Heinrich Arnold was the son of Eberhard Arnold, the founder of the Bruderhof community in Germany during the chaos of the post World War I years. The younger Arnold grew up in the environment of the radical community life which his father founded, which also took a radical attitude to other alternative lifestyles in the Germany of the period. The community found fellow cause with many who had a vision for a new society, and was closer to some of these than the traditional church of the day.
The book traces the younger Arnold's life through the early history of the community; its relocation to Liechtenstein when the young men of conscription age during the Nazi era had to flee the country; then the flight of the community itself to England when it was shut down in Germany; and from England to Paraguay. The hardships of this time are heart-rending:not least because the community is taken over by abusive leadership, and Arnold is separated from his family because of his 'rebellious' attitudes. Eventually Arnold is selected to found a 'daughter' community in the USA, which becomes more 'successful' than its mother in Paraguay. This creates further tensions, especially as Arnold develops a more relaxed and open style in the community under his leadership. Eventually the inevitable confrontations take place, sin is exposed in the 'abusive' leadership, and the foundations are laid for the worldwide expansion of the communities which we have today.
The book provides an insight into the life of this unusual man, highly gifted pastorally, and as the title suggests - a broken man, yet one whom God used powerfully. Today, 'alternative' expressions of Christianity are very often the ones that have the ring of authenticity in today's world, and the Bruderhof are a prophetic voice into the lifestyle and politics of both church and state which we do well to take note of. Their website is worth a visit - www.bruderhof.com - as it is packed with gems of items and publications which are not to be seen elsewhere.
This book is published by Plough - the Bruderhof's own excellent publishing arm, but is available through bookshops. | 