| CHALLENGER NEWSLETTER When All Kingdoms Fall, One Will Stand |
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Michael Furchert - Challenger Music & Evangelism Ministry - 218-724 8288 |
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 "Miracle Behind The Berlin Wall" in
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THE CHURCH THAT BROUGHT
DOWN THE BERLIN WALL
by Michael Furchert Tired of indifference and complacency?
Want to make a difference?
If the Christian Church in Communist East Germany, by uniting in faith and prayer, could bring down the Berlin Wall and change history, how much can we do under freedom if we started to make real with our faith?
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Peace of God Remains
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Dear Friends,
On June 12, 1987, the American President Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin and challenged Mikhail Gorbachev, the Communist Party chief of the Soviet Union, with words that would soon become famous throughout the world:
"Mr. Gorbachev open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall!"
Two years later - in preparation for the 40th anniversary of Communist East Germany - the East German dictator Erich Honecker gave his defiant response:
The Berlin Wall, he proclaimed, would stand for another 100 years, and Socialism and Communism would one day rule the world. To be victorious in this vision, his atheist party declared, one needed no religion, no Church and no God.
It was also the last birthday of Communist East Germany.
The spirit of freedom that had resonated from the Brandenburg Gate, via the reforms in the Soviet Union and through the hearts of East Germans would set a fire aflame that could not be put out.
On November 9th 1989, the Peaceful Revolution that had started within the East German churches would bring down the Berlin Wall. The Communist regime would collapse like a house of cards, and the former dictator Erich Honecker would sit at the kitchen table of Pastor Uwe Holmer, a colleague of my father and a friend of our family, listening to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What an unexpected turn of events!
Today I want to challenge you to remember the strength we have as a Christian Church to impact lives, transform our society from within, make a difference, and change history.
How many walls could we bring down in our lives, communities and nation if we overcame our fears of rejection, our indifference and complacency, and carried God's light into the streets and places to set a fire aflame that cannot be put out?!
* * *
 October 1989: Communist East Germany is celebrating itself, commemorating 40 years of GDR. The dictator and his political administration are standing on high stages, waving to the masses which are ordered to cheer. With pride they watch the military parades, their Armed Forces marching by, their tanks and cruise missiles being paraded before them.
A perfectly orchestrated scenario purports to show the world how great we are and how much our people love their country.
Yet, people are imprisoned behind the Berlin Wall. Deprived of freedom and liberty. Pressured to conform to the dreams of an out-of-touch government that is forcing on us its utopia of "peace, humanity and justice" with military power and force. A utopia that promised heaven on earth - without a God - and persecuted those who resisted, those who held on to their faith in a greater hope, a greater purpose and a greater freedom.
The Christian Church was considered a cult. God did not exist and he was not needed. "Without God and without sun, we will get the harvest done." was a slogan taught to our farmers. "We need no God, no king, no emperor to save us. To redeem us from our misery, we must arise ourselves" was a song taught to children in school.
My siblings and I refused to sing along.
Faith was considered irrelevant and the Christian Church, they claimed, would soon die out! Communism wanted to see our faith crumble.
But the opposite was soon to take place:
While the Communist government celebrated itself, people started to meet in the churches, longing for freedom and justice. We joined for prayer, for worship and candle-light services in hope to change our society from within.
First it was a few hundred, then a few thousand...
The growing movement soon spilled in the streets and places. Candle light services turned into candle vigils that moved through the city despite the presence of the military and the STASI Secret Police.
There was no freedom in East Germany to demonstrate! My aunt had been arrested for lighting a candle in front of her apartment building as a sign of peace. My art teacher had been imprisoned for laying down a wreath of flowers for the victims at the Berlin Wall. Any unauthorized gathering in public was brought down by the STASI Secret Police.
 Now thousands of East Germans came out of the churches filled with new hope, purpose and courage. With burning candles and flowers in our hands, we approached the soldiers that were lined up in the streets waiting for order to shoot...
 igniting hearts to change the world Become inspired to make a difference as you discover the world with our educational faith tours, or become a tour guide yourself. Experience history from a Christian perspective
"It is strong in my spirit that Michael has been sent to America at such a time. His powerful messages open our eyes and give us strength in times of uncertainty. Michael is the 3rd generation of evangelists who have shared God's hope from the Nazi regime of Hitler Germany, throughout WWII and Communism. His challenge to stand firm on faith regardless of circumstances shines a light of hope and direction in times as these.
Michael has spoken in many churches, schools and conventions, on radio and TV programs. Please consider sharing this message with your churches, organizations and communities. His messages must be heard around this nation."
Sandy Turner, Knoxville TN
Founder, Heart'nSoul Ministries
 "The Church That Brought Down the Berlin Wall"
PBS Religion and Ethics
 Remembering the Peaceful Revolution.
that brought down the Berlin Wall
Each CDs includes two of Michael's piano compositions:
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