Life Wilhelm Busch (pastor)

the present-day weigle-haus in essen. pastor busch took on leadership of house in 1929. on 11 february 1934 protestant youth club (evangelische jugendverein) dissolved , youth house closed. busch resisted pressure merge hitlerjugend (hitler youth) , managed reopen house. youth work continued under name city mission , house received present name, weigle-haus . during world war ii house partially destroyed , reconstruction took place until reopened again on 23 may 1954. wilhelm busch still led work until official retirement in 1962. program youth revolved around jointly spent sundays church services, sports , games , educational opportunities such so-called intelligence-club (intelligenz-club).

during time of national socialism adopted uncompromising position of german confessing church against influence of third reich on life of church. active member of opposition government-sponsored efforts nazify german protestant church, proclaimed faith openly , ignored orders refrain teaching bible—which earned him several arrests , lengthy jail confinements. under nazis, pastor busch managed attract attendances of 2 3 hundred boys @ scripture lessons. holding bible study meetings in private houses, in basements, , in open air. son never attended meetings of hitler youth though required law. on 1 occasion in 1937 arrested right after evangelising in church of st. paul in darmstadt due nazi authorities feeling upset on capability of christian movement attract attention of general public biblical messages , counter own aspirations control masses. during sermon, state officials tried avoid public uproar in crowded church , let him preach. after being captured, ss commissioner presented him official orders expelling him territory of hessen. refused accept due commitment perform biblical work among people pastor, taken custody.

during life, have passed through periods of various hard trials. because of faith have been thrown prisons on more 1 occasion. not because had been stealing silver spoons or had committed other crime. in third reich, nazis didn t youth pastors me, , s why authorities kept throwing me these pretty sinister places.

after world war ii renewed activities youth pastor , itinerant evangelist slogan jesus our destiny becoming central topic of ministry after official retirement in 1962.

he christian pacifist.

busch s pupils in post-war era included ulrich parzany said affected busch s clear, illustrative , bold proclamation of gospel .

he died in hospital in lübeck on 20 june 1966 while on trip home after evangelising in sassnitz on rügen. theme of last sermon day before life god worth it? ( hat man denn von einem leben mit gott? ). buried 4 days after death. funeral attended number of people including later president of federal republic of germany gustav heinemann gave in oration following testimony late fellow:

wherever emerged, there going on. essential him ambassador of lord credible , penetrated reservations. ( wo er zugegen war, passierte immer etwas. das eigentliche ihm aber war dieses, dass er ein glaubhafter und aller vorbehalte durchstoßender bote seines herrn war. )