Every year many of you send in submissions for our wall calendar and this year you’re in for a special treat – you get to hear the story of the woman behind the cover photo. Annette Richter passed away a few years after she took her photo of the High Cross. Her husband, Ulf, sent it in on her behalf. Their story began during the Cold War in Germany and is a testament to God’s faithfulness through political unrest, marriage in its seasons, and chronic illness. Here’s our interview with Ulf Richter.
Tell us how you and your wife first met. What was it about her that made you want to pursue a relationship with her?
My wife and I first met in 1979, though, to be honest, we had absolutely no real interest in each other at the time. That would change a few years later, when we happened to meet again — quite by chance — during a holiday in Hungary, each of us travelling with a different companion.
In a somewhat spontaneous sense of responsibility, we both felt it necessary to protect our friends from what we thought would be an unrealistic East–West relationship. We did manage to “prevent” that from happening — only to find, quite unexpectedly, that we had found each other instead.
What fascinated us both, I think, was that we had discovered in one another a true soulmate — someone with whom one could talk for hours about everything, especially questions of faith. At the time, I still considered myself an atheist — yet I was already deeply curious about what it truly meant to be a Christian.
Of course, we were aware that a relationship between people from the two different worlds of that era — East and West — was, given the political realities, almost destined to fail. And yet, deep within both of us there was a quiet certainty that something much greater was beginning — the start of a shared journey.
What were the biggest challenges of having a relationship “over the wall?” What were some ways God protected you and provided for you?
Because of the division of Germany — and especially the communist government of East Germany, which despised everything Western and sought to prevent all contact across the border — such a relationship was, in reality, almost impossible.
It is important to understand that people from East Germany were generally not permitted to travel to Western countries until they had reached retirement age. Exceptions were made only for those considered politically trustworthy, where the authorities were confident that a visit to West Germany would not lead to an attempt to escape. Telephone contact was virtually non-existent, so our only option was to write letters — which we did almost daily for more than two years, supplemented by occasional meetings in Hungary, one of the few places we were both allowed to travel to.
One particular challenge was that, at least on my side in East Germany, I could not speak openly about our relationship. Among those who knew — such as my parents — there was very little understanding or support. When, in the midst of all this, I came to faith in Jesus and was baptised, things became even more complicated. In East Germany, that was not officially forbidden, but it was strongly discouraged and often regarded as a political statement — something one simply did not do.
A particularly severe test came after submitting an application for marriage between a West German and an East German. For around four months, I was summoned daily for long and exhausting interrogations by the domestic intelligence service — the Staatssicherheit, or State Security. Those sessions were extremely stressful. Everyone knew that many who entered those offices never came out again, but disappeared into prison for years.
I believe it takes an especially deep love — and an unshakeable trust in God — to endure such trials. What carried and sustained us through that time was a verse from Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:30 (and Psalm 18:30):
“With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.”
A modern German translation renders it even more vividly:
“With you, my God, I can storm strongholds;
with you I can leap over any wall.”
The Berlin Wall 1986, Wikimedia Commons
You and Annette were not only partners in marriage, but partners in work. Can you tell us more about that?
Our involvement in marriage ministry — and in particular a special project called “10 Great Dates” by Claudia and David Arp — actually began through our own personal experience. In the later part of the first third of our marriage, Annette and I went through a very difficult and complex period. We both fought desperately to save our marriage. After trying various approaches, we eventually came across this programme — and through it, we rediscovered the conversations that led to healing in our relationship.
Afterwards, Annette contacted the authors and asked whether she might translate their wonderful material into German. They kindly agreed, and that translation was soon followed by a series of speaking events for couples in Germany together with Claudia and David Arp — as well as the production of a German-language “10 Great Dates” video, complementing the original English teaching material.
Further translation projects followed, and together with a group of Christian friends we founded a small association called Glaubenswerkstatt (“Faith Workshop”), which allowed us to continue translating valuable Christian literature and video resources. Through these projects we came into contact with a number of churches across Germany, Austria and Switzerland — a season of rich experiences that shaped us deeply and broadened our horizons in so many ways.
What are some things that strengthened your marriage? What advice would you give to married people who are struggling?
I don’t know if one can truly say such a thing, but I believe there was a plan — that we were meant to experience our marriage with all the challenges it brought. Every difficulty we faced ultimately bore rich fruit and produced good things — shaping us, and allowing us to become instruments in God’s hands.
For us, it was always important to see our marriage not only as a gift, but also as a calling — something worth fighting for, every single day. Even in our most difficult season, we kept fighting for our marriage, reminding ourselves that God had already carried us through so many obstacles that we could never simply give up on what He had joined together. That decision brought forth something truly wonderful: a relationship in which we grew from being merely a married couple to becoming, as we used to say, a “married person” — completely one — best friends, trusted confidants, and lovers.
If I were to give one piece of advice: Fight for your relationship every day, grounded in God’s Word. Keep winning each other’s hearts anew — and, as far as possible, don’t go to bed with unresolved issues between you. We always found working together on shared projects both exciting and deeply connecting. It also required a special degree of respect — a willingness to adapt to one another and to carry along things that one might not always feel enthusiastic about.
Yet the reward was that we came to understand and appreciate each other’s worlds in a far deeper way. We were blessed with that gift — though I know it may not be possible for every couple in the same way. But I do believe there are always ways to find shared “projects”, even outside a professional setting.
For us, the conclusion was clear: our shared faith, our constant communication, and our working side by side bound us together inseparably. It was a wonderful and deeply meaningful experience — one that continues to sustain and bless me even now, years after my wife’s passing.
When was Annette diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, and what was her journey with Jesus like through her illness?
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary condition that was diagnosed in Annette when she was eleven years old. She was always deeply aware that Jesus was carrying her — and that awareness shaped the way she saw her illness.
The disease was never at the centre of her life, though of course it was always a part of it. Annette knew: God has a plan for me, and it will not end merely according to human reasoning. And so we were privileged to experience things that, in the eyes of medicine, simply do not happen for people with cystic fibrosis — including the wonderful gift of a daughter, Dorothea (which means “God’s gift”), and later three grandchildren, two of whom Annette was able to meet.
Annette was invited several times to give talks, and medical professionals were often astonished at how remarkably well she was doing in view of her condition. To their surprise, when asked about the secret behind it all, her simple and heartfelt answer was always: “It is my faith in God that carries me.”
What are some Bible verses that have guided or encouraged you and Annette?
There was one passage from Scripture that carried us through all the years of our marriage — a passage we often returned to, and one that truly became the foundation of our life together: the “Hymn of Love” — 1 Corinthians 13.
These verses were not only words to us — they were a compass, a reminder of what truly endures. They shaped our marriage, our faith and our shared journey, and they continue to comfort and guide me even now.
What prompted you to come to Ffald y Brenin for Annette’s 50th birthday, back in 2013? What was your experience here like?
Over the years, we had developed a deep love for the United Kingdom. We travelled to many parts of the country — often several times a year — and came to deeply appreciate and love both the land and its people.
We were always fascinated by the rich history of these islands, and our journeys often led us to places such as Lindisfarne — where, for the first time, we encountered a tangible sense of God’s presence unlike anything we had ever experienced before. It was as if heaven truly touched the earth.
As my wife’s fiftieth birthday approached, we began to plan a special trip, and it soon became clear: we had never been to Wales — only admired it from afar. Annette was immediately excited. She said, “Isn’t that where the great Welsh revival took place? And where, more recently, those wonderful things have been happening in a place called Ffald y Brenin?” — a name she already knew from some of its publications. I hardly needed any convincing.
For someone living with cystic fibrosis, a fiftieth birthday is a remarkable milestone — at that time, Annette was among only a handful of people in Germany with the condition who had ever reached that age. So the idea of celebrating it in Ffald y Brenin felt both meaningful and full of promise.
We spent one unforgettable day in that special place and experienced something truly profound — a closeness to God that felt almost tangible, a glimpse of heaven itself. For us, Ffald y Brenin means a beautiful setting, a wonderfully kind and gentle team, fellow guests who radiated warmth, the deep peace of prayer times, and the breathtaking view from the cross. From the moment we arrived, we felt utterly at home.
That day was a gift — one that has carried us ever since. The image of the cross became part of Annette’s daily prayer life and remained with her until her funeral. It continues to carry me now — not in grief, but in joyful anticipation of heaven.
Tell us about the photo Annette took of the High Cross. Why has that photo been meaningful to her, to you, and to others?
I remember so clearly the moment we walked up to the cross and the view suddenly opened out across the wide valley beyond. That moment radiated such warmth and beauty — something almost impossible to describe. There was a harmony and peace in the simplicity of nature that seemed to fill the air and reach right through one’s heart.
Even years later, whenever we looked at the photograph, we could still feel that same atmosphere. For my wife, this image became a daily point of reference in prayer times and a reminder of God’s goodness and protection — blessings she was able to experience for many years despite living with cystic fibrosis. It gave her strength and shelter far longer than one might usually expect with this illness. And in fact, others who later saw the picture when we spoke about Ffald y Brenin were often deeply moved by it as well — they could sense that there was something special captured there.
After my wife’s passing, a painter whom a friend of ours knew created a painting of that very place and gave it to me as a gift — a lasting memory of that precious moment. We had always been aware that we might not have as many years together as most couples do. And so, to celebrate such a day before the cross — in a place where heaven and earth seem only a breath apart — felt like the most extraordinary privilege.
Annette passed away in 2018. How has God carried you through your loss, and what would you say to those who are mourning the loss of a loved one?
In January 2018, Annette said for the first time that she felt the end was drawing near. We tried to live the time that followed with even greater tenderness and attentiveness toward one another. I had the privilege of being with her constantly during those final weeks — and of being by her side on the day she went home.
Annette, a few days before her passing
Annette passed away at exactly twelve noon, and I will never forget how, on that beautiful, warm October day, at the very moment I had to let her go, all the church bells in the nearby city of Freiburg began to ring. What a sign — what a homecoming.
How did I cope with her passing? What mattered most was that we had spoken openly and prepared ourselves together. Annette had expressed her wish that her funeral should not be a traditional service of mourning, but rather a celebration of resurrection. And so it was — a truly special day. After the service, the pastor who conducted it said: “There was such an energy in the room — something truly remarkable.”
Annette left me with many things — among them, her way of dealing with difficult times. One of her practices was to end each day by recalling — and writing down — around ten things that had been especially good, even if they seemed small. I have continued this habit and discovered how such a seemingly simple exercise can carry one through life. In the time that followed, I deliberately revisited many of the places we had loved, taking time to remember, to give thanks, and to reflect on the wonderful, rich and often adventurous years we shared.
My faith helps me to know that my wife is in a good place — and to look forward to what lies ahead. Of course, I miss my partner every single second. But I am also filled with such deep gratitude for all those wonderful years, for her patience, her faithfulness, and her love, that it far outweighs the sadness — leaving me not empty, but fulfilled, every single day.
Thank you, Ulf, for introducing us to Annette and for sharing some of your story. May the moment at the cross she captured in her photo continue to bless many, and may you experience God’s tangible presence as you continue to love and serve him.
If you’d like a calendar with Annette’s cover photo of the High Cross, you can get it today! If you buy some as gifts, be sure to share this blog post with the recipients so they can be encouraged by Annette and Ulf’s beautiful backstory.
