The creation of the
„Herrnhut Worship Folders”
during the GDR period
Mechthild Friesen (née Winter), March 2006
Under the direction of Georg and Ulla Hentsch (from the Christian Ministry for the Blind), our charismatic house group led many worship retreats from 1979 to 1989 in Herrnhut. These were extended weekends with a focus on praise and worship, taught by guest speakers from Germany and abroad. They occurred three to four times a year and attracted 80–100 participants.
Many of the praise songs originating from these weekends spread throughout all of Germany through word of mouth, but those who took part in the retreats also asked us to make printed copies. It was impossible for us to procure an official printing license, which was necessary for any printed documents during GDR times. Therefore, most of the songs (words and melody) had to be written out entirely by hand. A Christian in Dresden produced the handwritten originals and assembled them as a blueprint. Thus began the “Herrnhut Worship Folders”. Because the retreat participants came from all over the GDR, the folders were then disseminated throughout the whole country. I received standing orders for new folders and mailed large amounts of packing envelopes from the post office in Herrnhut or other nearby post offices.
In the eyes of the then government, this distribution was totally illegal even though we were covering the costs strictly through donations and not making a profit. It didn’t take very long until the State Security began to watch us. They sent spies into the Worship Retreats and also to the charismatic “Conference for Spiritual Renewal in the Church” which we attended in Berlin. At that conference I wanted to distribute a huge number of the folders, and God really had His protective hand over us. On the first day, there was a time for us to greet and bless those around us. Upon the first mention of this, the man from the State Security got up and hurried to leave the room!