In 1900, the first “Misses” joined the Liebenzell Mission; they were soon called “Sisters”. In the beginning, only women were accepted who were intended for service in China and later in the South Seas. In 1903, the mission organisation sent three sisters to China for medical missionary work. Soon they were also caring for blind girls who had been abandoned by their families. In 1908, the Liebenzell sisters founded the first school for the blind in Changsha. They worked there with great blessing until 1952, when they, like all other foreign missionaries, had to leave the country after the Communists came to power. When the Chinese authorities celebrated the 100th anniversary of the school for the blind in 2008, they invited the former superior, Sister Erika Leimenstoll, to attend. To her great astonishment, a Christian worship song was even sung in honour of the founders. In 1907, two Liebenzell sisters travelled to Micronesia. From 1913 onwards, sisters were increasingly active in congregational work in Germany. During and after the First World War, Heinrich Coerper ordained and sent sisters to the newly founded fellowships, where they took over the preaching and leadership. This made the Liebenzell Mission very attractive to young women, who were able to develop their gifts in the mission organisation. During the First World War, women replaced many “fellowship carers” (preachers) who were called up as soldiers. However, one can only speak of a “sisterhood” to a limited extent in these early years; there were no special rules, no vows of celibacy or as deaconesses. Most of the women went straight into mission service after their training. Many sisters also worked in hospitals in Germany, including in Calw, Duisburg, Essen, Hagen, Heilbronn and Tuttlingen. As many sisters were repeatedly harassed as single women, they asked for a traditional, modest outfit. This was introduced at Pentecost 1922. Today, it is up to the sisters whether they wear it or not. To prevent the sisters from having to work in armaments factories during the Second World War, the Liebenzell Mission sent sisters to serve in hospitals. Two sisters were killed during their ministry: in 1943, the Hungarian sister Maria Molnàr, who was working on Manus/Papua New Guinea, was murdered by the Japanese on a warship together with the missionary families Maria and Friedrich Doepke and Leni and Julius Gareis. In 1991, 35-year-old Sister Gunhild Rott died in a robbery in Zambia. While there were over 300 sisters until the 1980s, there were 80 at the beginning of 2024. The 15 working sisters are involved in congregational and fellowship work in Germany, Japan and Russia, in a school as well as in administration, housekeeping and nursing care for the elderly and sick on the Mission Mountain. Even in retirement, the sisters continue to dedicate themselves to the mission to the best of their ability, for example through intensive and varied prayer services. Claudius Schillinger STRONG WOMEN LEAVE DEEP TRACES OF BLESSING “Heart and Soul of the Liebenzell Mission”; “The Best of the Liebenzell Mission” – there is no lack of appreciative, affectionate terms for the Liebenzell Sisters Sister Charlotte Hoff out and about on the horse The Liebenzell Sisterhood 2010 10 “Kimife” for the first time O On the Wednesday before Pentecost, there is a children‘s mission festival (Kimife – KinderMissionsFest) in Bad Liebenzell for the first time. LGV founded O The “Liebenzeller Gemeinschaftsverband” (LGV) is founded. The Fellowship Association and mission are still closely linked today. Wilhelm Heinsen (1879–1959) becomes the first Fellowship Director. Change in leadership O Pastor Ernst Buddeberg (1873-1946) takes over the leadership of the Liebenzell Mission after Heinrich Coerper becomes unable to work due to a stroke. 1933 1934 1933
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