Acknowledgments

IN THE RESEARCH AND WRITING of this book I am deeply grateful to . . .

The late Dietrich Bonhoeffer, dissident German pastor, prophet, spy, and martyr, who early recognized the corrupted ideology of the Nazis and the eugenics movement, who challenged the church to protect others, stand against evil, and live for Christ. Before his death at the hands of the Nazis, Bonhoeffer wrote The Cost of Discipleship —a book that set my heart on fire.

Natasha Kern, my agent and friend, who believed in this book from its conception and championed its ideals.

Stephanie Broene and Sarah Mason, my wonderfully gifted editors, and Shaina Turner, acquisitions assistant, for patiently working through the complexities of this manuscript and helping me bring to the page the vision God placed in my heart; Julie Dumler, my innovative marketing manager; Christy Stroud, my enthusiastic and dedicated publicist; the wonderfully talented Stephen Vosloo for cover design; the excellent PR and sales teams; and all at Tyndale House Publishers who’ve worked so diligently to bring this book to life and to readers.

Terri Gillespie, dear friend and writing colleague, for capturing this book’s vision, for helping with research and sharing your passion for the unity of God’s people in Christ, Jew and Gentile. Thank you especially for your encouragement and prayers when Nazi research became too dark, and for your critique and repeated readings of this manuscript.

Carrie Turansky, dear friend and writing colleague, for your faithful encouragement and prayers, your unflagging support, and for your early critique of this manuscript.

Dan Gohlke, my husband, for generously donning your chauffeur cap and sharing research adventures through England, France, Germany, and Poland, and for your early critique of this manuscript. I could not ask for a better husband or traveling companion.

Elisabeth Gardiner, my daughter, for trekking with me through Berlin in search of the Nazi book-burning site, for climbing through overgrown cemeteries in Poland, for your insights and brainstorming of this story, and for your reading and early critique of this manuscript. I’ve loved sharing this literary journey with you.

Daniel Gohlke, my son, for combing through museums and research sites in Berlin, Oranienburg, and concentration camps in Germany and France —all difficult research that tried our souls but inspired story and voice, amid so many discussions. I cherish your companionship in this writing journey.

Karen and Paul Gardiner, dear family and friends, and parents of my son-in-law, Tim, for inviting us to join you in your tour of Germany and to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau. That trip cemented our friendship at the time our children wed. Now we are celebrating the birth of our precious granddaughter from that blessed union!

Bob Welch, retired music director at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia, who envisioned taking your choir to Oberammergau to view the Passion Play. When your magnificent choir sang “Silent Night” in the tiny Oberndorf Stille Nacht Kapelle, I wept for the beauty of that moment. Little did you know that you fulfilled a treasured dream from childhood.

Brigitta Salyers, for enthusiastically guiding the Immanuel Bible Church tour through southern Germany and Austria, including Oberammergau’s Passion Play. You are an amazing woman, a brilliant and patient tour guide, and a dear sister in Christ.

My families of origin and marriage, my church family at Elkton United Methodist, and readers who regularly pray for and encourage me in this writing journey. This is not territory I could traverse alone, and I am so very grateful to you.

Museums and historical sites and their staff in England, France, Germany, and Poland; tour guides in London, Dover, Natzweiler, Berlin, Sachsenhausen, Ravensbrück, Bavaria, and Eagle’s Nest; Oberammergau’s Passion Play; the many writers of histories, journals, diaries, and interviews from WWII, Berlin, and Oberammergau during the Nazi era; and the Bavarian State Library in Munich.

Four very readable books that helped tremendously are William L. Shirer’s Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent, 1934–1941; Helena Waddy’s Oberammergau in the Nazi Era: The Fate of a Catholic Village in Hitler’s Germany; Eric Metaxas’s Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy; and Michael Van Dyke’s Radical Integrity: The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Most especially, those who survived or helped others survive the Holocaust and continue to tell your stories in the hope of “never again.” There is no way to adequately thank you. But I will never forget. I promise.

And thank you, always, Uncle Wilbur, for reminding me that a sure way to know if I’m working in the will of God is to ask, “Do I have joy? Is this yoke easy? Is this burden light?”

Writing this book taught me that such joy is a matter of spirit and discipleship, especially when the research makes me weep.