A Tiny Package Unwrapped

The barbed wire, guard dogs and armed soldiers at Auschwitz could not constrain Johann Stein. But a prison of his own making confined him in a life sentence that destroyed his family and shrunk his soul. Could Anyone muster the strength to free him?

Twelve-year old Johann Stein witnessed the execution of his rabbi father when the family was incarcerated at Auschwitz. Escaping at his mother's urging, he survived in Warsaw hiding from the Gestapo and stealing clothes and food from unguarded yards. After the demise of the Third Reich, Johann survived by finding odd jobs. He would eventually enroll in the Polytechnic University to become an engineer. When one of his professors invited him to a social evening at his home, he met Genevieve Pulansky, the professor's daughter, a nurse. In spite of a courtship that revealed their opposing world views, they married expecting their love would prevent the friction that proved to be inevitable. Johann's agnosticism versus Genevieve's Catholicism erupted when pregnancy occurred earlier than Johann's planning allowed. Neither divorce nor abortion were acceptable to Genevieve. Their turbulent relationship included their son Leland who was rejected by his father. Would a hell-on-earth existence plague this family forever?

I am a graduate of Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota where I studied theology, philosophy and psychology. Since graduation I have ministered to congregations in Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and North Dakota as pastor, counselor and worship leader. My wife Marge and I also served as church planters in Northwest Argentina. While in New Mexico I also served as a chaplain at the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe. We have five children, thirteen grandchildren and two great granddaughters. We enjoy camping , travel and rooting for the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies and Colorado Rapids. I have written two novels in the Haven Acres Trilogy: Persistent Pursuit and Persuasive Proof. I currently serve as pastor to seniors at Galilee Baptist Church in Loveland, Colorado.