HEALING ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Ab van Roon (64), Rotterdam

I drank one or two beers occasionally to relax in the evening. Due to hopeless circumstances in my life, the amount of alcohol increased over the years. As of summer 1998 I sometimes drank 30 to 40 glasses of beer daily.  

TRACKING A PHENOMENON

First showing of the three part documentary film "The Bruno Groening Phenomenon – Tracking the ‘Miracle Worker’" in Berlin/Frankfurt (bac/frt).

Berlin/Frankfurt (bac/frt). On October 3 people came from all over Germany, Austria and Switzerland for the first central cinema performance of the three part documentary film about Bruno Groening. The location of the indoor performance was the "Toni" cinema in Weissensee, east of Berlin. Grete Häusler, the leader of the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends, wouldn’t miss personally opening the film afternoon.

An idea is born
Next to the co-producer Thomas Eich, the members of the film team were also present, the camera man Gerald Schank, as well as the composer of the film music Burkhard Pesch and the conductor of the Babelsberg Symphony Orchestra Manfred Rosenberg. In a retrospect, Thomas Eich described once again the first thoughts that had created this film 10 years ago. The film "The Wonder Apostle" had been shown in cinemas then, based on a novel by the Austrian author Hans Sterneder and also produced by voluntary work and donations by the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends.

Meticulous detailed work
The first extensive research and preparations for this intensive cinema production began already in 1993/1994. Archival material was studied, data and facts gathered, contemporary witnesses found. In February 1995 the first gate opened for tracking the life stages of Bruno Groening over the years. It took the film team to the original show locations of Gdansk, his birth place, to Paris, the place where he ended his earthly life. The extensive work took almost ten years before the film was completed.

First impressions
The spectators’ reactions during the breaks and following the performance were rather quiet and reflective, less euphoric. The impressions and facts of the film were too manifold and lasting. Many small conversation groups gathered in the aisles, exchanging their impressions about the film. The faces were serious, reflecting the emotions of the audience. Some expressed their need to let their impressions sink in first. People wished to find out more about this man, Bruno Groening.

The facts speak for themselves
The speaker for the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends, Armgard Traulsen, talked about the film this way: "This documentation recreating the stages of Bruno Groening’s life, as well as his work, finally rehabilitates Bruno Groening. Thanks to the extensive written documents as well as the impressive reports by contemporary witnesses, a picture of his personality emerges that contradicts all negative allegations of the press and other circles from those times to this day. The message of this film affords everyone an opportunity to convince themselves of the true character of Bruno Groening. As a man born during the fifties of the past century, I was most impressed that the healing success reports from that time are still being taken down and processed to this day, following the pattern he designed at that time. We are now, however, assisted by Physicians who are making a scientific and expert confirmation possible within the framework of the Medical Scientific Group (MWF). I wish for myself that those who still rejected him and the Bruno Circle of Friends will convince themselves of the truth."

Munich
The film opened in Munich at the same time. The cinema here was also filled to the last seat. In the meantime, the performance is shown every week, often on two days, in the cinema on the Landshuter Allee. Just as in Berlin and other cities, a book table complements the information offered for the accompanying relatives and friends. 

Hamburg 
On October 5, after some difficulties at the beginning, the cinema Sunday began at the UCI cinema in Hamburg-Mundsburg. The hall there was also practically sold out (260 seats). The cinema performances were complemented by equally well attended medical information lectures. The audience got a chance  here to convince themselves that even today it is possible to regain one’s health by serious spiritual healing. It was clearly pointed out that this way should not replace a visit to the doctor and that physicians should still decide when to take medications or therapies. 

Outlook
In the meantime, the documentary film has also been shown with success in Austria. The film will be shown in  more German speaking cities in the following weeks, so that it will be accessible to people at 11 performance locations for now.

Spectators’ Voices

THE WORK IS GROWING

Introduction of the Bruno Groening Circle of Friends (Part 5/3)

Düsseldorf Region Bergkamen 
The expansion of the Düsseldorf region began in the small town of Wegberg near Mönchengladbach, its original starting place. There had been a small community there since 1979. Some spectacular healings (arthritis in advanced stage, muscle atrophy, etc.) had stirred great excitement since 1982 and created a community of about 200 friends in a short time. In 1984 a youth community and in 1985 a children’s community grew out of it.

Talents are aroused; new music
From the very beginning, music in the Wegberg community was very important as a link between God and people. Friends met often to sing and play music. In 1985 a chorus was founded, soon to be joined by music enthusiasts and friends from Cologne. The sound quality of this chorus increased amazingly quickly and the musical framework of the community hours and conferences was planned here with great commitment. Some young talents were aroused at that time. The first compositions (chorus works for many voices, with instrumental accompaniment at times) were written. Some chorus recordings of these pieces were made. In this way the newly created work was shared with the entire Circle of Friends. The current musical program of the Grete Häusler publishing house reflects the development since that time. These conditions, flowing out of the pen of young people, are impressive since they mastered neither any composing nor music studies.

Poetry
In the realm of poetry the muse blossomed as well. The first poems came out of this community. Over the years, more and more Friends needed to express their inner experience in the form of poems and thus, since 1984, they were collected in Wegberg at first and later in Dortmund. These poems are enriching both community hours and conferences. Several volumes of poetry have already been published by the Grete Häusler Press. The Publishing House, by the way, also began in Wegberg. Starting with private orders for spiritual literature, it developed into its own publishing house over the years. The community book tables were supplied from there. This led to the organization of many book stores at home and abroad.

Growth of the work with children
Since parents with children don’t want to miss conferences, the growing numbers of friends made the question more and more urgent: "What do we do with the children?" So, starting in Wegberg in 1985, childcare kept growing more complex and developed quickly, outgrowing mere supervision. Singing, music, dancing, crafts, sports and theater and the absorption of power together in child-appropriate community hours made it possible for the children to experience the same fulfilling time as their parents do. At the same time they are lovingly taken care of in six different age groups. Simultaneously to the regular conferences in Geseke, the so-called childcare developed into the children’s conference, taking place there with 150 participants. It is still led by the woman who assumed the responsibility for the first 15 children 20 years ago. Her experience of many years has also led her to taking care of the children’s community leaders.

The children’s orchestra
For the last two years, the children’s orchestra has been a firm component of the children’s conference mentioned above. The idea sprang up in the music loving children’s community in Essen. Interested little musicians practice together and then perform the musical productions at their best to the joy of all small and big conference guests.

Wegberg district
Since 1986, the expansion of the Wegberg community followed two directions: northeast, with the creation of communities in Aachen, Krefeld, Heinsberg, Mönchengladbach, Elsdorf and Düren. Public interest grew thanks to the vigorous commitment of friends for display activities, physicians’ information lectures or even just reporting their own experiences with the teachings of Bruno Groening in their own lives, so that people kept joining the Circle of Friends. The children’s and youth communities keep going in Wegberg.

Expansion into our neighboring Country
Since Wegberg is not far from the Dutch border, in 1988 the opportunity arose to open the first communities in Roermond, and, somewhat later, also in Maastricht, laying the foundation stone for the growth of a new foreign speaking region, including many communities today.

Essen district
The second expansion area included the Ruhr district which must have been very familiar to Bruno Groening as a community, which he often visited, already existed there during his life-time. It is well known that he took care of suffering people in several towns in the Ruhr district. Bruno Groening once stated that he knew the Ruhr district like his own waistcoat pocket. From 1986 to this day, thanks to help with display activities and information lectures, the following communities were created: Bochum, Bottrop (Oberhausen today), Essen, and Recklinghausen, Gelsenkirchen, Duisburg, Iserlohn and Hagen. In 1995 the Wuppertal community (formerly tended by Cologne) also joined the Ruhr district. Since 1993 the well attended children’s community of the Ruhr district exists with its seat in Essen.

Organization of the publishing and publicity work
The roots of the publishing and publicity work of the Circle of Friends began there in 1989 with the first press articles about display activities as well as the press reports of the film "The Miracle Apostle" filmed by the Circle of Friends. Many experiences from that time contributed to the further growth of the publishing work that is now established worldwide. In the Düsseldorf region, many friends have assumed the responsibility for it and participate in the regional and general schooling sessions.

Düsseldorf district 
The third area, the city that gave its name to the region, only joined at the beginning of this year. Düsseldorf lies between the regions named above. It seemed logical to name that city as the center of the region that had been created by friends from Cologne at the beginning. Since 2000 there is also a community in Meerbusch. The Neuss community, tended from Wegberg for some years, is also part of the Düsseldorf region. A children’s community, as well as a youth community, were created in 2001. This youth community has now become part of the former Ruhr district youth community. There is even a community for drug-addicted people who get a chance to regain their health by healing the spiritual way through the teachings of Bruno Groening.

Work with success reports 
Five years ago, it became obvious that the flood of success reports flowing in from abroad could not be processed centrally in Hamburg (seat of the first medical circle). The regions were therefore split up. One responsible person in each region took over the task of schooling all the success report leaders belonging to his region, as well as first checking the reports they gathered from healed people. Special regional and schooling sessions and conferences are held in the Düsseldorf area since that time. In the meantime, several physicians in the area are also supporting the success report work by checking reports, requesting medical documents, and commenting on them. Some are already holding lectures on spiritual healing through the teachings of Bruno Groening.

Weighty encounters
"What shall I tell him?" asked a young student in 1988 whom his studies had brought from Wegberg to the Ruhr district (Dortmund). He wanted to tell a Croatian student friend of his about Bruno Groening. He briskly decided to pin a flyer to the college notice board. "Purely accidentally" walking past it with his student friend, pretending amazement, he pointed to the picture of Bruno Groening, saying: "I know him!" So they started to talk. Nobody foresaw then how meaningful this meeting would be for many people in the former Yugoslavia. The student friend joined the Circle of Friends, as well as his brother, who returned home in 1994. With help from the brother in Germany, he has since then immensely contributed to the growth of the Circle of Friends in the Balkans. (There are now 3,130 Friends there!) The communities in Belgium also began in Düsseldorf. In 1988, a friend from Wegberg met a Belgian fellow student who was interested in the teachings of Bruno Groening. Soon afterwards this student and his wife began to build up the communities in Belgium. They now lead a region of about 700 friends in 18 communities. Another connection abroad starting in Düsseldorf began through a German Russian from Düsseldorf. She had known Bruno Groening personally. She experienced the healing of her husband at the time, given up as incurable by his physicians. That is why she still shares the teachings of Bruno Groening with conviction to this day. In spite of her advanced age, she doesn’t shy from the hardship of journeying throughout Russia and helping with the organization of numerous communities over there. She takes care of all the communities and leads the team of translators, as well. Ottawa in Canada gets help from Wuppertal, meaning that community leaders are supported by phone and information lectures and conferences organized. A Friend from Krefeld is highly committed to help Ireland, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and Pakistan.

Second regional conference
On October 19, 2003 all was ready: all friends helping in any way in the Düsseldorf region were invited to the second regional conference this year in Oberhausen. The various work circles introduced themselves there and shared the growth of their work with all conference members. However various these tasks are (publishing and publicity work, work with success reports, films, work in the Grete Häusler publishing house, donations management etc.) it is all the more amazing how such a conference unites friends from all work areas in such great goodwill. These friends went home happy and strengthened for their tasks, wishing again that many people in our region would experience healing the spiritual way through Bruno Groening this coming year, as well.