The thief who gave his all

Nigel Faithfull  |  Features
Date posted:  1 Oct 2005
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Five substantial but well-proportioned buildings in natural stone overlook the Gloucester County Cricket Ground on Ashley Down in Bristol.

These are now the City of Bristol College, Brunel Campus, but stand as a lasting memorial to God’s amazing power in transforming a profligate sinner, and in graciously providing all the resources to establish and maintain a caring ministry which continues to this day, the bicentenary of his birth. How did this all come about?

A young delinquent

George Muller was born in Kroppenstedt, Prussia (now Germany), on September 27 1805. He was certainly bright, and later mastered six languages: French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Greek and English, but he was also exceedingly devious. He stole money from his father, from friends, and even the greater part of his confirmation fees. As a student he had an alcohol problem and stayed at several hotels without paying, sometimes with a Catholic girl, until he was caught and gaoled. Even there he would boast to his cellmate of imaginary evils he claimed to have committed. But all this was to change.

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