Missionary Zeal

Through the young pastor who had helped him take his first decisive steps, 
Eberhard found contacts with other young Christians. This pastor arranged
a 
bible study group for older high school students. At first the only
members 
other than Eberhard were two boys from another high school. Together they 
studied Mark’s Gospel. With the pastor’s encouragement, they invited their

classmates to join them. Eberhard succeeded in interesting two friends
from 
his “Suevia” days. In time, more than ten of his fellow students were 
infected by his glowing enthusiasm for Jesus. They gathered for
discussions 
at recess under the walnut trees on the school grounds. Alone or in small 
groups, they visited Eberhard at his house and listened as he spoke about 
the joy of unconditional discipleship of Jesus and the happiness and 
strength that Jesus can give. Clara Arnold describes how she and her 
siblings sometimes discovered Eberhard in the drawing room engaged in
deep, 
earnest conversation with one or more of his friends. Apparently he had 
helped some of them find the same breakthrough that he had experienced.