This story made me cry (out of sadness for the violence of those civil war times, but also out of great joy for the love and faithfulness of Rev. Biltz and those pastors who came after him). My Dad was a student at St. Paul’s along with his six brothers and they and my Grandma and Aunt all lived just a house away from this church. My Grandfather had been pastor of the Norbourne(sp?) church for about a year before he suddenly passed away. Years later, the man who would become our senior pastor for 16 years (in Topeka, KS) began his ministry serving at this same church in Concordia, MO! It amazes me both the reach of the LCMS to touch the lives of so many people in so many nations and yet still feel like a small community of neighbors and family. But, then again, that’s what we all are—FAMILY (in Christ).