CHRONICLE WITH EVENTS AND PHOTOS OF 1919 - 2019

1 Imprint

Published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, North German and South German Association Dept. of Deaf Community, Hanover/Ostfildern

Compilation and translation: Swantje Wöhler Project support: Pastor Gerd Wildemann (Federal Commissioner of the SDA deaf community) Contact: North German Association Dept. of Deaf Community Hildesheimer Str. 426, 20519 Hannover, Germany Internet: https://sta-gehoerlosengemeinschaft.adventist.eu/ © Pictures: Private and with STA deaf community NDV/SDV

1st edition July 2019 2 foreword

„I WILL praise thee , O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” Psalm 9:1

Jesus Christ sayst: “The blind see and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.“ n Matthew 11:5

Dear festive community, with great gratitude the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) of the Deaf in Germany can look back this year 2019 on 100 years of its existence. With this chronicle we want to give a small insight into the development of the STA deaf mission to the SDA deaf community in Germany.

Since the beginning of 1919 in Bremen it was a great goal of Margarete Puich (née Heine) to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to deaf people. At the age of 25 she began her service to the deaf and hard of hearing people and proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the chronicle one may feel a little bit what kind of a work by Margarete Puich 100 years ago.

Her husband Carl Puich supported her from 1920 on in these tasks and he became the first Adventist deaf evangelist in Germany. When Carl Puich died in 1966, God had a new deaf evangelist already even though he only began this task in 1973. Horst-Dieter Meyer, master optician from Stadthagen, joined the Adventist faith in 1966. Believing and witnessing it through the biblical baptism of faith. Until his death in 2015, Horst-Dieter Meyer was allowed to give over 50 deaf people the cheerful To proclaim the message of

3 Jesus Christ and to join the Christian SDA deaf community lead. This is also a great miracle, which the great God has done for deaf people in Germany. Gratefully we may also read in the chronicle, what from the beginnings of 1919 to 2019. After Margarete Puich as the first Adventist sign language interpreter, followed in 1955 Georg Pietruska from Bremen in this Task. Many years together with Margarete Puich and then later as Person responsible for this task. Together with Horst-Dieter Meyer many Bible camps and lay interpreter courses were planned and held.

Many thanks to the many volunteer interpreters and helpers in the Adventists congregations, who are present in the divine service, at the Bible studies and Bible retreats in sign language. We also look gratefully to the last ten years, when internationally has done a lot. One example is 2016, when the first European Adventist Congress for the Deaf in Europe in Seville, Spain. In 2020 there will be a second congress in Milan, Italy.

Not everything can be mentioned in this brochure. It is only a small Part of 100 years of grateful guidance by God, who loves all people and who wants them to accept his offer of eternal life. MARANTHA = our Lord is coming!

Many thanks to all who contributed to this special celebration have. Special thanks go to Swantje Wöhler for this chronicle and also the Poster Chronicle.

Gerd Wildemann Federal Commissioner of the Free Church of the Seventh-day Adventists Department of the Deaf Community in Germany

3. August 2019

4 This happened before 1919

1894 Margarete Heine (later Puich) was born on 16.2.1894 as a child of deaf parents. As the eldest of six children of the Heine couple, she learned sign language very early to be able to communicate with her parents.

1918 At the age of 24 Margarete Heine met Mrs. Giesecke in Bremen. She belonged to the Advent church in Bremen. From her she learned the basic biblical truths and the faith of the Adventists. After a thorough study of the Bible, she and four other young people were baptized according to the biblical example of immersion.

Deaf mission since 1919

1919 The baptism took place on 11.4.1919 in Bremen. Margarete worked as a nanny for the deaf Pohl family. She looked after the deaf children Else and Hilda and told them about their faith. Thus she brought the biblical Adventist message to the deaf people. Pastor Dangschat gave Bible studies to mother Pohl and Heine. With the ministry of Margarete Heine (later Puich) the Adventist mission for the deaf began in Germany in 1919.

In January 1920 Mrs. Pohl, the mother of Else and Hilda, was 1920 baptized as the first deaf person at a conference and accepted into the Adventist church of Bremen. Margarete's mother was also

5 to be baptized, but shortly before she died. At the age of 26 Margarete got to know the deaf Berliner Carl Puich. He was a socialist and did not believe in God at first. Now he also got Bible studies and accepted the biblical faith. On 20.12.1920 he was baptized. On 24.12.1920 the wedding took place.

1921 Carl Puich was the first deaf Adventist evangelist in Germany. He began to study the Bible with the deaf in 1921. Margarete Puich interpreted the Bible conversation and the sermon every Saturday (Sabbath) during the divine service.

1923 On 8.11.1923 Else Pohl was baptized at the age of 17 in Bremen. For four years she and her sister Hilda were taught by Margarete Puich and her husband. Hilda was baptized only after her husband's death in 1975.

1927 Georg Pietruska was born on 2.6.1927 as a child of Adventist parents. He had no idea how his life would turn out.

1928 By his faith and by keeping the Ten Commandments, including the Sabbath commandment, Carl Puich became unemployed from 1928-1934. He used this time to give lectures and Bible studies in Bremen, Hamburg and Lower Saxony.

1929 At the age of 35 Margarete Puich was also sworn in as a sign language interpreter at the courts. Her interpreting activities were not limited to Bremen. She was also called to doctors and

6 authorities. For more than 50 years Margarete worked tirelessly for the service of deaf people. The Puich couple worked for the Adventist mission for the deaf until old age.

1936 Horst-Dieter Meyer was born on 8.7.1936 in Freiburg/Schwarzwald in a Catholic parental home. At the age of three, in 1941, he fell ill with meningitis and was deafened, as no quick help could be offered to him. After the 2nd World War he came with his parents to Hamburg, where he should receive a better education. He learned the profession optician and also made his master.

1938 Else Pohl got to know and love the deaf Willi Borgmann from Wuppertal. They married in 1938. Willi Borgmann was christened in 1977 and died a few months after his baptism. Else Borgmann died at the age of 86 on 7.3.1992 in the nursing home Neandertal, Mettmann.

1947 Georg Pietruska accepted the faith of his parents and was baptized on 27.9.1947.

1949 Georg Pietruska got in contact with two deaf Adventist colleagues at his workplace. Carl Puich and a person named Hugo. As well as he could, he learned to communicate with them.

1955 In 1955 Georg Pietruska began to learn sign language completely and, under the guidance and encouragement of Margarete Puich, also to interpret.

1956 At a conference in Hamburg, Georg Pietruska, together with

7 The beginnings

8 Margarete Puich, translated for the deaf for the first time. It was a relief for Margarete as there were no sign language interpreters in the Adventist congregation.

1962 World games for the deaf took place in Helsinki, Finland. Horst-Dieter Meyer got to know his later wife Maj-Lis Holmberg in a wonderful way.

1964 On 30.8.1964 the wedding of Horst-Dieter Meyer and Maj-Lis Holmberg took place in Helsinki.

1965 The married couple Meyer moved to Oldenburg into an apartment of the Advent church of Oldenburg. They got to know the Adventists and studied the Bible thoroughly together.

1966 Carl Puich, successful deaf evangelist since 1928, died in 1966. Horst-Dieter Meyer and his wife were baptized on 4.6.1966 in Oldenburg. Both attended the meetings of the deaf Adventists in Bremen and Oldenburg.

1969 The Meyer couple moved to Stadthagen. Horst-Dieter Meyer started his own business as a master optician. He met deaf and hard of hearing Adventists in Hanover.

1973 After the death of Carl Puich, Horst-Dieter Meyer became active as an evangelist. He gave his first Bible lectures among deaf people in Hanover and led six deaf people to Jesus. Horst-Dieter Meyer became the second deaf evangelist in the community of

9 Seventh-day Adventists in addition to his profession as an optician. Together with Georg Pietruska he took over the organization of the Bible Weekends.

1974 1st Deaf Bible Weekend • 12.-15.4.1974 • Retreat centre “Bergheim Mühlen- rahmede” in Altena/Sauerland • Horst-Dieter Meyer and Pastor Heinz Hopf, leader of the Voice of Hope • Sign language interpreter: Margarete Puich, Georg Pietruska • Topic: Various Bible topics It was the start of an annual deaf meeting of the Adventist deaf community at the federal level. Deaf friends from Austria also took part.

1975 2nd Deaf Bible Weekend (with 52nd General Conference) • 10.-19.7.1975 • Bible Weekend in Vienna/Austria, General Conference also in Vienna • Horst-Dieter Meyer • Sign language interpreter: Margarete Puich, Georg Pietruska • Topic: The Book of Daniel

1976 3rd Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1976 • Bogenhofen school centre near Braunau/Austria • Pastor Gerhard Freitag, Bremen and Pastor Dieter Baloun, Vienna • Sign language interpreter:

10 Margarete Puich, Georg Pietruska • Topic: Various Bible topics

Georg Pietruska was appointed interpreter and coordinator for the SDA interpreters in the Adventist churches. He organised inter- preter courses in the Adventist churches from 1976-1996.

1977 4th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1977 • Freudenstadt/Black Forest • Pastor Dieter Baloun, Vienna and Pastor Heinz Hopf, Darmstadt • Sign language interpreter: Margarete Puich, Georg Pietruska • Topic: Various Bible topics

1978 5th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1978 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Harald Weigt, Hanover and Pastor Dieter Baloun, Vienna • Sign language interpreter: Marli Weigt, Margarete Puich • Topic: Traces of the Living God

1979 6th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1979 • Hanover • Pastor Harald Weigt, Hanover • Sign language interpreter: Marli Weigt

1980 7th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1980 • Semmering/Austria • Pastor H. Schultschick, Austria • Sign language interpreter:

11 baptisms

12 comm13unity

13 fun

14 Georg Pietruska • Topic: Various Bible topics

1981 8th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1981 • Retreat centre in Freudenstadt/ Black Forest • Pastor Gerhard Freitag, Bremen and Pastor Arno Patzke, Darmstadt • Sign language interpreter: Georg Pietruska

1982 9th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1981 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Gerhard Freitag, Bremen • Sign language interpreter: Georg Pietruska, Marie-Luise Jahns • Topic: Earthly Images - Divine truths

Margarete Puich died at the age of 88.

1983 10th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1983 • Chattenbühl, Hannoversch Münden/Lower Saxony • Pastor Karl Hinz, Hanover • Sign language interpreter: Georg Pietruska • Topic: The Bible also knows traffic signs

1984 11th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1984 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Gerhard Freitag, Bremen • Sign language interpreter: Georg Pietruska, Marie-Luise Jahns

15 • Topic: Steps to a joyful life

1985 12th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1985 • Chattenbühl, Hannoversch Münden/Lower Saxony • Pastor Karl Hinz, Hanover • Sign language interpreters: Georg Pietruska, Marie-Luise Jahns • Topic: Biblical themes for people of our time

1986 13th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1986 • Retreat centre in Freudenstadt/ Black Forest • Pastor Heinz Hopf, Darmstadt • Sign language interpreter: Georg Pietruska, Marie-Luise Jahns, Käthe Reling • Topic: Thoughts on Revelation 13

1987 14th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1987 • Eisenberg/Thuringia • Pastor Karl Hinz, Hann. Münden • Sign language interpreters: Georg Pietruska, Marie-Luise Jahns • Topic: The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6)

Pastor Gerhard Freitag became official representative of the church for the SDA deaf from 1987- 1990. The Department of the Hearing and Deaf Community in Germany is now part of the Department of Homeland Mission of the North German Association (NDV) based in Hannover and the South German Association (SDV) based in Ostfildern.

16 1988 15th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1988 • Retreat centre Diepoldsburg/ Lenningen near Kirchheim/Schwäb- ischen Alb • Pastor Harald Weigt, Hanover • Sign language interpreter: Marli Weigt, Marie-Luise Jahns • Topic: God's plan with our world

1989 16th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1989 • Retreat centre Diepoldsburg/ Lenningen near Kirchheim/Schwäb- ischen Alb. • Pastor Rolf Pöhler, Hanover and Pastor Gerhard Freitag, Bremen • Sign language interpreter: Georg Pietruska, Marie-Luise Jahns, Käthe Reling • Topic: The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23)

1990 17th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1990 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Gerhard Freitag, Bremen and Pastor Frieder Schmidt, Frankfurt • Sign language interpreter: Georg Pietruska • Topic: People in vital rulings

Horst-Dieter Meyer became provisional (temporary) successor of the Federal Commissioner Pastor Gerhard Freitag from 1990- 1991.

1991 18th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1991

17 • Campus Mission School Friedensau • Pastor Roland Nickel, Darmstadt • Sign language interpreter: Guido Sell, A. Franken (Austria), Beate Rothaug • Topic: Advent history and future (Daniel and Revelation) During this biblical retreat there was a solemn baptismal service with Pastor Gerd Wildemann in the Advent congregation of Burg/near Magdeburg.

1992 19th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1992 • German Youth Hostel Oberbernhards/County Fulda/Rhön • Pastor Gerd Wildemann, Berlin • Sign language interpreter: Georg Pietruska, Patricia Preuss, Marie-Luise Jahns • Topic: God's steward (gifts and abilities) On 2.2.1992 a church service for the deaf took place in Berlin Charlottenburg with Pastor Gerhard Freitag, Bremen.

Pastor Gerd Wildemann, Berlin, became second official federal commissioner of the SDA Church in NDV for the deaf mission NDV/SDV. The assignment also applied to the area of the SDV.

1993 20th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1993 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Bernd Rahner, Hanover • Sign language interpreter: C. Ehlert, B. Rothaug, Connie Schulz • Topic: Living with Jesus

18 Theatre

19 1st lay interpreter training course • 19.-21.11.1993 • German Youth Hostel (DJH) Bremen

1994 21st Deaf Bible Weekend (with 20-year celebration Bible Weekend) • Easter 1994 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Heinz Hopf, Pastor Gerhard Friday, Pastor Arno Patzke • Sign language interpreter: Christina Ehlert, Nicola Imhof, G. Sell • Topic: Return of Jesus (Matthew 24)

75th anniversary celebration • October 1994 • Seventh-day Adventist church Bremen Horst-Dieter Meyer was officially commissioned and blessed as head of the SDA deaf community in Germany (NDV). The first deaf worship service by deaf people for deaf people and hearing people took place.

1995 22nd Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1995 • School Centre Seminar Marienhöhe/ Darmstadt • Pastor Jochen Graupner, Ostfildern • Sign language interpreter: Christina Ehlert, Beate Rothaug

20 • Topic: Talking about salvation

56th General Conference of our World Church • 29.6.-8.7.1995 • Utrecht, Netherlands • Sign language interpreter: e.g. Casilda Schulz We participated as a deaf group in this general conference.

1996 23rd Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1996 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Hartmut Behnke, Schorndorf • Sign language interpreter: Christina Ehlert, Beate Rothaug • Topic: Sexuality - Friendship - marriage

1997 24th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1997 • Retreat centre in Freudenstadt/ Black Forest • Horst-Dieter Meyer, Stadthagen • Sign language interpreter: Christina Ehlert, Beate Rothaug • Topic: Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15)

1998 25th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 1998 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Horst-Dieter Meyer, Stadthagen and Pastor Bernhard Bleil, Ostfildern • Sign language interpreters:

21 Christina Ehlert, Beate Rothaug, Marie-Luise Jahns • Topic: Jesus and the Samaritan woman

1999 26th Deaf Bible Weekend (with 25th Anniversary Bible Weekend) • Easter 1999 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Horst-Dieter Meyer, Stadthagen, Pastor Heinz Hopf, Southern Germany and Dieter Baloun, Vienna, Austria • Sign language interpreters: Christina Ehlert, Beate Rothaug • Topic: Royal Wedding This Deaf Bible Weekend took place with a special communion celebration and a baptismal service in Lüdenscheid.

80th anniversary with "Biblical Sign Language Festival” • 30.10.1999 • Seventh-day Adventist church in Heilbronn, South Germany

2000 27th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 2000 • School Centre Seminar Marienhöhe/ Darmstadt • Silvia Renz, Darmstadt • Sign language interpreter: Maren Wöhler, Beate Rothaug, Roswitha Wagner • Topic: Forgiveness - Shards bring happiness

2001 28th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 2001 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Geoff Youlden (via video: NET 2000)

22 • Sign language interpreter: Maren Wöhler (video), Edelgard Brecht, Bastian Bak • Topic: Jesus, the Chance

2002 29th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 2002 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Bernhard Bleil, Ostfildern • Sign language interpreter: Maren Wöhler, Connie Schulz • Topic: Life JONA

2003 30th Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 2003 • DJH youth hostel Neureichenau/ Southern Germany • Pastor Gerd Wildemann, Bergisch Gladbach • Sign language interpreter: Maren Wöhler, Beate Rothaug • Topic: Lord, help my unbelief

2004 31st Deaf Bible Weekend • Easter 2004 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Pastor Heinz Hopf, Tiefenbronn and Horst-Dieter Meyer, Stadthagen • Sign language interpreter: Bastian Bak, R. Dräger • Topic: JESUS: Behold, I am coming!

Jubilee - 30 years of Deaf Bible Weekend and an 85-year celebration did not take place.

23 2005 In 2005 there was no Deaf Bible Weekend

6th lay interpreter training course • 30.9.-3.10.2005 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland

2006 1st Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) • 22.-27.8.2006 • Unterhain/Thuringia • Pastor Gerd Wildemann, Hilden and Horst-Dieter Meyer • Topic: With Jesus Christ through the Last Days

2007 2nd Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) • 22.-29.7.2007 • Youth hostel Bad Ischl/Austria • Pastor Gernot Kopa, Salzburg/Austria • Sign language interpreter: Bastian Bak, Beate Rothaug • Topic: God is great! - Nothing for itself oneself

7. lay interpreter training course • 3.-7.10.2007 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland

2008 3rd Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) • 20.-27.7.2008 • Youth hostel Bad Ischl/Austria

24 Dolmetscher- Einblendungen

25 • Pastor Franz Krakolinig, Klagenfurt Carinthia/Austria • Sign language interpreter: Ingrid Paterko, Beate Rothaug • Topic: Creation - how do I experience my faith?

Participation in the 4th Cultural Days of the Deaf in Cologne on 21.-23.8.2008.

2009 8th lay interpreter training course (with 35-year celebration of Deaf Bible Weekend) • 9.-13.4.2009 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland

4th Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) • 28.6.-5.7.2009 • DJH Youth Hostel Altenahr/Ahr • Pastor Hans Nagel, Gartow • Sign language interpreter: Irmgard Pietruska, Beate Rothaug • Topic: Revelation

90th anniversary celebration • 26.9.2009 • Seventh-day Adventist church in Bremen

26 2010 5th Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) • 25.7.-1.8.2010 • DJH Youth Hostel Nordenham/ Northern Germany • Horst-Dieter Meyer, Stadthagen, Pastor Gerd Wildemann, Hilden and Pastor Wolfgang Piorr, Cuxhaven • Sign language interpreter: Irmgard Pietruska, Beate Rothaug, Ingrid Paterko • Topic: Fascination of Heaven - What awaits us?

2011 6th Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) • 24.-31.7.2011 • House Sonnenhof, Dresden • Pastor Hans Nagel, Gartow • Sign language interpreter: Irmgard Pietruska, Georg Pietruska, Beate Rothaug • Topic: Back to Eden

9th lay interpreter training course • 30.9.-3.10.2011 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland

2012 7th Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) • 29.7.-5.8.2012 • Youth hostel Bad Ischl/Austria • Pastor Prof. Udo Worschech, Kempten • Sign language interpreter: Christina Kotte, Beate Rothaug

27 • Topic: The Words of the Prophets in the Old Testament

2013 8th Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) • 28.7.-4.8.2013 • Hotel Rosenhof, Braunlage/Harz • Pastor Gabriele Stangl, Berlin Waldfriede • Sign language interpreter: Christina Kotte, Beate Rothaug • Topic: Parables of Jesus (group work); health and pastoral care

1st International DEAF Congress • 14.-17.6.2013 • Les Carroz d'Arâches/France

2014 2nd International DEAF Congress (with 95-year anniversary) • Easter 2014 • Bergheim Mühlenrahmede/Sauerland • Guests of Honour: Larry Evans, USA (Pastor and head of the deaf depart- ment in of the SDA World Church Leadership), Corrado Cozzi, Berne/ Switzerland (Head of the Department for the Deaf in EUD (Inter-European Division) and Henry Maina Kamau (deaf theology student from Kenya). Pantomime Carlos Martinez, Barcelona/Spain, was among those present at the cultural programme. Participants and guests from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Latvia, Spain, Finland.

28 2015 1st International Sign Language Interpreting Course for ISL (Training Course for SL Interpreters) • 18.-20.9.2015 • Seville/Spain

Horst-Dieter Meyer died in April 2015 at the age of 76.

2016 1st EUD International Deaf and Blind Congress • 13.-16.5.2016 • Seville/Spain

2017 9th Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) the SDA deaf community NDV/SDV • 16.-23.7.2017 • Telc/Czech Republic • Pastor Rolf Pöhler • Sign language interpreter: Christina Kotte, Linda Herold, Beate Rothaug, Roswitha Wagner • Topic: Being a Christian - Practical viewed

2nd International Sign Language Interpreting Course for ISL (Training Course for SL Interpreters) • 1.-6.9.2017 • Lisbon/Portugal

29 International

30 2018 3rd International DEAF Congress • 17.-24.6.2018 • Zaton (Zatonie)/Poland • Pastor Patrick Johnson (hearing), England and Pastor Jeff Jordan (deaf), USA

1st EUD - SNM Special Needs Ministry Congress • 19.-22.10.2018 • Bucharest/Romania

2019 10th Deaf Bible Week (BIWO) with 100th Anniversary Celebration the deaf community of the SDA • 28.7.-4.8.2019 • Seevetal near Hamburg • Pastor Douglas da Silva (gl), Brazil First bible week with a deaf Adventist pastor. 100-year anniversary on 3.8.2019 in Hamburg with Pastor Jeff Jordan (deaf), USA and Pastor Douglas da Silva (deaf), Brazil.

3rd International Sign Language Interpreting Course for ISL (Training Course for SL Interpreters) • 3.-6.10.2019 • Milan/Italy

31 FESTIVE DEVINE SERVICE on 3. August 2019 in the Seventh-day Adventist Church “Adventgemeinde Grindelberg”

Address: Grindelberg 15 20144 Hamburg, Germany

32