Bern, June 13, 2012. [CD-EUDnews]. On Monday, June 11, 2012, Edwin Ludescher, in his 84th year, passed away after a long illness endured with patience, courage and faith in God. “We mourn the loss of a person who has risked his life for the cause of God,” declared Erich Amelung, former Euro-Africa Division (EUD) treasurer and long-time fellow worker of Ludescher. Pastor Ludescher's ministry began in 1948 as youth pastor in Austria, where he met Gerda, his life companion for about 60 years. In 1954, he served as a dean of men at the Collonges Theological Seminary, France, for two years. In 1956 he received a call as a missionary in Cameroon, Africa, where he stayed with his family for almost 10 years. Remembering this period, pastor Eliseo Cupertino, missionary and close friend of pastor Ludescher, declared: "We met in Cameroon, leading two different missions. In 1968, Edwin was appointed Chairman of the Equatorial African Mission. Great progress was made under his direction until 1975, both in terms of development of new activities in new territories, and in terms of development of new institutions". In 1975, during the General Conference Session held in Vienna, Edwin Ludescher was elected President of the Euro-Africa Division, where he led with great wisdom until his retirement in 1994. Pastor Cupertino continues: "Starting from 1976, I had the pleasure once again to work with him during my presidency of the South European Union. Once
again his expertise and administrative capabilities have been a great help to me." Bruno Vertallier, current EUD president, remembers pastor Ludescher "as a prominent person of the EUD. Edwin Ludescher has inspired many people as pastor, missionary and president. The church honors this man of God".
Ulrick Frikart, former EUD president and for many years a colleague of E. Ludescher said: “A great man in the noblest sense of the word just left us. He has marked the lives of thousands of people in Europe and in Africa. By his administrative talents, his love and vision for the church, and especially his deep and balanced faith, Edwin Ludescher has left lasting traces. Even through the moments of intense suffering at the end of his life, his strength and commitment to the Lord remained steadfast. I thank God for the privilege of being able to know and work with him and I want to share with his family my heartfelt condolences.”
Erich Amelung declared: “His confidence in the leadership of God and the belief in the imminent return of Jesus Christ will remain a great landmark for us”. His beloved and faithful wife Gerda, nee Stoeger, had already died in 2010. He leaves two sons - Jurgen and Gerd - with their wives and children. We want to comfort them with our sincere condolences for this great loss. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday June 29, 2012, at 14:00, at the SDA Church in Berne, Switzerland.
