Lived – 1805-1898

What did he do for a living: Evangelist and coordinator of orphanages in Bristol, England

Inspiration: His unwavering trust in who God says he is

As a boy I grew up hearing my father give sermon illustrations of a man named George Muller. The illustrations he gave always seemed idealist and almost unrealistic. As a young man I started to do some research into this man. I found out the illustrations my father had given were in fact real life occurrences that happened on a regular basis for the man named George Muller. I realized that this was a great man of faith and the reason I thought his stories were either idealistic or totally unrealistic was for the plain fact that I had never been in the presence of a person who had such an “unbelievable” faith in God!

For those who have never heard the name George Muller. Let me very quickly fill you in. Muller was a graduate of the University of Halle who had been a drunk, a thief, a liar and he had gambled most of his money away. It was while at Halle he met a friend who introduced him to Jesus. At this moment Muller radically changed his life and devoted it to God. To cut a long story short, he became a preacher with a missionary heart. He started up orphanages in Bristol, England at a time before a welfare system was in place. His first orphanage was his own home. After filling his house with children he opened other homes. In all he opened five orphanages and during his life cared for over 2000 orphans.

This is pretty special in itself and the guy deserves a medal for this. However, the story is even more remarkable because he never asked anyone for financial support! When I mean never, I mean not even a friend or his family! He believed that is what God called him to do and God would provide. This was a man of faith. Two quick stories reveal this mans faith. One day all the children were hungry sitting in the dinner hall waiting for their breakfast. Muller’s cook came to him to say they had no food or no money. Muller replied, “don’t worry, God will provide”, at which he gave thanks to God for his provision. Immediately after he gave thanks a knock came at the door and it was an anonymous gift, baskets upon baskets of food!

One day Muller was traveling across the Atlantic from Bristol to New York. As they came within a couple of  hours from docking in New York the captain told all the passengers that they would not be arriving in New York today because of heavy fog. Muller asked to speak with the captain. He told him he had an urgent appoint in New York and needed to be there that day. The captain said it was impossible. Muller stepped away for five minutes, asked God to move the fog and then came back to tell the captain to start the engines, for the fog is going to lift! Before the captains eyes, the fog disappeared.

By the time of Muller’s death, his organization had received over $2.7 million (remember this was in the 1880′s) without ever asking for a penny!

This man is an inspiration and this mans live has inspired me to know that when God tells you to do something, do not worry for God will provide! Some believe it, some don’t; George Muller believed it and his story tells the tale.