Miracle at

Ashley Down

The exhausted teenager was sitting in the corner of a shop doorway. His face carried an expression of dejected hopelessness. At the young man's feet lay a piece of cardboard on which was written the simple but pathetic statement: 'Homeless and hungry. Please help.' The place is Newton Abbot, Devon, in today's recession troubled Britain.

This teenager is part of the growing worldwide army of homeless, unemployed and often unloved and unwanted young people. The problem is not new. When Charles Dickens had his novel Oliver Twist published in 1837, it drew public attention to the appalling social conditions that drove many orphans into wretched lives of crime, begging or prostitution.

One man was so moved by the plight of these young people that he resolved to do something to relieve their suffering. George Muller was born in Germany in 1805. His autobiography reveals that by the time he had reached his teens he was himself an expert liar, cheat and thief.

Muller was not lacking in academic ability. In 1825 he entered the university at Halle. His aim was to become a minister in the Lutheran Church ---- not due to any divine calling, but because the position was regarded as a lucrative and respected career.

Even while studying for his theology degree, Muller continued to live a profligate lifestyle. He did realise that a future pastor needed to have a good reputation so he restrained himself from fighting duels and engaging in public brawls. In November 1825, a friend invited Muller to attend some Christian meetings at the home of 'a believing tradesman'. When the group knelt in prayer, Muller experienced something entirely new. This, it seems, was his first direct experience of prayer. In addition, the members of the little group had a genuine love for one another, great joy and deep humility.

Writing of this experience many years later, he mentioned: 'I understand something of the reason why the Lord Jesus died on the cross and suffered agonies in the Garden of Gethsemane; even that thus, bearing the punishment due to us, we might not have to bear it ourselves. And therefore, apprehending in some measure the love of Jesus for my soul, I was constrained to love Him in return.'

Muller began to study the Bible with great zeal. In common with other idealistic young people of the time, he resolved to become a missionary. As many headquarters of missionary societies were in London, he travelled to England.

He soon discovered that he was quite unsuited to life as a missionary, so he moved west to the country of Devon. Muller began to fellowship with members of the Brethren movement and was offered a position as pastor of a local church. In 1830 George Muller married Mary Groves. The couple seemed to be well suited to each other. Their relationship has been described as the 'perfect marriage'.

Two years after Muller took up a new ministerial position in Bristol.

Many flocked to hear him preach. One thing that caused him deep concern, however, was that although many believed in God, few believed God. That is, they were not willing to obey God nor were they able to believe that he can intervene in individual lives.

Muller longed to have something to point to as 'visible proof' that God is a living God who really answers prayers. He was also concerned about the terrible plight of Bristol's orphan children, may of whom were destitute and some close to starvation. Muller came up with a creative solution. Why not establish an orphanage to house, feed, clothe and educate the orphans? However, it would not be financed by conventional means.

Financed by Prayer

Muller's plan was that the financing would come as the direct result of answered prayer. He knew, from the Bible, that God was also concerned about the plight of orphans and widows.

The first orphanage was established in 1836. It was a small-scale operation to begin with, but grew rapidly. By 1838, 100 orphans and staff were in need of support. Muller was relying on the goods and financial donations produced by answered prayer, not only for the support of himself and his family, but also an additional 100 people ---- the staff and orphans of his three orphan houses.

The lifestyle of these people could not be described as affluent, but even so, all were properly clothed and ate regular meals. On numerous occasions, funds to pay for a meal were not provided until hours or even minutes before they were required. However, God never failed to provide.

Muller never made any public appeals for funds. He was adamant that God alone should be seen as the sole provider for the orphans. He wanted to provide no reason by which the carnal mind could account for, or explain away, the 'miracles of prayer'. He wanted to give God the credit, and not 'natural laws' coincidences or other rational explanations.

The orphan work grew and flourished. New premises were required. By 1870, five large orphan houses able to cater for the needs of some 2,000 orphans, plus staff, had been erected at Ashley Down in Bristol.

Muller once made the staggering claim that he had received 30,000 direct answers to prayer. During the winter of 1857, the central heating system of one of the orphan houses failed because of a boiler leak. A cold north wind was blowing at the time. Muller prayed for a change in the wind direction from north to south and that the workmen would be given 'a mind to work'. The south wind did indeed blow and the workmen decided to work all night on the boiler repairs.

On one occasion, the children were seated, waiting for breakfast. No food was available and no money on hand to purchase any. Muller calmly gave the blessing on the meal in his usual fashion. A knock at the door was heard. The baker stood there, and said: 'Mr Muller, I couldn't sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn't have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So, I got up at 2 o'clock and baked some fresh bread, and I have brought it.'

No sooner had the baker left when a second knock was heard. This time the milkman arrived. his milk cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He offered his cans of fresh milk to the children so that the cart could be repaired.

A life of Service

Muller died in 1898. In a newspaper obituary, George Muller was described as one 'raised up for the purpose of showing that the age of miracles is not past.'

Of his life's work, Muller wrote: 'Our God and Father is the same faithful God as ever He was; as willing as ever to prove Himself to be the living God, in out day as formerly, to all who put their trust in Him.' George Muller firmly believed this.