Gerda Ruth Popoff

Gerda Schiemann was one of 4 children born in Berlin, Germany on January 7, 1926. These were very difficult days and Gerda had a difficult time just getting enough food to eat to be strong and healthy, but she managed to survive and grow. She lost one brother and one sister to sickness and lack of food.

Gerda was gifted by taking short hand and she used this gift to be a real blessing to many people. She met a fiery, Bulgarian evangelist during this time, George Popoff, who was pastoring a church temporarily because the former pastor had been drafted. It was supposed to be a temporary position but as WWII intensified, it became obvious that no new pastor would become available to take George’s place. George was loosely associated with the Bulgarian embassy in Berlin and did translation on a part time basis. Because of his loose connection with the embassy, he had a certain amount of freedom that most German citizens didn’t have. He was able to conduct his ministry without too much interference from the government and his church prospered and grew under the grim conditions of WWII.

Gerda transcribed George’s messages in short hand so that they could be typed, written out and distributed to people who were unable to attend the regular services. A romance begun to bud and George and Gerda were married. They lived all the way through WWII until the Russian occupation as pastors of this church in the heart of Berlin. It was a miraculous testimony because of the almost total destruction of Berlin the church was completely unharmed or untouched by the bombing or bullets. After the war, the Russians wanted George Popoff to work with them in the capacity of an informer. Because he refused, he was almost arrested but miraculously delivered at the very last moment by a dictate of then President Truman. Because of this dictate he was able to go to United States with his wife, Gerda, and their 2 children.

When they arrived in the United States, they lived at several different locations briefly. But ended up in Southern California where they had 2 more children, a boy and a girl. George continued his ministry which became very successful. He preached at some of the major churches in America and drew tremendous crowds.

He ultimately began a radio ministry which covered the U.S. and parts of Canada. As his ministry continued, his ministry grew and Gerda had a very supportive role in that ministry.

They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and shortly thereafter George was suddenly called home. Gerda continued on her own, continuing the ministry as long as she was able. When her health begun to fail at 90+ years of age, she was moved from her home in Montclair, CA to a nursing facility, where she lived out the rest of her days surrounded and loved by her children.