Dick Derksen

Choose You This Day

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

The Derksen family has come to Wuestenfelde as refugees from Friesland, Mennonites that have fled the persecution of all Anabaptists, primarily due to the debacle of their takeover of Muenster in north Germany. Misguided followers of Melchior Hoffmann, a bombastic preacher that everyone loved to hate had taken over this city to make it the beginning of the Kingdom of Christ on earth, with Jan of Leyden serving as King David. Menno Simon, a priest in Friesland, whose brother had been burned to death when he and 300 other Anabaptists fled to a monastery for refuge, decided that this was not the way to fulfill the scriptures, so he converted to Anabaptism, too, and became the spiritual guide to a movement that eventually bore his name - first Mennists, then Mennonites. Baron von Ahlefeld took them into his estate north of Hamburg, at Bad Oldesloe, where he gave them the outlying village of Wuestenfelde for themselves. Menno Simon joins them there. Jacob Derksen, the fictitious progenitor of the author's family, practices his trade of bricklaying on the baron's estate. His family is growing up, and each one becomes a major contributor to the story of the Mennonite struggle for survival and self-consciousness. Jacob Jr., one of his sons begins to feature in the story as his successor, and eventually the story centers around him, his romance, and his dedication to the faith of his father. Historically, this story incorporates many of the situations common to the age - the middle of the Sixteenth Century, as the Reformation has reached its peak - persecution, martyrdom, plagues and common illnesses that took their toll on the general population. Baron von Ahlefeld aided the story to its conclusion.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: FriesenPress
• Seitenzahl: 222
• Erscheinungstermin: 13. Juli 2020
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 216mm x 140mm x 13mm
• Gewicht: 319g
• ISBN-13: 9781525574306
• ISBN-10: 1525574302
• Artikelnr.: 59871542

Autorenporträt

Dick came of the Mennonites that emigrated from South Russia in 1874. It was his Great-Great Grandfather, Dr. Jacob Derksen, that brought his family over to Manitoba. Dick was born in Lowe Farm, Manitoba, in the West Reserve, but moved when he was seven years old to Mission, BC, where he took the rest of his elementary schooling. In 1952 the family moved northward to Vanderhoof, BC, where Dick grew up fifteen miles out of town on a small bush farm, working in the family sawmill until he left home in 1960 to go to Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, AB. After graduating in 1964, he returned to Prairie High School and finished his matriculation. He then moved to Calgary, where he began his B.Ed. studies in school music and social studies in 1966. After graduating in 1970, he taught at Harold Panabaker Junior High School until 1976. Jeraldine (Jerry) Wilkinson joined Dick at Prairie in 1960 and continued in the same class until they graduated together in 1964. She then finished nurses' training in the Galt School in Lethbridge in 1967, after which she began work as an operating-room nurse. Dick and Jerry married August 31, 1968, and in March, 1971, welcomed Derek into their home, joined by Devon in February,1973. In September, 1976, the family moved to Kandern, West Germany, to teach at Black Forest Academy. Their career took them through several moves and the beginnings of Vienna Christian School and the administration of EurECA. Jerry took up bookkeeping and Dick studied at The University of Bath, England, where he completed his MA and took all the courses for his Ed.D., before retiring in 2007 without doing his dissertation. Both their sons have successful careers, and Dick and Jerry have lived in Calgary since that time.