Why Did I Have To Suffer Alone?

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Gerd Lühmann: Eventually, I found myself in a Home for the Youth where I was supposed to be safe. However, I was still beaten up by my peers, and others took drugs and alcohol. In some instances, I was threatened—once with a knife, and once with a gun pointed at my head.

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STORIES OF FAITH

My name is Gerd Lühmann. I am 46 years old and I was born in Hamburg, Germany. My childhood began when my parents suddenly separated, and I was sent to an orphanage. And later, I was placed with foster parents—but they did not fulfill their entrusted responsibility. We didn’t have parents who were there for us. Our foster parents forced us to work, and whenever something went wrong, they would beat us. Eventually, I found myself in a Home for the Youth where I was supposed to be safe. However, I was still beaten up by my peers, and others took drugs and alcohol. In some instances, I was threatened—once with a knife, and once with a gun pointed at my head.

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Early Questions About Faith

Gerd Lühmann

Seeker

I believed in God at the time, but I didn’t have any personal faith, and I never committed to any religion. During my time with my foster parents, I was a Protestant, and I went through confirmation—but I never stayed in any church for long. I kept asking myself why I had to suffer all those terrible things—and why no help came when I needed it most. What I also wished was for God to

protect me and take good care of me. During my job training, I didn’t have a calm environment for me to focus. Instead, I fought a lot and even had a gun pointed to my head. In general, my job training went generally well. However, I felt too exhausted. I carried many thoughts that weighed heavily on me. I only completed my job training because I was able to catch up through a temporary employment agency. I completed it in half a year, and since then I’ve always had a decent job. I was able to work permanently as an electrician.

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Discovering The Church Of Christ

Gerd Lühmann

Former Protestant

During that time, I joined the Church Of Christ, which gave me so much and helped me in many ways. At the time, I worked as a security guard in a diplomatic center. My task was to hold security checks on people, vehicles, and others coming in and out. I had a colleague who worked as a caretaker. On Thursdays after work, he would go out wearing a suit. Where are you going?” I asked. “I’m going to the worship service,” he replied. I told him, “Greetings to God,” and talked a bit more. And at one point, he invited me by saying, “Come with me.” He brought me with him on a Sunday. I was a bit skeptical and cautious at the start, but as I heard the teachings more and was more and more compatible with what I had thought, I was more and more glad that I had the chance to belong.

Within a month and a half, I went through all the lessons. I was one hundred percent sure that I wanted to be baptized—I really wanted to receive it. For me, it was first and foremost important what I wanted. For me, it was important that I had this religion. And that is also what I teach my own children, just as a teacher for the Children’s Worship Service, that I always insist that the children learn how to really pray properly. I can actually experience love through the Church, and I can experience unity through the Church. And that I know that I can always count on God and on the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what happens in my life. Many things happen that happen to almost everyone, but I only see it as a test because, despite everything, they are things that have helped me to get my life together. Back then, I was just hopeless because I didn’t really have anyone. I was a lone fighter. I had friends who pretended to be friends, but in the end, it was just a disappointment, and I also realized that people took advantage of me a lot. I know what’s wrong and what’s right, which people are playing with you, which are serious about you, and that’s just how it was.

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Leading With Faith

Gerd Lühmann

Joined INC in 2004

I have my family, I have two beautiful sons and a great wife, and I have a good job, and I think that’s what counts. Above all, what counts is that I have faith and I have been given the confidence to take up positions that mean a lot to me. I would accept the trials now as they are because  I know that they are trials that come from God. And they all have a reason, and they all have a purpose. I would say that you always need faith, and believing in God is the greatest thing you can have.

Interviewer: Why is it important for you to go to heaven in the end and to attain eternal life?

Gerd Lühmann: Who wouldn’t want the reward of being saved by God and receiving eternal life, because I don’t think you can get any closer to God than that. God is very loving, God is very wonderful, and God is very merciful, very generous, and He never lets his children down.

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