Wilhelm Busch (pastor)
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Busch was a German Lutheran pastor
, youth evangelist
, writer and activist of the Confessing Church
during the Nazi period in Germany
.
on 27 March 1897 as son of pastor
Wilhelm Busch. His mother, Johanna Busch, (born Kullen), came from the House of Kullen, Hülben
(near Urach
) which was rooted in Swabian
Pietism
. Although Wilhelm Busch came from a famous family of pastor
s, he was in his early years anything but religious. He spent his early life in Frankfurt
, where he pursued and finished his secondary school studies. After graduating he served within German army as a young officer-lieutenant in WW I, where on battle-field he came into personal faith in Christ
while witnessing the atrocities of war:
Consequently, when WW I was over, he decided to study Lutheran theology
in Tübingen
. After completing his studies he served six months as a pastor
in the Lutheran Church at Gellershagen near Bielefeld
where he met his future wife Emilie („Emmi“) Müller. In 1931 he became a youth pastor in Essen
while still holding evangelization
sermons all over the country and abroad, as well as serving with his Christian ministry
to local miner
s. During the time of national socialism he adopted the strong uncompromising position of the German Confessing Church
against the intrigues of the Third Reich in the life of the Church. As an active member of this opposition to government-sponsored efforts to nazify the German protestant church he dared to proclaim his faith openly and ignored the orders to refrain from Bible teachings what earned him several arrests and lengthy jail confinements:
After WW II he renewed his activities as an agile youth pastor and itinerant evangelist with the slogan “Jesus our destiny” becoming the central topic of his ministry going even beyond his official retirement in 1962.
He died in Hospital in Lübeck
on 20. June 1966 whilst on the way back from Evangelization
in Sassnitz
auf Rügen
. The theme of his last sermon a day before was “Is life with God worth it?” („Was Hat Man Denn Von Einem Leben Mit Gott?“). He was buried four days after his death and the funeral was attended by a number of people including the later President of the Federal Republic of Germany Gustav Heinemann
who gave in his oration following testimony about the late fellow:
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, youth evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
, writer and activist of the Confessing Church
Confessing Church
The Confessing Church was a Protestant schismatic church in Nazi Germany that arose in opposition to government-sponsored efforts to nazify the German Protestant church.-Demographics:...
during the Nazi period in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Life
Wilhelm Busch was born in ElberfeldElberfeld
Elberfeld is a municipal subdivision of the German city of Wuppertal; it was an independent town until 1929.-History:The first official mentioning of the geographic area on the banks of today's Wupper River as "elverfelde" was in a document of 1161...
on 27 March 1897 as son of pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
Wilhelm Busch. His mother, Johanna Busch, (born Kullen), came from the House of Kullen, Hülben
Hülben
Hülben is a town in the district of Reutlingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
(near Urach
Bad Urach
Bad Urach is a town in the district of Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 14 km east of Reutlingen, at the foot of the Swabian Alb, and is known for its spa and therapeutic bath.-History:...
) which was rooted in Swabian
Swabian
Swabian may refer:* to the German region of Swabia ; or* to Swabian German, a dialect spoken in Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany and adjoining areas See also:...
Pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
. Although Wilhelm Busch came from a famous family of pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
s, he was in his early years anything but religious. He spent his early life in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, where he pursued and finished his secondary school studies. After graduating he served within German army as a young officer-lieutenant in WW I, where on battle-field he came into personal faith in Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
while witnessing the atrocities of war:
Consequently, when WW I was over, he decided to study Lutheran theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
. After completing his studies he served six months as a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
in the Lutheran Church at Gellershagen near Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
where he met his future wife Emilie („Emmi“) Müller. In 1931 he became a youth pastor in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
while still holding evangelization
Evangelization
Evangelization is that process in the Christian religion which seeks to spread the Gospel and the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. It can be defined as so:-The birth of Christian evangelization:...
sermons all over the country and abroad, as well as serving with his Christian ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
to local miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
s. During the time of national socialism he adopted the strong uncompromising position of the German Confessing Church
Confessing Church
The Confessing Church was a Protestant schismatic church in Nazi Germany that arose in opposition to government-sponsored efforts to nazify the German Protestant church.-Demographics:...
against the intrigues of the Third Reich in the life of the Church. As an active member of this opposition to government-sponsored efforts to nazify the German protestant church he dared to proclaim his faith openly and ignored the orders to refrain from Bible teachings what earned him several arrests and lengthy jail confinements:
After WW II he renewed his activities as an agile youth pastor and itinerant evangelist with the slogan “Jesus our destiny” becoming the central topic of his ministry going even beyond his official retirement in 1962.
He died in Hospital in Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
on 20. June 1966 whilst on the way back from Evangelization
Evangelization
Evangelization is that process in the Christian religion which seeks to spread the Gospel and the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. It can be defined as so:-The birth of Christian evangelization:...
in Sassnitz
Sassnitz
Sassnitz is a town on the Jasmund peninsula, Rügen Island, in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The population as of 2007 was 10,747....
auf Rügen
Rügen
Rügen is Germany's largest island. Located in the Baltic Sea, it is part of the Vorpommern-Rügen district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.- Geography :Rügen is located off the north-eastern coast of Germany in the Baltic Sea...
. The theme of his last sermon a day before was “Is life with God worth it?” („Was Hat Man Denn Von Einem Leben Mit Gott?“). He was buried four days after his death and the funeral was attended by a number of people including the later President of the Federal Republic of Germany Gustav Heinemann
Gustav Heinemann
Gustav Walter Heinemann, GCB was a German politician. He was Mayor of the city of Essen from 1946 to 1949, West German Minister of the Interior from 1949 to 1950, Minister of Justice from 1966 to 1969 and President of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1969 to 1974.-Early years and professional...
who gave in his oration following testimony about the late fellow:
Literary works
- "Jesus Our Destiny" (in German Jesus unser Schicksal) is the most well known of his works. It is based on a compilation of his radio speeches. A common theme in his speeches is the centrality of Jesus to Christian doctrine. The focus of the book is to convince those who doubt Christianity of the reasonableness of Christian faith and the need of a faith in Jesus Christ that leads to a changed life. Published after his death, this book has been translated into all major world languages and attained a worldwide distribution of several million copies.