CHICAGO, IL (December 27, 2005) – German exchange student Isabel “Isa” Schuppan had written “atheist” on the religious preference slot on the program file. She did, however, write that she would be willing to attend church with a host family. She had no idea that the host family would include the pastor of Harvest Ridge Covenant Church in Shawnee, Kansas.
Helge Meyer, 15, of Bad Segeberg, also left Germany having no religious faith, but wound up living with the family of pastor Randy Rodenberg. He, too, has since returned to Germany.
By the time the exchange students returned home, they had exchanged an old life for a new one, the pastors say.
Both students already had arrived in the United States, but still did not have permanent host families. Eric Sparrman, pastor of Harvest Ridge, says his daughter, Johanna, came home from tennis practice where she had met Isa and said, “She’s really nice. Can we keep her?” Sparrman’s wife, Bonnie, liked the idea and their teenage sons, Bjorn and Karl, viewed it as an adventure. Just like that, the family suddenly had a fourth teenager in the household.
Both students already had arrived in the United States, but still did not have permanent host families. Eric Sparrman, pastor of Harvest Ridge, says his daughter, Johanna, came home from tennis practice where she had met Isa and said, “She’s really nice. Can we keep her?” Sparrman’s wife, Bonnie, liked the idea and their teenage sons, Bjorn and Karl, viewed it as an adventure. Just like that, the family suddenly had a fourth teenager in the household.
Randy Rodenberg, pastor of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wausa, Nebraska, said Helge had been living with a woman who had helped arrange his travel, but that she didn’t have room to be a permanent host. One day before classes started, the Rodenbergs had a new high school student living with them.
Isa first was not interested in attending youth group, but within several weeks she was invited by Christian friends at school to join a Bible study, says Sparrman, adding that she looked forward to attending church.
The girl had no understanding of the faith when she arrived, says Sparrman. “She was told in Germany that going to church was part of being an American. The Germans told her that it wasn’t like it was in Germany – it was exciting.”
Her parents had grown up entirely under East German rule and no one in the family knew of the Germany’s rich Christian history. “She had no clue about the Christian heritage of her country,” Sparrman says. “No idea about Luther, no idea about Bonhoeffer.”
“Not only did she hear the gospel for the first time, she was the pastor’s kid,” says Sparrman. “Those first weeks in worship generated many late night conversations as Isa had a lot of questions.”
“Not only did she hear the gospel for the first time, she was the pastor’s kid,” says Sparrman. “Those first weeks in worship generated many late night conversations as Isa had a lot of questions.”
Over the course of the succeeding months, Isa attended three retreats, spent a week at camp, went on a mission trip with the Center for Student Missions in Chicago and had frequent discussions with friends. In the spring, she made a commitment to Jesus, Sparrman says.
“The greatest joy I’ve ever known as a pastor was the day I baptized Isa in Little Mill Creek,” Sparrman says (see accompanying photo). The family has kept in touch by phone and email with Isa, who lives in Gorlitz. She now attends an Evangelical Free Church. “It reminds her a lot of our church here,” Sparrman says.
Rodenberg says Meyer quickly became involved with school activities and fit in well with the family, which includes his wife, Carol, and three sons – teenagers Ben and Chris as well as Briton, who is in the third grade (lower photo).
Meyer had attended church in Germany twice a month and was confirmed the year before he arrived in the United States. He told the Rodenbergs that people consider themselves Christians if they’ve attended a church.
A gifted musician, Meyer joined the praise band and came home from the first practice, saying, “Well, I guess I’ll be going to church every Sunday,” Rodenberg recalls. The teenager told the family that church was so different in the States. Church was like school in Germany, Meyer explained. It was just something you do.
The family never witnessed directly to Meyer “because we didn’t want him to feel pressured,” says Rodenberg. “We discussed sermons with him frequently and prayed for him constantly.”
When Meyer inquired about issues that concerned him, the Rodenberg’s would answer his questions. Meyer gave his life to Christ, Rodenberg says, after the teenager had three dreams in which he was given the choice between heaven and hell.”
Rodenberg says Meyer’s conversion proved a blessing in other ways. “Our youngest son had prayed for Helge’s salvation every night since he arrived. What a confirmation for a young boy to witness the blessings of persistent prayer.” He adds, “Today he prays for Ramiro, a Compassion International child with the same persistence.”
Meyer, too, has returned home and is determined to share his story with family, friends and pastor, Rodenberg says. “As Helge returned to Germany, he went as a missionary.”
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.