Günter Pietz (the young man with the guitar on the right) during a youth meeting;
Photo by reform-adventisten.net

The Eastern association of the German Union, part of the European Division of the International Missionary Society, will organize in Halle on the Saale, Germany, on September 29, 2018, a commemoration Sabbath regarding the 75th anniversary of the martyrdom of Günter Pietz, an Adventist reformer Christian who was beheaded by guillotine in Roter Ochse prison in Halle on September 27, 1943, at 5 p.m. at the age of 18. After his arrest at the age of 17 for refusal to perform military service for religious reasons, Günter Pietz, born on July 4, 1925, was tried and sentenced to death by the 1st Senate of the Reich Court Martial on August 6, 1943, for draft evasion.

The program of the commemoration Sabbath which will start at 10 a.m. with a Bible conversation circle in the IMS house of prayer in 06108 Halle, Am Kirchtor 20b, includes a sermon under the title “Succession without Compromises”, while after the lunch break a short divine service in the room of execution and a visit of the commemoration place are provided, reform-adventisten.net reported.

The event will continue at 4:30 p.m. with a presentation under the motto “Reasons and History of the Persecution”, followed by the final lecture “Deeply Moved, Touched in the Heart…and then?” an hour later.

In addition, a snack and conversation opportunity is planned to start at 5:30 p.m. The contact person for this event is Jens Müller, a representative of the Edelstein publishing house, which could be reached at +49 3445 792922.

Günter Pietz’s martyrdom lets us remember the death of John the Baptist, as well as the prophecy of our Saviour in Matthew 10:22 – “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Furthermore, the event reveals the lesson that violating the freedom of conscience, expressed in cruel persecution and execution of Christians, leads a protestant country like Germany to being defeated in World War II for lack of God’s blessing, because the Lord of the hosts considers in Zechariah 2:8 the touching His followers as touching the apple of His eye.

Written by Margarit Zhekov