In the autumn of 1899, initiated by
Ludwig Richard Conradi, the
Seventh-day Adventist Church, purchased a centuries-old mill, along with the surrounding farmland, to found the village of Friedensau and their first
mission school in Europe. On November 19, 1899, lessons began for the first seven students. Within the next ten years, a collection of large school buildings and living quarters emerged on the campus that still stand today and are local landmarks synonymous with Friedensau. Based on a
holistic pedagogic concept, a
sanatorium, workshops and a health-food factory were added, providing opportunities for both practical work experience and income for the pupils at the same time. In this way, Friedensau grew quickly to become a Missions and Industrial School which was visited by up to 250 pupils each year until the
First World War. During the First World War, the War Department set up a military
hospital in the buildings. It was not until 1919 that training could be resumed once more. In the following years, new courses were offered (home economics, preparation for nurses' training, 10th grade secondary education, business and child care). In 1923, the school was renamed to "Mission Seminary Friedensau". In 1930, the seminary was awarded state approval for courses in home economics and business by the chief administrator of the government for the region of
Magdeburg. The
Nazi-
era brought many restrictions, and finally the school was again closed during the
Second World War. Once more, the buildings served for the care of wounded and sick soldiers, first for the German Wehrmacht and then for the
Soviet Army. Through recommendations from the then
Minister-President of
Saxony-Anhalt, Erhard Huebener, the Soviet military administration permitted the Seminary to reopen in 1947. This made Friedensau the first church-run educational institute in the Soviet occupation zone that was allowed to resume educational activity. During the
DDR-regime, the socialist government only allowed for the training of church employees. Besides the training of ministers, the seminary offered one-year social welfare work training programs. The nature and quality of such training resulted in another name change, "Theological Seminary Friedensau". Two years later, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists accredited the Seminary as a senior
college. At this time it was once more possible for Friedensau to offer training to students from other socialist states in
Eastern Europe and
Africa to become
pastors. On September 15, 1990, the Theological Seminary received the status of a state-recognized university following a resolution from the
DDR Council of Ministers. Since then, in addition to the Theological Faculty (which has been offering a Diploma in Theology since 1992), a Christian Social Science Faculty has been established. Presently, besides the
Diploma and
Bachelor's courses in
Theology and Christian Social Work,
Master's programmes in Theology, Counseling, Social Work, and International Social Sciences (
International Development) can also be taken as well as a preparatory course for musical studies. From late 2008 on, Friedensau is the first institution to offer a concentration in Adventist Studies at the Master's level. Further degrees, for example in
Music Therapy, started in 2011. There are currently approximately 200 full-time students registered in both faculties. == Courses of Study ==