In The Northwestern Lutheran, Joel C. Gerlach writes: “Eight times the Ministry of Education in East Germany said no to Uwe Holmer’s children when they tried to enroll at the university in East Berlin. The Ministry of Education doesn’t usually give reasons for its rejection of applications for enrollment. But in this case the reason wasn’t hard to guess. Uwe Holmer, the father of the eight applicants, is a Lutheran pastor at Lobetal, a suburb of East Berlin.
“For 26 years the Ministry of Education was headed by Margot Honecker, wife of East Germany’s premier, Erich Honecker… (then) when the Berlin wall cracked… Honecker and his wife were unceremoniously dismissed from office. He is now under indictment for criminal activities during his tenure as premier.
“At the end of January the Honeckers were evicted from their luxurious palace in Vandlitz, and exclusive suburb of palatial homes reserved for the VIPs in the party. The Honeckers suddenly found themselves friendless, without resources, and with no place to go. None of their former cronies showed them any of the humanitarianism Communists boast about. No one wanted to identify with the Honeckers…
“Enter Uwe Holmer. Remembering the words of Jesus, ‘If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,’ Holmer extended an invitation to the Honeckers to stay with his family in the parsonage of the parish church in Lobetal…
“Pastor Holmer has not reported that the Honeckers have renounced their atheism and professed faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. But at least they fold their hands and bow their heads when the family prays together. Who knows what the Holmer’s faith-in-action plan will lead to before this extraordinary episode ends?