Shapen
in iniquity, was born into this world of sin on
June 28, 1932. By the grace and mercy of God he
was then reborn from above and entered the
Kingdom of God through the waters of Holy
Baptism at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Long
Island, NY. He then began his dangerous journey
through this life, following wherever God led.
In 1946 he enrolled in high school at Concordia,
Bronxville, NY to study for the holy ministry.
Six years later he graduated from Concordia
College and entered Concordia Seminary in St.
Louis. While at the seminary he met his
life-long helpmeet, Louise Joyce Ellerbrock. In
l956 they were united in holy marriage. In 1956
he was called to be pastor at Faith in Sebring,
Florida. Two years later he accepted the call to
Bethany, Elmhurst, Queens, NY. In l962 he was
bedridden with a seemingly terminal illness. He
applied for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven
and his application was validated through the
cleansing blood of Christ. However, the
termination date was indefinitely postponed when
God miraculously intervened and transferred him
to St. Louis for further service in His Kingdom
here on earth.
In July, 1964, he resigned from the Missouri
Synod in protest against the false doctrine
taught at the seminary in St. Louis and
elsewhere in synod. Shortly thereafter he helped
organize an independent Lutheran congregation in
Bridgeton, Missouri, and was called to serve as
their pastor. That same year Trinity and her
pastor joined a Federation of former Missouri
Synod congregations - The Lutheran Churches of
the Reformation. In 1975, after the purging of
false doctrine from the St. Louis seminary, at
the urging of Dr. Jack Preus, Pastor Bischoff
rejoined the Missouri Synod. In l976 Trinity
congregation also joined the synod. After 33
years of service at Trinity, Pastor Bischoff
retired in 1997. He is currently serving as
interim preacher and Bible Class teacher at Hope,
St. Ann, until the recovery of their pastor,
Neil Schmidt, who suffered a stroke in
September, 1999.
As God supplies the grace, he plans to continue
his journey through this earthly life, following
wherever God leads, until this dangerous earthly
journey culminates with entrance into the
everlasting joys of heaven. |
