Learn how Corrie ten Boom, author of 'The Hiding Place,' helped Jews escape Nazi Germany
Grace Lutheran Church of Lily Lake invites the community to a spring luncheon featuring a program on Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian Holocaust survivor, on Saturday, April 29.
The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the church, 5N600 Hanson Road in St. Charles. Everyone is welcome to this all-ages program. A donation will be taken for church work. The luncheon and program is presented by the church's Rebecca Circle.
Aurora resident Gayle Hass will portray ten Boom who, with her family, helped many Jews escaping the Nazi Germany during World War II.
After about four years of helping the refugees and members of the Resistance, the house was raided. Corrie, along with her father, sisters and brother, were arrested. Her father died 10 days later in prison. Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were sent to three different prison camps, ending up in Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany. In spite of the deplorable conditions, hard labor and cruel beatings, Corrie and Betsie delivered the message of God's love to their fellow prisoners and captors. Malnourished and weakened by the harsh treatment, Betsie died in early December 1944. Shortly afterward, Corrie was released having completed her sentence. She later learned her release was due to a clerical error. All the women in the camp, her age (52 years) and older were executed shortly after her release.
Corrie returned home to Haarlem, Holland where she set up rehabilitation centers for people of all races and creed in effort to bring healing and comfort after the ravages of World War II. Embracing the words of her sister, Betsie, "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still," Corrie traveled to over 60 countries, and shared a message of hope, forgiveness and love. The nation of Israel honored Corrie ten Boom naming her Righteous Among the Nations. She was also recognized for her work in the Netherlands and on her 70th birthday she knighted by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. She died on April 15, 1983, at age 91. A museum in Haarlem is dedicated to her and her family.
Corrie told the story of her family during World War II in the 1971 book "The Hiding Place," which was later made into a movie, starring Julie Harris as Betsie and Jeannette Clift as Corrie.
Through Haas' dramatic monologue, she will share some of ten Boom's experiences growing up in Haarlem, Holland, and her family's commitment to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.
For information, call Jan Docherty at (815) 901-0910 or Cathy Whiteside at (630) 605-1096. Visit www.graceoflilylake.com or www.facebook.com/GraceOfLilyLake/