Ewald Frank (24 December 1933 – 8 June 2024) was a German preacher, founder and director of the center, Freie Volksmission (Free People's Mission), a free church in Krefeld.
Missionary Ewald Frank | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Ewald Frank |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 December 1933 |
| Died | 8 June 2024 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | Germany |
| Residence | Krefeld |
Biography
editEwald Frank was born in 1933 in the Danzig region. He lived in West Germany after the end of World War II. Until 1955, he devoted himself to personal study of the Bible. After large demonstrations by the American preacher William M. Branham and others in Karlsruhe, a small circle of followers formed in Krefeld, of which Frank became the leader. From 1956 to 1959, he stayed in the United States and Canada.
The beginning of the Freie Volksmission dates back to New Year's Eve 1959, when Frank invited 14 people to a meeting in his private apartment in Krefeld. At the end of this meeting, the people gathered formed a closer group which became the seed of the future church.
In 1962, Frank heard, according to his own, "the voice of the Lord". Since then, he felt called to "spiritual service". He was initially active in Pentecostal churches, but since Branham's death, he saw himself as continuing his end-times message.[1]
Frank died on 8 June 2024, at the age of 90.[2][additional citation(s) needed]
Foundation of the religious congregation
editEwald Frank rented a small hall in Krefeld and began his popular mission work. In 1964, the Freie Volksmission Krefeld, founded by Frank, was recognized as a public benefit association. It then had 250 members. In the same year, Frank traveled to India for the first time to preach about and share his faith. In October 2014, he left for his 25th mission to India.
Frank undertook numerous missionary journeys. In 2001, his church had approximately 3000 members. In addition to a 550-seat church, the mission's printing and publishing house is located at the headquarters in Krefeld. The Freie Volksmission has full-time employees in 2014 and is mainly financed by donations. The members of the parish are not registered anywhere. According to the Idea Agency, around 300 people participate in worship. On 5 and 6 April 2014, the 50th anniversary services attracted 1,200 guests.[3]
Theology
editThe objective of Frank for the Freie Volksmission was the "complete return to the teaching and practice of the primitive church at the time of the apostles". The church rejects the Nicene Creed and the Trinity, which unite major Christian churches. It practices "baptism by a believer" and suggests that followers leave their former religious communities.[4]
Frank was a follower of the controversial preacher William M. Branham and advocated his particular doctrine in speech and writing. He was presumed to be the spiritual successor of Paul Schäfer, the former leader of the sectarian cult colony Colonia Dignidad in Chile[5][6] according to Westdeutsche Zeitung on 21 December 2011, citing a declaration from the regional court of Düsseldorf, but the Freie Volksmission distanced itself from Colonia Dignidad.[7]
Publications
edit- Das Konzil Gottes. Rathmann, Marburg 1964, 98 p.
- William Branham, ein Prophet von Gott gesandt. Krefeld o. J. (after 1969), 20 p.
- Das traditionelle Christentum – Wahrheit oder Täuschung? Freie Volksmission, Krefeld 1992, 181 p.
- Die Offenbarung: ein Buch mit 7 Siegeln? Freie Volksmission, Krefeld 1994, 198 p.
- Was sagt die Heilige Schrift? Die christlichen Grundlehren auf dem Prüfstand. QuickPrinter, Overath 2006, 301 p.
References
edit- ^ Oswald Eggernberger. "Pfingstgemeinden". Kirchen-Sekten-Religionen. Religiöse Germeinschaften, weltanschauliche Gruppierungen und Psycho-Organisationen im deutschsprachigen Raum. p. 137.
- ^ "Herr, nun lässt du deinen Knecht in Frieden ziehen." (in German)
- ^ "50 Jahre Freie Volksmission Krefeld. 1200 Gäste kamen zu zwei Jubiläumsgottesdiensten". Idea-Pressedienst. 6 October 2014.
- ^ Oswald Eggernberger. Kirchen-Sekten-Religionen.Religiöse Germeinschaften,weltanschauliche Gruppierungen und psycho-Organisationen im deutschsprachigen Raum. p.137 (Pfingstgemeinden).
- ^ Hollenbach, Michael (24 May 2014). "Traumata - Das Leben nach der Sekte" [Traumata - Life after the sect]. Deutschlandfunk (in German). Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ Hessischer Rundfunk (23 February 2014). "Gefangen im Denken einer Ssekte".
- ^ "Freie Volksmission in Krefeld distanziert sich von Colonia Dignidad" [Free People's Mission in Krefeld distances itself from Colonia Dignidad]. Westdeutsche Zeitung (in German). 21 December 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2024.