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.39 KATHRYN KUHLMANThat's all I can give."Now He Could Hear!Faith began to build when Kathryn invited Sunny Simons to themicrophone.She was a chorus girl who told of her miraculous healing ofmultiple sclerosis at a meeting in Los Angeles.In the middle of the service healings began taking place in everysection of the Convention Center and people were running to the front togive their testimonies, including an agnostic who had been deaf in bothears.Now he could hear!Her message that day on theHER MESSAGE THAT DAYLordship of Christ was straight-ON THE LORDSHIP OFforward and uncompromising."Doyou want the wonderful assuranceCHRIST WAS STRAIGHT-of salvation? Wouldn't you like toFORWARD ANDknow your sins have beenUNCOMPROMISING.forgiven?"It was impossible to tally the number who came forward for salvation.The front of the auditorium became a mass of humanity.Jimmie McDonald began to sing, "Allelujah, Allelujah," and the entireaudience joined him in raptured praise including a uniformed securityguard who had tears streaming down his face.It was a fitting climax for anhistoric film that would bear the title: Dry Land, Living Water.Kathryn ministered that day for nearly five hours.Las Vegas may havebeen the host for many spectacular events, yet it had never witnessedanything like this.Following that day, Miss Kuhlman became more keenly aware thatthe clock was ticking on her life.In the months ahead there would bevalleys and victory, triumphs and tragedy.However, none of this wasnew.It was the continuing saga of her captivating life.Let me take you on a journey to the place it all began.40 C h a p t e r T h r e eChapter 3 'Can't Y o u B eQ u i e t ? 't was a sweltering summer morning as we drove east on Interstate 40Ifrom Kansas City."I hope you realize how much this journey means tome," I told the friends in the car.That same night, Thursday, July 15,1993, we would begin a two night crusade at Kemper Arena, yet this fifty-five mile drive through the rolling farmlands of western Missouri wasmore than a side trip.To me it was a pilgrimage.We turned right on State Road 23 and immediately saw a signwelcoming us to Concordia the village Kathryn Kuhlman had calledhome for the first fourteen years of her life.Down at Topsy's Cafe we had a neighborly conversation with WillisOglesby, the mayor of this GermanLutheran community of just overSAUERKRAUT, BRATWURST,two thousand residents."We'reGERMAN POTATO SALAD,proud of our little town," he smiled,FRESH TOMATOES, ANDbragging about its century-oldhistory, "but I guess we're bestHOMEMADE PIES.known around the country as thebirthplace of Miss Kuhlman."That same week buses carrying a tour group of 150 from St.Louis41 KATHRYN KUHLMANarrived.Their pre-planned excursion included visiting the childhood sitesof Kathryn, then a catered lunch by Saint Paul's Lutheran High BoosterClub sauerkraut, bratwurst, German potato salad, fresh tomatoes, andhomemade pies.Hearts in HarmonyDuring my visit there I learned that the first wave of immigrantsbegan tilling this soil-rich land in 1 8 3 9 and sought to build a communitybased on hard work, mutual respect and brotherly love.When theirnumbers grew and it was time to give their new home an official name,the settlers wanted it to reflect their unity or concord.The town logomirrors those sentiments.It includes three intertwined hearts with thewords "Concordia, Hearts in Harmony since 1860."Kathryn's grandparents, John Henry Kuhlman and Catherine(Borgstedt) were married in Germany and were fascinated with the storiesof those who had crossed the Atlantic to settle in a place called Missouri.In 1 8 5 3 they boarded a ship and began their American adventure.Four miles south of Concordia, the couple located 1 6 0 acres thatseemed to have potential.At that time the government was selling plotsfor about $ 1.2 5 an acre.After months of chopping, tilling, sawing, and building, they createdthe Kuhlman family farm.Their dream of living in a land of peace was shattered nine years laterwhen Missouri, a slave state, was caught up in the Civil War.Many of thewealthy landowners in nearby Lexington had slaves, but not the Germansof Concordia.In 1 8 6 2 and 1 8 6 3 lawless bands of Confederatesympathizers called "Bushwhackers" conducted savage raids on theirtown.Innocent citizens were killed and mutilated.Families were tied totheir beds as their homes were burned to the ground
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