06/22/2026
ONE OF GOD'S SPECIAL SAINTS WHO HE USED TO TOUCH OUR LIVES
While in Dallas TX, I met famous Assemblies of God evangelist Dave Roever, a Vietnam veteran who suffered horrific burns during the Vietnam war and today has a powerful ministry all over the world.
Bro Dave and I were talking about the time when he preached at a Veterans' Day service at my home church The Worship Center in Lancaster PA. I then told him the following true story:
"Bro Dave, that service was full of scores of veterans who had come to hear you. You started by honouring the veterans and you said 'All those who were in Vietnam please stand up'. A large group of men stood up, and people applauded. You then said 'Any Korean War veterans here?' A half a dozen old men stood up, and people applauded. You then said "Let's see, are there and World War 2 veterans here?". At this a solitary elderly gentleman stood to his feet. The applause he got was thunderous. I turned to my wife and said 'I hope he doesn't ask which side he was on!' I said this jokingly because I knew the man. He was indeed a WW2 veteran, but he was a German War veteran who had served in the German Kriegsmarine (Navy) during the war and had been taken a POW when the war ended"
At this Bro Dave Roever laughed out loud. "I never knew this! That is quite a funny story!
That German WW2 veteran was a dear brother in our church, and probably our most powerful prayer warrior and intercessor. His name was Freddy Gutjahr. He was a man of God and of the Bible. He had a tender heart for God and was exceptionally warm and kind to us. From the time my family and i immigrated to the US, he and his wife Miriam took us to their hearts. They always loved on us and prayed for our family and our ministry. They took a special interest in our children, always asking about them by name, and prayed for them.
My spirit was always lifted up when we would meet them in church. He was a classic "rigid" German man, and they are not very "touchy-feely"; but I would always hug him and he would laugh. John and Miriam Gutjahr loved us and prayed for us daily.
Years went, and the Gutjahrs were now a part of our lives. One day after I returned home from Africa Britta told me that Bro Freddy who by then was quite old was in hospital and was not expected to live long. We went to see him. He was weak physically but was in good spirits. He in his usual fashion began to testify of the goodness of the Lord. He then suddenly broke into song, singing an old revival song about how Jesus had saved him and lifted him up. It was an astounding moment. Here was an old saint, dying, and he was singing loudly and praising God so that everybody in the room heard him. Britta sat closest to him. She turned her face away from him to face me, and I saw tears flowing down her cheeks. She did not want Bro Freddy to see her tears.
It was an amazing moment. I too was weeping. At that moment it dawned on me that from some men we learn how to live like saints, and from others we learn how to die like saints. Whenever I think of that evening with Bro Freddy Gutjahr, I always say "Lord when it is time for me to go, I want to singing and praising you like that!"
Before we took our leave, I asked "Brother Freddy is there anything that I could get for you?". He said "Christopher if it is not too much trouble, I would appreciate a large print Bible. I have difficulties reading my present one".
We then asked him to pray for Britta, me and our family. He prayed for us, our family and our ministry, and we left.
We went back to him a few days later with a new large print Bible. He was very happy to receive it. That was the last time that I saw him in this life. I then went back to Africa for more Crusades.
When I was gone, an astounding thing happened. God does amazing things with men of the Word who walk with Him.
Bro Freddy Gutjahr bounced back and was released from hospital, and was back driving his car! Soon afterwards he passed away and went to be with Jesus.
Freddy and Miriam Gutjahr are now both with Jesus. Through my 50 years in ministry, God has raised up saints like them to stand alongside us. We have been borne by the faith, the prayers and the support of these precious saints of God. Their names are not famous on earth but in heaven they shine brightly in the presence of our Lord. Their reward is at least as great as ours, and even more.
After Britta and I received the Assemblies of God's Smith Wigglesworth Award in Dallas, I thought of the Gutjahrs and the other saints, the prayer warriors, the teachers, the pastors, who God has used to shape us and form us, to push us forward to where we are today. We are thankful for their lives and they meant to us.
"I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor” John 4:38
Glory to the Lamb of God who has purchased us with His Blood!
