Read Online The Imposter by Suzanne Woods Fisher - Free Book Online

of troubles that people are facing. Our church has problems, of course—what church doesn’t? But we have to keep in mind we are primarily ministers. We are not dealing with people as problems. We’re calling them to worship God. Our responsibility is not to fix people. It’s to lead people in the worship of God and to lead them in living a holy life.”
    â€œOur responsibility is to make sure this church survives for our children and their children.”
    No , David thought. That is not our responsibility. “The church does not belong to us. It belongs to God.”
    Freeman narrowed his eyes. “I don’t need a reminder.”
    â€œHe’s the bishop,” Levi said.
    David caught sight of someone walking toward the store.“Is there anything else? I need to get my workday started.” He couldn’t resist adding, “You know, to stay afloat.”
    Freeman and Levi were not amused. “No one is forcing you to stay in Stoney Ridge, David.”
    There. Freeman had landed his punch.
    â€œIn the meantime, you’re to condense the baptism classes. End of discussion.”
    â€œIt’s not right.”
    â€œYou heard me.”
    â€œYou heard him,” Levi said.
    â€œI won’t do it.”
    Freeman tipped his head toward his brother. “Well, then, Levi will take on your teaching responsibility.”
    And that , he realized, was what he’d been after all along. David eyed him steadily and spoke two words. “I see.” And he did too. In that moment, he saw Freeman quite well.

    A customer came in and Freeman and Levi left. David made small talk with the customer, an English tourist who wanted to stock up on spices while she was sightseeing. After she left, he refilled his coffee cup and held the warm mug between his hands, ruminating on the Glick brothers’ newest idea.
    Condense the Articles? What kind of future did the church have when no one would even know what it meant to be a church member? Without any appreciation for what their ancestors had done to preserve the faith?
    If Freeman and Levi were so quick to dispense with honoring tradition in obvious ways, what might they be dispensing with in less obvious ways?
    The day passed slowly with bursts of customers, then long gaps of quiet. A typical day at a store.
    Around noon, Bethany Schrock arrived for her shift, Katrina at her side with her arm around her as if she needed shoring and bolstering, and David quickly realized why. Bethany looked sad and sorrowful, her eyes red and swollen.
    â€œBethany, are you all right?” David asked. She looked awful , truly dreadful. Her hair hadn’t been combed, her prayer cap was slightly cockeyed, her dress was wrinkled. The sight alarmed him; Bethany was a young woman who took great care in her appearance.
    She burst into tears and buried her head in her hands.
    He’d seen her only yesterday. What in the world had happened? Flustered, David looked to Katrina for an explanation of what was distressing Bethany. She was a girl with a wide range of emotions, including an explosive temper, but he’d never seen her full of woe. Not like this. “Did someone die? Not her grandmother? Did Vera pass?” As long as David had known Vera Schrock, she constantly warned everyone of her imminent demise.
    â€œJimmy Fisher is leaving town,” Katrina said. “Peter talked him into joining him out in Colorado.”
    â€œPeter? Our Peter?” David’s nephew?
    â€œThey think they’re cowboys out in the Wild West,” Bethany said, her voice full of tearful scorn. “After all we’ve been through, Jimmy just ups and leaves.”
    Oh no. Jimmy Fisher had been attending baptism class, urged on by Bethany. Everyone thought he was finally growing up. Finally getting close to making commitments that lasted longer than the end of the week.
    Another one, gone. David had to admit, his sermon washaving a cascading