This year marks the centenary of the death of George Muller, the great Brethren philanthropist, whom God used to create and sustain orphan homes in Bristol where eventually 2,000 children were cared for.
Though a legend among Bible-believing Christians in this country, George Muller was born in Germany, on September 27 1805 in the village of Kroppenstadt, Prussia. He was the son of a tax-collector and soon showed a great intellectual ability.
When George was 11 years old he had begun to study Latin classics, French history, German literature and mathematics. But there was another side to this little academic genius. He had a propensity for cunning and wickedness. He has been described at this age as 'a liar, a cheat and a thief.' One incident involved his father leaving some money in a room of their house. He returned to find some of it missing. George denied all responsibility, but eventually his father found it hidden in George's shoe. His father thrashed him, but the boy showed no sign of regret.
By the time he was 16 he would go to a nearby town and check in to a hotel, often in the company of a female, and spend a week with the intention of leaving without paying the bill. On one occasion he was discovered climbing out of a window and arrested. He spent over 20 days in prison before his father got him out.
But as can sometimes be the case, it was out of this reckless and spirited sinner that God was going to make a man of adventurous faith, whose life would rebuke and challenge the well-filled 'respectable' churches of Victorian Britain and expose their complacency.
Halle and conversion
At the age of 20 he went to the university in the town of Halle. Strangely, for rebellious George, he went there to study theology. This was his father's scheme, and probably the idea behind it was that a clergyman's life would bring a secure and respectable position in society.
However, it was here that Muller met a serious young friend. Through this young man Muller one day attended a student prayer meeting. George was suddenly apprehended in that meeting. He saw people kneeling to pray, and praying without a script with such fervency that he was fascinated. A sermon was also read, which contained the plain message of the gospel of God's free mercy. That was the night when Muller reckoned he found Christ. From then on he was a transformed character, on fire with a zeal for God.
Missionary to the Jews
With a strong call to evangelism, he left Halle and went to London to train as a missionary to the Jews. It was in this country that he came across Anthony Norris Groves, a man who had given up a large annual salary to go and live by faith as a missionary to Persia. The Groves family were key players in the movement known as the Plymouth Brethren.
While in London however, Muller fell ill and was sent to Devon to recuperate. Though very much a foreigner he was later asked to take charge of a small independent chapel in Teignmouth. He agreed to do so on the conditions that they abolished pew rents and did not pay him a salary, but that a box would be left by the door for those who felt it right to leave gifts for his upkeep. While some would see that for church leaders to be given a wage by the church is perfectly Scriptural (1 Timothy 5.17,18), Muller saw the matter of not having a salary, and depending only on gifts as a way of expressing faith in God. For him, this was of the essence of living by faith. He began to preach widely in the area and with great zeal.
First orphanage
Soon George had married Mary Groves, the sister of A. N. Groves, and in 1832 they moved to Bristol. Under Muller's forthright evangelical ministry, the rundown Bethesda chapel was transformed. Lydia their daughter was born within a year.
With unshakeable belief in the Bible, he was convinced that if Christians took Scripture seriously there were no limits to what could be achieved for God. He began the Scripture Knowledge Institution (SKI) two years after arriving in Bristol. All four aims were practical and evangelical: to organise schools on a Biblical foundation; provide education for poor children; circulate the Bible, and support missionaries.
The good response to SKI ensured that Muller could launch his next and greatest venture with complete confidence.
By the time the Muller had come to Bristol, cholera had swept through the city. The wealthy had fled from their splendid homes in Clifton and the poor lived and died in squalid narrow streets. Children grovelled for food among the rubbish heaps.
In 1834 a fifth aim was added to SKI: 'to feed, clothe and educate destitute orphan children.' Believing that this was the Lord's will, Muller was certain that the Lord would provide all that was necessary. To begin with he needed £1,000 to start a home and the right people to run it. Muller turned to God in prayer.
On April 11 1836 the first orphan child was received into the orphanage that had opened in Wilson Street. Her name was Charlotte Hill, she was 11 and had been brought from 'the Plume and Feathers' where her parents had recently died. The home was run for 30 orphan girls. The expenses were £240 a year, but the income that came in amounted to £840. In December he opened another home for infants and nine months later a third for boys. Altogether, by then he had nearly 100 children under his care.
Story of miracles
This was the start of one of the most astounding stories of faith and prayer. By 1870 the orphan homes transferred to Ashley Down and had 2,000 resident children. By the 1880s SKI had received more than £1 million for its projects. Though Muller (unlike the 'faith' teachers of today) never made any public appeals for funds, all his needs were met. The children never went hungry or ill-dressed. Never was a debt unpaid. Yet, the only security was that God is faithful and would provide. He did, though often at the last moment.
One famous incident saw the orphanage without food for the next day. Muller was in prayer. The owner of a local bakery found that he could not sleep. Eventually he roused his foreman in the middle of the night with the request that he get enough bread baked to feed the orphans for the next day. But, on second thoughts, he increased his provision much further for the orphans departing with the words: 'I must get some sleep.' God, it seems, had disturbed the man.
Changes
After 1870, things changed. Mary Muller died. Two years later, George married Susannah Sanger, who equally shared his whole outlook on life and faith. He also handed over the running of the orphanage to James Wright, a widower who had married his only daughter Lydia.
Far from retiring however, Muller began a new stage of his life. From 1875 to 1892, as perhaps the most well-known member of the 'Open Brethren,' he travelled extensively. Fluent in several languages, he preached not only in Europe, but throughout the world. He encouraged Christians to love and use the Bible, to listen to God and to trust him. His expositions were compelling because they were filled with illustrations of things that had happened to him, his homes and his children.
In March 1898, at the age of 92, George Muller died. Bristol had never seen such a funeral, with the streets deeply lined with people paying tribute to a man everywhere known and respected. God had kept all his promises. And George Muller had kept his promise too - only to ask for what he needed. He died with just £160 to his name.
Compiled by JEB
An excellent 55-minute video, including on location filming, of the life of George Muller entitled 'Obstacle to Comfort' by Dr. Ken Connolly is available by phoning 01483 488317, price £9.99 including p.& p.
Dr John Benton
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