylmer, Ontario to visit my older brother and the church there. Besides Aylmer, my brother and I also visited Brother Nimz in Toronto. Since it was Wednesday and we also wanted to visit Kitchener, we stayed in Kitchener for the prayer meeting and later returned to Aylmer.
On Friday afternoon, March 14, 1975, Brother and Sister Jakobsh invited us to visit them in their home. After a short conversation and a few questions, we went over to the church. There we prayed together, and I asked God to forgive my sins. After the prayer, Brother Jakobsh asked if I believed that God had forgiven me. I replied, “The Bible tells me so.”
Not long after that, Brother Redekop also traveled to Aylmer, and he too was converted. From then on, we often met and prayed together. We also spoke with others about the faith and then also got in touch with people from the Swift Colony. Several families there too were willing to ask the preachers to come and establish a mission. The previously mentioned mother and daughter Peters especially were very enthusiastic. That gave us great encouragement to continue with the idea — believing that the word from Philippians 1:6 also applied to us:
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” When we then heard that the Canadian Mission Board had also given their consent and Brother Nimz felt the call from God to go to Mexico. We were overjoyed and thanked God for answering our prayers.
On the first Sunday in August 1975, we had our first morning service in a room we had set up in our carpentry workshop. I don’t remember how many people were there, but I do know that all five families from the village, as well as young people; some from the Swift Colony and others from different areas attended.
As I remember, Brother Nimz spoke about God’s love for humanity. After the service, I heard many say, “We’ve never heard anything like that before.” That afternoon there was a service in ‘Schöndorf,’ and in the evening one in ‘Schönberg’, which all the ‘Hoffnungsfelders’ also attended. More and more people began coming to the Sunday morning services. Young and old were converted and thanked God that they had found the Lord Jesus and the truth of the Church of God.
However, where God builds, the enemy also works. Many people did not like this development at all. Some people united to oppose us and took us to court. Several times they blocked the roads, sent men to the prayer meetings to spread misinformation about us, or let the air out of our tires while we were in prayer. One Wednesday, when everything remained quiet and we were surprised by it, we soon learned that our opponents had sent soldiers to ‘Hoffnungsfeld’ — but they got lost and ended up taking a long detour. When they met the churchgoers already on their way home, they turned around and then left. Again and again, we thanked God and gave Him all the glory.
Despite everything, the government was favorable toward us. After the Fundación Cultural A.C. was established and we received the authorization to build schools, we began construction in 1976 on the land we had acquired in Neustaedt — with shovels and pickaxes on rock-hard ground. Once again, the opponents tried to stop it, but when they realized that we had government approval, they gave up.
Now that the beginning was made, we could repeatedly thank God, who made people willing — not only those nearby, but also many from Canada and the USA — to support us not only financially, but also through their actions. To God alone be the glory.
Despite being two weeks behind schedule, we were still able to start school in September. Church services were now held in a larger room within the school building. There, the first baptism service also took place in September. Among others, my wife and I were baptized along with several newly converted brothers and sisters. Again, more and more people came, and many expressed their gratitude to God that they had found a spiritual home.
Although the beginning was difficult, His grace was sufficient. I believe many can agree and say that it was not in vain. To God alone be the glory.
Gerhard Thiessen
Chilliwack, BC
Be the first to comment