Missionaries from Gerlingen: Johannes Zimmermann
- 12 years in Kroboland
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Missionary Bohner about a visit at Rebmann in Odumase, Kroboland:

"He has put up his house ... into the middle of the black people's village ... The house is like a black's hut, covered with steppe grass. But the white coating from muschelkalk, the dark-brown shutters from solid wood of the african oak, the light glass windows and the galleries around the building tell someone who lives here."

Johannes Zimmermann builds his mission in Odumase, the main village in the kingdom Manya-Krobo. Zimmermann feels as a "ambassador of Jesus". The tribal chieftain, king Odenku Azzu, is open-minded for the mission and he is "on the same wavelength" with Zimmermann.
As a sign of his friendship the Krobo king lets carve a chair from one piece of wood. The missionary can use this chair when visiting the tribal chieftain (1976 king Nene Azzu Mate Kole presents this "Zimmermann chair" as a gift to the town of Gerlingen).

The king places his son in Zimmermann's hands for upbringing and education. The son lives in the missionarie's family. "Teitschä" is now the honorary title of Zimmermann. The meaning of this word is  "father of the king's son Tei".

At the end of the year 1869, ten years after Zimmermann's arrival in Odumase, the christian parish is grown to 100 members. The mission house is open for everyone.

Johannes Zimmermann works for 12 years in the kingdorm Manya-Krobo. He translates into Gã language the Bibel, 500 hymns (among them 300 own ones) and the catechism. 

When he is 51 years of age, Zimmermann is drained and exhausted from the big african adventure in service of the mission. For the last months of his life he stayes in Gerlingen/Germany.

Imprint Contact: info@johannes-rebmann-stiftung.de