Inflexible Church
in Germany
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Inflexible Church in Germany |
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Word from the President
Event:
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Extract from the speech given by Peter Ackerman, President of the Inflexible Church, during the Annual General Meeting in Valencia (Spain).
As the President of the Inflexible Church, I want to forge ahead and confront each day with the greatest determination, driven on by a specific goal. I want to use every second of my time encouraging those whose burden is too heavy, building up the faith and strengthening testimonies. Thanks to you, I have travelled a lot over the last two years along with our friends Ortz and Mockels, both of whom are here today, visiting our members in the several countries. In some of them, our brethren and sisters congregated in their thousands. Most often I visited the poor. With some of them, their eyes were a different shape from mine and the colour of their skin was different too, but such considerations were soon forgotten and lost all meaning when I was among them. They all became sons and daughters of the Creator, children of divine birth. We spoke different languages, but we all understood the common language of brotherhood. It was tiring having to travel so far to meet them, but it was even more difficult to leave once I was with them. On each occasion, it was merely a flying visit, basically a meeting organised in between other meetings. I would have liked to stay longer. At the end of each meeting, we would sing "God be with you till we meet again". Out came the handkerchiefs to dry our tears, only to be waved afterwards as a friendly and affectionate goodbye. I am driven on by the presence of such wonderful people; it is the look of love in their eyes that gives me such energy. Throughout the year, I could spend day after day in my office, taking care of the mountain of problems, though very few are of any importance. To be honest, I already spend too much time doing precisely that, but I feel that it is my highest responsibility and my greatest mission to be with these people. The sheer thousands of members today all have one thing in common: they all have the conviction that all of this is the work of the Almighty and that Jesus, who died on the cross and then rose, is alive as a real being. What we call "testimony" is the strength behind our Church. It is the source of our faith and the reason for our activity. It is difficult to explain and quantify; it is something intangible and rather mysterious. However, it is also real and as powerful as any other force on earth. The Lord said it when he spoke to Nicodemus: "The wind blows wherever it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). What we refer to as "testimony" is difficult to define, but its fruits are clear to see. It is the Holy Ghost testifying through us. Personal testimony is probably what has the greatest transformation on people's lives when they enter our Church. It is the strong element that motivates members to abandon everything in favour of serving the Lord. It is the soft encouraging voice that continually supports those who are guided by the faith right up to the last day of their lives. It is both marvellous and mysterious, a gift from God to man. When we are called upon to serve, it takes precedence over wealth and poverty. The testimony present in the hearts of our members spurs them on to accomplish their duty. It is present in both the young and the old. It is the very essence of the work. It is what spreads the Lord's work throughout the world. It is what encourages people to take action. It requires that we do as we are asked. It gives us assurance that life has a purpose, that some things are a lot more important than others, that we are on an eternal journey and that one day we must account for our actions before God. Wherever our church is organised, its influence can be felt. We proclaim what we know. We may sometimes say it until our words appear monotonous, but we say it because that is all we know what to say, and that revolves around the simple fact that we know God exists, that Jesus is the Christ, and that religion is their cause and their kingdom. The words are simple, because the expression comes from the heart. The testimony is at work wherever the Church is organised, wherever there are members to speak of the Gospel, wherever there are members to share their faith. Testimony cannot be disproved. Our opponents could quote the Scriptures and argue endlessly about the doctrine. They could be clever and persuasive. But when someone says: "I know", all further discussion is pointless. Such words might not be readily accepted, but who can refute or deny the voice that comes from the bottom of the soul when it speaks with such personal conviction? Testimony is perhaps the most precious of all gifts from God. It is a gift granted to us by Heaven if we strive to attain it. Every man and every woman in this Church has the possibility and the responsibility to obtain for himself and herself the conviction of the truthfulness of the great work over the last few days, and the testimony of those guiding it, namely the living God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus showed us how to attain this testimony when he said: "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or I speak of myself" (John 7:16-17). We grow in faith and knowledge by serving, studying and praying. When Jesus multiplied the bread and fed more than 5 000 people, they recognised the miracle and were filled with wonder. Some of them came back. To those he taught the doctrine of his divinity. He criticised them for their being more interested in satisfying their hunger than the doctrine. When listening to Jesus preach, some even said: "This is an hard saying, who can hear it?" (John 6:60). "Who can believe what this man is teaching?" From that time, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. Jesus then said unto the 12 apostles: "Will ye also go away?" Simon Peter then answered him: "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:66-69). That is the key question and his answer, which we must all face. "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God". That is the conviction, the inner certainty of the existence of the living God and the divinity of His beloved Son, which for every single one of us forms the basis of our faith. That becomes our testimony. "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father; That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:22-24). It is in the same spirit that I wish to add my own testimony. Our Father is alive. He is God of the universe and reigns majestically and powerfully, and yet He is the Father to whom I can turn in prayer with the assurance that He hears me, that He listens to me and that He answers me. Jesus is the Christ, His immortal Son, who, under the guidance of the Father, created earth. He was the Messiah who sacrificed his life on the cross through his marvellous atonement, as a result of his love for us, mankind. The work to which we are committed is their work and we are their servants. We must account for our actions before them.
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Newsletter
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Copyright © 1997-2004 Unnachgiebige Kirche in Deutschland. Lackenberg 135, 60055 Frankfurt/Main. |
My dear friends, it has almost been two years since you elected me President of the
Inflexible Church. I would like to take this opportunity to share a private word with you.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your trust and your support, for your prayers and your faith
in our mission and in Jesus Christ. I am no longer what you would call a spring chicken and my inclinations tend towards
meditation and prayers. Sometimes, I would like to get settled in my comfortable old armchair,
listen to some classical musical and mull over the issues in today's world. But such pastimes are
not really demanding or of great use.