Eric Metaxas, bestselling author of " Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy", stated today via an e-mail sent to the public that he will present the life and mission of World War II German religious martyr Dietrich Bonhoffer at Peachtree Presbyterian Church on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Metaxas, who is a graduate of Yale, will share with attendees how the extraordinary faith of one man fighting the Nazi war machine is an inspiration to people even today who face implacable evil.
Metaxas's presentation will begin at 7 p.m. at the Main Sanctuary of the church in Atlanta's Buckhead section.
While Metaxas will be available to autograph copies of his New York Times bestseller, he will also detail the compelling chronicle of one man's struggle against Nazism and its intimidation of the German church. His search for the will of God in his own life in such chaotic circumstances as he faced the possiblility of his own death is an example worthy of one's emulation in today's turbulent times in America.
Posthumously, he has become a source of inspiration for leaders like Desmond Tutu and Vaclav Havel.
Born into a comfortable, upper middle class family, he risked everything to join the German Resistance. In 1930 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a brilliant young theologian teaching at Union Theological Seminary in New York. On weekends he volunteered to teach at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.
He could have chosen to remain within the safety of the US with his safe teaching job in New York and he probably would've lived out a normal life's length. Instead his conscience led him back to Germany where he faced the possibility of execution.
Unfortunately for Bonhoeffer, he returned to Germany as Hitler was rising to power. Only two days after Hitler became Chancellor, Bonhoeffer courageously delivered a radio address denouncing Hitler before he was cut off the air.
Facing death any day after he was imprisoned he was somehow able to maintain his composure and write some of the best theology of the 20th century.
Metaxas presented a powerful talk as keynote speaker at the 2012 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C., an event attended by the President and First Lady, the Vice President, members of Congress, and other world leaders. Previous speakers were Mother Theresa, Bono and Tony Blair.
Metaxas also addressed several meeting related to the National Prayer Breakfast in 2013.
His first appearance on his 10-city Bonhoeffer tour was in Marysville, New York (near Buffalo) in the midst of what weather forecasters were labeling "the worse blizzard" in history. Despite the weather the event was well-attended with one attendee saying he drove four hours to hear Metaxas discuss his book and get it autographed by the best-selling author of Christian biographies.
Amazing Grace was also a bestseller and chronicled the story of British parliamentarian William Wilberforce to outlaw slavery in England.
Originally from Danbury, Connecticut, Metaxas now resides in New York City.
Bonhoeffer was cruelly ordered hanged in prison by Hitler only days before Allied forces freed the prisoners.
Between writing bestsellers, giving speeches, hosting Socrates In The City functions and writing regular religious columns it's amazing he has time for sleep.
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