Holocaust survivor to speak July 23 at Wayne church

On Sunday, July 23, Joyce Wagner, a Holocaust survivor, will share her experience as her family's sole survivor of a Holocaust experience that included almost two years at the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau, at Little Home Church by the Wayside.

The program will be 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the church, 32W128 Army Trail Road in Wayne.

Wagner was a teenager living in Poland when the Nazi regime came to power. Of nine brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, she was the sole survivor of a Holocaust experience that included almost two years at the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Wagner is not a professional writer or speaker. For many years she was asked by her children and grandchildren to tell her story, to write it down. In 2007, she did. Her memoir, "A Promise Kept to Bear Witness," vividly recounts the tragic and unimaginable experiences she endured beginning with the German invasion of Poland in 1939.

Writing the book was a true labor of love. As she explains, "The pages of this book are stained by many tears. This undertaking has been burdened by a crushing sense of responsibility. It is a memorial to those who did not survive."

For many years, Wagner has spoken about her experiences with adults and high school students. Now it is our great honor to welcome her to our church. Copies of her book will be available for purchase. Please spread the word and invite friends and neighbors. A light reception will follow her presentation.

For information, visit littlehomechurch.org.