My first encounter with Dr. Zimmerman was as a student at Concordia, Seward, and then when he and Pastor Jack Struve,(whose response preceeds this) assisted and supported me in the four year battle (1972-76) to keep St.John the Divine, Chicago, IL in the LCMS. I gained personal strength and assurance with one or both of these men of God sitting beside me and giving counsel. Dr. Zimmerman's actual presence, debating Pres. Hecht of the English District, was so courageous, brilliant and powerful that those present in the sanctuary of the church couldn't help but believe in his Biblical conviction and faithful testimony. This is what was said of his namesake, St. Paul the Apostle when he spoke the Word of God. I still have the original tape and transcript of the debate as St. John the Divine remains in the LCMS. The church was recently pictured on Chicago TV with a story telling of the organist's tollway death in a snowstorm. Through the years my husband, Bill - a retired Lutheran pastor, and I have kept up correspondence. It is an honor to have our lives touched by such faithfulness to Christ and witness of salvation through God's Inerrant Word. Dr. Zimmerman truly "follows in the train of saints" in their eternal home. We praise the Lord for giving us such a "Soldier of the Cross". As King David says in Ps. 66:3, "Say to God, How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cringe before You. All the earth bows down to You; they sing praise to You, they sing praise to Your name." The Holy Spirit made this happen through His instrument, vessel, servant, and child, Dr. Paul A. Zimmerman. To God be the Glory!