Heinrich Coerper was born on 3 March 1863 as the youngest of seven children of a pastor in Meisenheim (Northern Palatinate). After attending Latin school in his home town, he attended grammar school in Cologne from 1877, where he lived with his brother Fritz, who was 16 years older and worked as a pastor. After that, Heinrich Coerper studied theology in Halle, from 1884 in Tübingen, Utrecht, Berlin and from 1886 in Bonn. Initially, faith was a natural part of Heinrich Coerper’s life, but did not play a shaping role. This changed during his studies: He was plagued by growing inner struggles, above all the question of how personal faith, his own lifestyle and the parish ministry he aspired to could be brought together and realised. In Bonn, he got to know the theology professor and university preacher Theodor Christlieb (1833–1889), who had a decisive influence on him. The clear evangelistic and missionary emphasis that he placed in his lectures and in his church work were groundbreaking for Heinrich Coerper. The young theology student was also fascinated by Theodor Christlieb’s interdenominational contacts and networks. The theologian opened up completely new perspectives for Heinrich Coerper; it was here that he first learnt about genuine alliances with Christians from other churches. The fact that the young Heinrich Coerper also saw himself as a fervent patriot and supporter of Prussia and the military was partly due to the fact that his home town was subject to pressure from the superior French military power. After studying theology, Heinrich Coerper volunteered for a year’s military service in Berlin with the Imperial Prussian Guard Fusilier Regiment in 1887/88. At the end of his service, he was promoted to second sergeant. However, his national-patriotic character temporarily faded into the background, probably driven by the conflicting inner impulse to live passionately as a Christian. The theologian suddenly abandoned his career as an officer and only trained as a field hospital nurse. In 1888/89, Heinrich Coerper worked as a lecturer at the Johanneum School of Evangelism in Bonn. From 1890 to 1894, he was a preacher and pastor of the chapel congregation in Heidelberg. There he began extensive work among children and students and became a co-founder of the German Christian Student Association in 1891. During this time, he also came into contact with Hudson Taylor (1832-1905), the founder of the China Inland Mission. At the beginning of the Liebenzell Mission was Heinrich Coerper THE FOUNDER 6 Tent evangelism O The first tent evangelism takes place in Liebenzell. Start on the island of Manus O Start of mission work on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea with the missionaries Friedrich Doepke (left) and Hermann Kraft (right). An incredible gift O Hilda von Diest (1869-1946) donates the Mission Mountain to the Liebenzell Mission. 1918 1914 1913
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