The seventies were known among those who believed the prophetic message as a time in which the coming of the Lord was fixed for different years. Just then, I was led to buy the piece of ground on which the church was built. With the help of God and the never ending effort of my brothers, the building was completed, and the inauguration took place during Easter 1974. Who would have thought or dared to believe, time would continue so long? Some even accused me of not believing in the near coming of the Lord, because they thought I should not have started to build the church. But by now, I am certain, it has proven to be right to remain sober and steady, because nobody knows when the Lord actually will appear.

As the year 1977 approached which was emphasized to be the final one, something happened which I did not understand myself at first. As far as I could remember, it was on Saturday, the 17th of July, 1976. Just when the darkness set in, I heard the loud and audible voice of the Lord saying, “Go unto the neighbouring lot and dedicate it unto Me, for many people will come from near and far,, who have to be accommodated.” This happened when I came around the church and being just at the spot where the stairs lead down to the basement. Of course I stopped at that very moment, turned around and went unto the neighbour’s lot. There I knelt amidst the scrub, prayed briefly, raised my hands towards heaven and said, “Lord, my God, I do as You have commanded me, and I dedicate this piece of land to the honour of Your Name.”

On the next Monday, I phoned and spoke to the owner. But he was not willing to sell that piece of land. He had already planned a very big project on the whole lot with workshops, offices, salesrooms, exhibition rooms, etc. and said, “I am sorry, but I cannot sell you that piece of land.” I could understand his arguments and could only say, “But don’t forget! God has laid His hand upon this piece, adjacent to our property.” With this the conversation ended.

Within me there was a heavenly peace. His negative answer could not shake my faith at all. I knew that this was not in my hands, but in the hands of Him, who had spoken to me and made that decision. I cannot remember ever having had such blessed a faith in my heart. It was an absolute assurance that it would happen as the Lord had spoken. I simply waited.

Exactly three weeks later, the telephone rang before eight o’clock in the morning. The man at the other end said, “Mr. Frank, I must sell you the piece of land. Can we go to the notary this week?” On the 12th of August, 1976, the agreement was signed. Not one time had I asked God to change or lead this man’s heart – I knew He would do it. I just thanked Him for it. As the time came near and 1977 was so much talked about and the expectations were rising high, we were in the midst of a building programme.

At first only one house was planned. It was just about roughly ready, when
Brother Schmidt met me on the building lot and said, “Brother Frank, that building will not be sufficient for half of the visitors who need to be accommodated.” We both went our ways, but his words stayed with me. In fact, within my thinking it started to work, and the thought occupied my mind, whether a second building was needed.

I came into a very deep inner need, because it was a decision of such a magnitude that I was not able to make, and a Word of the Lord about it had not yet come to me. I sought the face of God with a deep cry of my heart in prayer. What I usually don’t do, I did now: while kneeling I took my Bible, laid my hands upon it and said, “Lord, I have to make such a great decision for which I cannot bear the responsibility. Should it be Your will that two instead of one house are being built, would You let me know?” At the same time I was certain that such an answer cannot be found in the Bible, because it simply isn’t there. But anyhow, I expected an answer. Strangely but surely, I opened the scriptures, and my eyes fell on the 7th verse in 2nd Chron. 14, where it says in the German bible, “So they put up buildings and prospered”. Nobody can imagine what one feels at such a moment. I knew right away while yet on my knees that not one but two houses should be put up. Straightways on the next day, I spoke to the responsible city office, and we got the permission without new drawings for the second building. In this way, it was literally fulfilled that the houses were completed and are serving their designated purpose.

In these two missionary buildings we have the print shop, office rooms and all the other facilities needed to assemble the brochures, copy the cassettes, and also the dispatching is done there. And besides that we have got much space to accommodate people, and also one apartment in each house for somebody to dwell in. If I look back, I can only say and testify that the Lord has helped and led me in every way, be it spiritually or naturally, and has supplied everything necessary to fulfil the commission He has given.

The seventies were known among those who believed the prophetic message as a time in which the coming of the Lord was fixed for different years. Just then, I was led to buy the piece of ground on which the church was built. With the help of God and the never ending effort of my brothers, the building was completed, and the inauguration took place during Easter 1974. Who would have thought or dared to believe, time would continue so long? Some even accused me of not believing in the near coming of the Lord, because they thought I should not have started to build the church. But by now, I am certain, it has proven to be right to remain sober and steady, because nobody knows when the Lord actually will appear.

As the year 1977 approached which was emphasized to be the final one, something happened which I did not understand myself at first. As far as I could remember, it was on Saturday, the 17th of July, 1976. Just when the darkness set in, I heard the loud and audible voice of the Lord saying, “Go unto the neighbouring lot and dedicate it unto Me, for many people will come from near and far,, who have to be accommodated.” This happened when I came around the church and being just at the spot where the stairs lead down to the basement. Of course I stopped at that very moment, turned around and went unto the neighbour’s lot. There I knelt amidst the scrub, prayed briefly, raised my hands towards heaven and said, “Lord, my God, I do as You have commanded me, and I dedicate this piece of land to the honour of Your Name.”

On the next Monday, I phoned and spoke to the owner. But he was not willing to sell that piece of land. He had already planned a very big project on the whole lot with workshops, offices, salesrooms, exhibition rooms, etc. and said, “I am sorry, but I cannot sell you that piece of land.” I could understand his arguments and could only say, “But don’t forget! God has laid His hand upon this piece, adjacent to our property.” With this the conversation ended.

Within me there was a heavenly peace. His negative answer could not shake my faith at all. I knew that this was not in my hands, but in the hands of Him, who had spoken to me and made that decision. I cannot remember ever having had such blessed a faith in my heart. It was an absolute assurance that it would happen as the Lord had spoken. I simply waited.

Exactly three weeks later, the telephone rang before eight o’clock in the morning. The man at the other end said, “Mr. Frank, I must sell you the piece of land. Can we go to the notary this week?” On the 12th of August, 1976, the agreement was signed. Not one time had I asked God to change or lead this man’s heart – I knew He would do it. I just thanked Him for it. As the time came near and 1977 was so much talked about and the expectations were rising high, we were in the midst of a building programme.

At first only one house was planned. It was just about roughly ready, when
Brother Schmidt met me on the building lot and said, “Brother Frank, that building will not be sufficient for half of the visitors who need to be accommodated.” We both went our ways, but his words stayed with me. In fact, within my thinking it started to work, and the thought occupied my mind, whether a second building was needed.

I came into a very deep inner need, because it was a decision of such a magnitude that I was not able to make, and a Word of the Lord about it had not yet come to me. I sought the face of God with a deep cry of my heart in prayer. What I usually don’t do, I did now: while kneeling I took my Bible, laid my hands upon it and said, “Lord, I have to make such a great decision for which I cannot bear the responsibility. Should it be Your will that two instead of one house are being built, would You let me know?” At the same time I was certain that such an answer cannot be found in the Bible, because it simply isn’t there. But anyhow, I expected an answer. Strangely but surely, I opened the scriptures, and my eyes fell on the 7th verse in 2nd Chron. 14, where it says in the German bible, “So they put up buildings and prospered”. Nobody can imagine what one feels at such a moment. I knew right away while yet on my knees that not one but two houses should be put up. Straightways on the next day, I spoke to the responsible city office, and we got the permission without new drawings for the second building. In this way, it was literally fulfilled that the houses were completed and are serving their designated purpose.

In these two missionary buildings we have the print shop, office rooms and all the other facilities needed to assemble the brochures, copy the cassettes, and also the dispatching is done there. And besides that we have got much space to accommodate people, and also one apartment in each house for somebody to dwell in. If I look back, I can only say and testify that the Lord has helped and led me in every way, be it spiritually or naturally, and has supplied everything necessary to fulfil the commission He has given.