A Giant of the Faith

On Holy Saturday, April 15, the world lost a giant of the faith, Johann Christoph Arnold.

Christoph had served as a pastor of the Bruderhof Communities for 43 years, as Elder for 18 years, and as Senor Elder since 2001.

Christoph was a passionate leader and author of 12 books that sold millions, including Why Forgive? his most famous book. He always went right to the root of life’s problems - whether writing about marriage and family, racism, peacemaking, death and dying, forgiveness, faith, and moral purity.

I met Christoph in the most unlikely place for both of us: in Rome at the Vatican. Pope Francis had invited both of us as non-Catholics to speak on the biblical meaning of marriage at his Vatican conference on marriage and family.

Although I had already loved reading many of his books, meeting Christoph made me love him even more. His quiet humility, his contagious smile and laugh, his deep love for both Jesus and people, and his passion for peacemaking evidenced the true spirit of Christ. I look forward to long discussions with him in Heaven one day. I thank God for the life of Christoph Arnold.

Some of Christoph’s last words were ones he shared on Palm Sunday, just days before his passing:

“The main thing is that God’s kingdom advances, and if any one of us had the chance to play a little part in it, it’s not because we are great or mighty, but because God is merciful and he’s granting us the possibility to show love. God is the Creator of everything. All he wants in return is that we love and worship him, and most of all Thank Him!” —Johann Christoph Arnold,

If you have not ready any of his books, go to Amazon and start with Why Forgive.

Our love and prayers go out to sweet Verena, all the family, and all of our dear brothers at sisters of Bruderhof. We thank God for you all.

Rick Warren, Saddleback Church