Who was Corrie Ten Boom?

 

**Corrie ten Boom: A Life of Resilience, Faith, and Love**

**Early Life**
Corrie ten Boom was born in Haarlem, Netherlands, on April 15, 1892. She was raised in a devoutly Christian family, and her faith played an integral part throughout her life. The ten Booms lived above their watch shop, which they owned and operated, creating a close-knit family environment where love, sacrifice, and service to others were deeply instilled.

**World War II and the Hiding Place**
As Nazism spread across Europe, the Ten Boom family became deeply concerned about the persecution of Jewish people. This concern translated into action when they turned their home into a refuge for Jews and resistance fighters, risking their own lives. The family created a secret room, later called "The Hiding Place," behind a false wall in Corrie's bedroom. They managed to save nearly 800 Jewish lives.

In 1944, the family's covert operations were discovered, leading to their arrest. Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Betsie, unfortunately, did not survive the ordeal, but before she passed away, she left Corrie with a powerful message: "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still."

**Post-War Years and Ministry**
After her release due to a clerical error (just days before all women her age were executed), Corrie returned to the Netherlands and began sharing her experiences. Driven by her faith and Betsie's message, she wrote the bestselling memoir "The Hiding Place," which recounts their story of courage, faith, and survival amidst the horrors of the Holocaust. The book was later turned into a movie and stage play.

Corrie's post-war mission expanded globally, and she traveled extensively, sharing her message of God's love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. She founded rehabilitation centers for Holocaust survivors and even former Nazis, emphasizing the power of forgiveness.

**Philosophy**
Corrie ten Boom's life philosophy was deeply rooted in her Christian faith. Some central tenets include:

1. **Forgiveness:** Corrie believed in the power of forgiveness, even in the face of extreme cruelty. She famously said, "Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."
2. **Love and Service:** The Ten Boom family's actions during WWII exemplified Jesus' teaching, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."
3. **Faith in Adversity:** Corrie and her family believed that God was with them even in the darkest moments. Their faith did not waver, even when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.

**Legacy**
Corrie ten Boom passed away on April 15, 1983, on her 91st birthday. Her legacy is one of resilience, faith, and unconditional love. Today, she is remembered not just as a Holocaust survivor but as an ambassador of hope, a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and an advocate for the power of faith and forgiveness.