From Thief to Servant
In the 1830s, George Müller, once a thief and gambler, found his life's purpose in faith and service. Born in Prussia, Müller's early life was marked by deceit and vice. Yet, a transformative experience at a Christian meeting in Halle changed everything. Moved by the prayers he witnessed, he devoted himself to God, abandoning his old ways.
A Life of Radical Trust
By 1832, Müller had settled in Bristol, England, where his faith would be tested and proven through remarkable acts of divine provision. Alongside his wife, Mary, Müller committed to living without a regular salary, choosing instead to trust God for their needs. In 1834, he founded the Scriptural Knowledge Institution for Home and Abroad, aiming to support Christian education and missions.
Father to the Fatherless
The dire conditions of orphans in Bristol deeply moved Müller. In 1836, he opened his first orphan house for 26 girls at 6 Wilson Street, driven by a desire to care for the fatherless and demonstrate God's faithfulness. Relying solely on prayer, he refused to solicit funds, believing God would provide. One morning, without a scrap of food for the children, Müller led them in thanking God for what they were about to receive. Moments later, a baker arrived with bread, followed by a milkman whose cart had broken down nearby, offering milk.
A Legacy of Answered Prayer
Müller's steadfast faith and reliance on prayer saw the orphanages thrive. "I live in the spirit of prayer," he wrote, "I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming." Over his lifetime, this faith approach led to the care of over 10,000 orphans, funded entirely through unsolicited donations.
Through Müller's unwavering trust, God provided abundantly, proving himself as a Father to the fatherless. Müller's life stands as a testimony to the power of prayer and the tangible presence of God's provision.
