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Pastor
Robert's Story
Robert
Maasbach was born on 16th October 1960 in
Holland. His father was preaching at a large
gospel meeting at the time, and rushed home
afterwards to see his newly born son. As
he held him in his arms, Johan Maasbach
wondered if Robert would someday follow
in his footsteps and preach the gospel around
the world.
Like many children, Robert found sitting still rather tiresome and much preferred to be engaged in adventurous activities, many of which, unfortunately, caused his parents much fear for his safety. "Robert never sees danger", his father often sighed. He had many near escapes as he grew up, including ending up in hospital with 21 stitches in his head after crashing through a large display window. So when Robert began driving and nothing moved fast enough for him, his family and friends were more than a little concerned. By this time Robert had finished school and was working at his father's church offices in the printing shop in Den Hague, Holland. Though raised in a strong Christian home and work environment, Robert's personal faith was as good as non-existent. Yet both his parents continued to pray earnestly for him, believing in the power of prayer and God's ability to change lives.
A Dramatic Turn of Events
It was 1979 when Robert's life was forever changed
by a dramatic turn of events. He was in New
York for a few months working at his father's
ministry offices there, when he was involved
in a serious car accident. It was a head-on
collision at great speed. The force ripped the
front of the car completely off and Robert broke
his second cervical vertebra in two places.
He was pulled unconscious from the wreck by
emergency services.
Later the doctor said that if he had been conscious,
and tried to get out of the car himself, the
movement would have either killed him or paralysed
him for life. He was admitted to a hospital
and placed on a flat bed with heavy weights
and wires to stabilise his head and neck. Every
time the painkillers wore off he was in such
agony that in desperation he would try to pull
the weights off and get up and leave. He was
firmly restrained, but soon it was clear that
other measures had to be taken to ensure his
safety by keeping him still. A so-called 'Halo
Vest' was strapped around his chest, connected
with a heavy metal headpiece which was screwed
into his skull with some heavy pins. This finally
kept him immobile.
A
Vision of Jesus Christ
One day, as Robert lay in his hospital bed, Jesus appeared to him in a vision and asked him, "What have you done for Me in your life?" He found that he could not boast about anything he'd done and was unable to answer Jesus' question. It was then that Robert realised he didn't really own his life because it could be taken from him at any time. He also realised that it was only by the grace of God that he was still alive, and that there was a greater purpose for his life than just living for himself. He woke up and saw his father standing by his bedside. His father said, "Don't you think it is the grace of God that you are not dead?! Come on, let's pray", and with deep contrition and tears Robert invited Christ into his heart and from that moment on his health began improving. Robert came to the point of total surrender and rededicated his life to the Lord right then, sincerely promising to serve Him for the rest of his life. After just three days, he walked out of the hospital.
The Miraculous Work of God
It was only a week after the crash that Robert
went home. He realised the miracle God had done
by keeping him alive and healing his body. Ten
weeks later he was allowed to go back to Holland.
He could turn his neck again for the first time
in months. The home-coming he received there
was tremendous. When Robert shared his story
at his father's church in Den Hague, people
applauded as they saw firsthand the miraculous
work God had done, not only in healing his body
but also in transforming his whole life.
From that time on, Robert was passionate about
giving God his all. He became, and still is,
totally committed to the Lord. Everything he
was asked to do for the Lord, he did without
looking back, for he had discovered the purpose
of life and a reason for living.
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