George Mueller
George Mueller was an extraordinary man of faith and prayer. At the time of his death in 1898, the orphanages he founded were caring for 2050 children. Without ever making a public appeal for funds, he had received through his lifetime around 1,500,000 British pounds for buildings, maintenance and provision for the children. Because a British pound in the 1800’s had the purchasing power of more than $800 today, the magnitude of the amount is staggering.
Born in Prussia in 1805, George’s teenage years were marked by drunkenness, gambling and loose living. He even served a month in jail for fraud and debt. Attempts to reform himself all failed.
In university years he was taken to a home group by a close friend and was deeply challenged by the testimony of genuinely changed lives. A week later he received Christ and began his own spiritual journey. He moved to London to work in evangelism of the Jews but health problems necessitated time away to recuperate. While away he was deeply challenged to trust the Holy Spirit more.
Leaving the missionary work, George Mueller married Mary Groves and began pastoring Bethesda Chapel in Bristol. Refusing to take a salary, George and Mary determined to never make their financial needs public knowledge, nor to ever go into debt. The ministry saw increase from the start, but George’s heart was being directed toward the needs of England’s children – the area he would dedicate the rest of his life to.
Our western lifestyle offers many alternatives to trusting God for His intervention and provision. We don’t have to have Mueller’s faith but we do have to recognise we serve the same God – a God who doesn’t mind us putting Him to the test.
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