1940-1944
The ten Boom family belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church and believed strongly in the equality of all people before God. One of the brothers was a minister and the sisters had been active in charitable work before the war. During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the family began to hide numerous Jews and resisters in their home, and built a secret room to protect them.
In 1944, the family and other people at the house, about 30 in all, were arrested for their resistance activities and taken to Schevingengen prison. The six Jews in hiding at the house were not discovered and survived, with the help of other Resistance workers. The father Casper ten Boom became ill and died 10 days later at the prison. A brother, sister and nephew were released.
After some time, Betsie Ten-Boom and her sister Corrie were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Ten Boom's strong faith in God kept her from depression throughout her life and especially within the camps. Corrie told of how ten Boom reached out to help others and helped Corrie to see the best in everything, no matter what the circumstance.
Before her death, Betsie Ten-Boom experienced three visions from God about what she and Corrie were to do after their release. She believed they would be released by the New Year. Her first vision was of a house for former prisoners. The second was to own a concentration camp where they could teach Germans to learn to love again. The third was that she and Corrie would travel the world telling what they had learned of God while in the camps. Betsie ten Boom died in Ravensbruck on December 16, 1944, at the age of 59. Her sister Corrie was released due to a clerical error, and went on to set up the projects that Betsie had seen in her visions; as well as travelling the world to speak about her faith.
Ten Boom and father Casper were honored by the State of Israel in 2008 as Righteous Among the Nations. Her sister Corrie had been honored before.
Read more about this topic: Betsie Ten Boom