✨George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans (1999)

Janet and Geoff Benge

4Rbooks                                           5/6                   grades          5-8

Amazon                                             4.8/5              grade level   4-6

Goodreads                                      4.47  

Common Sense Media               Not Yet Reviewed

203 pages

Synopsis

            George Muller made many mistakes as a young man.  He stole, he lied, he drank, and he ran up many debts. His father wanted him to be a Lutheran Minister and wasn’t happy with the inappropriate choices George was making.

            One day George went with his friend to a Bible meeting.  To his surprise, he was intrigued and touched by the lesson and the people there.  He went back and before long he had repented and committed his life to God. He eventually felt the urge to become a missionary. God answered many prayers along the way and George found himself in England.

            There, he was heartbroken at the plight of orphan children and felt led by God to do something about it.  With his wife and church friends, they started an orphanage in a small house. After many years of growing and praying, the Muller orphanage became five large buildings housing over 2000 orphans.

            George followed God in many other ways, preaching all over the world and raising money for missionaries to many different countries.

Parental Guidelines:    medium

George’s father beats him with a rod until he can barely walk or sit.

George was a thief and spent time in jail as a youth. He rarely went to church, read the Bible, or prayed.

George liked to go to Ale Houses to drink and play cards.

The conditions of the orphans on the streets of England were horrific, as were the conditions in the poor houses.

Recommendation

            I purchased this book at the Book Nook of the church my wife and I attend. It is part of a series of books by YWAM, Youth with a Mission, on Christian heroes: then and now. I was unfamiliar with Mr. Muller’s story before reading this book.

            It is a very middle grade friendly read for Children, once you get past the first two chapters which detail George’s rule and law-breaking ways, and the beatings from his father. In chapter 3, George discovers a new-found faith in God which inspires him to become a missionary, to the distress of his girlfriend and father. George persists and becomes a tremendous preacher and missionary.

            The rest of his story is truly amazing and inspiring. God truly blesses George’s life and most of his prayers are answered in timely and incredible ways. I’ve never been to England but I am now inspired to visit the sites of his orphanage buildings if I ever make the trip.

            This would be a great biography for a family read, or a teacher led class or group read where the beatings from his father could be handled delicately. He and his father did eventually reconcile with each other.