Beginning of Amazing Discoveries & Walter Veith Partnership

In 1992, Wenzel and Dagmar Goubej took their daughter Wendy and son Joshua on a vacation to South Africa with Dagmar’s brother, Stan Sedlbauer, and his family. One Sabbath, they attended a German-speaking church where they were introduced to a newly-baptized Seventh-day Adventist and former atheist who had taught evolution theory and zoology at various universities in South Africa. His name was Walter Veith.

After getting to know Walter a little better and hearing his personal testimony, the Goubej family was inspired to invite this dynamic speaker to come to Canada and share his Genesis Conflict and Truth Matters series with a secular audience. They felt impressed that this man’s message and presentation style would ignite the world. After some thought and prayer, Walter accepted the invitation, and plans were set for a public campaign the following year: 1993.

With reckless faith, Wenzel, Dagmar and Wendy rented the Massey Theatre in New Westminster, BC, which had seating for 1260 people. The Goubej family was not alone in waiting for the evangelistic crusade with anticipation and excitement. A small group of like-minded laymen shared in the dream, inspired by the Goubejs' story of this scientist turned creationist, and willing to step out in faith. The group prayed that God would impress people to attend. When Walter started his creation seminar, the hall was filled to capacity for the first time in its long history!

God demonstrated His presence in some amazing ways during the series of presentations. One evening, a burly group of Hell’s Angels, a motorcycle gang, strode down the aisle and sat down in the front row. “What would happen now? Were the bikers there to cause a disturbance?” Wenzel wondered. The bikers listened quietly to Walter’s message that first night and returned to hear more the next night. It was obvious the Holy Spirit was working upon the hearts of these men.

When Walter started to teach about the mark of the Beast and the identity of the Antichrist, he noticed that one seat was empty in the front row. Part way through the lecture, a side door opened and a young man with Down syndrome entered the theater. Walter also noticed that some people in the audience were not happy about his message. At intermission, they surged around him. One grabbed the microphone and announced, “The Papacy is not the Antichrist. This man is the Antichrist!” Walter feared that he would be assaulted. But, God would not allow His messenger to be harmed.

As soon as the disruptions began, the Down syndrome youth climbed the stairs up to the stage, elbowed his way through the crowd surrounding Walter, and wrapped his arms around Walter in a protective embrace. No one dared assault him with this child blocking the way. Night after night, the young man was there. Consistently the same seat remained empty each night until he came. Night after night, he came up to Walter and shielded him from harm.

Walter wondered about his young protector. Each night he arrived alone. He must live very nearby, Walter thought, for him to come unescorted so regularly. Maybe he was part of the establishment. Near the end of the series, the presentations were moved to a church across the city. Walter felt sure he’d never see the young man again. How could a youth with such limited abilities navigate the large city on his own via public transportation? It would be impossible.

To Walter’s surprise, on the last night of presentations at the new location the young man with Down syndrome appeared again, unescorted, making his way to the front of the church to sit down in an empty seat. Afterward, when everyone had gone out to enjoy fellowship and refreshments, Walter found himself alone with the young man. As Walter put away the slides he’d used that evening, the young man came up to him and wrapped his arms around him, just as he’d done when the menacing crowds were threatening to assault him in the Massey Theatre.

Walter stopped what he was doing. He held the young man at arm’s length and asked him, “Are you human or are you an angel?” Looking up, the youth pointed toward heaven. Then he turned and walked away.

Amazing Discoveries, the ministry that developed from the Goubej family’s partnership with Walter Veith, is now celebrating its twentieth year. The growth of the ministry is a testament to God’s continued protection and guidance. Watch for more of the Amazing Discoveries story in future issues.

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