In his final years, the Rev. Paul Hoornstra faced heart disease, cancer, blindness, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.
Through it all, he never questioned his belief in God.
“He only questioned which path to follow,” said his former Tuesday lunch buddy, Bryan Springthorpe.
Springthorpe’s biography, “Crossing the Bridge: The Life and Works of the Reverend Paul Hoornstra,” appears in bookstores and churches this month. The 361-page biography captures the events and struggles of the late Episcopalian priest known locally for launching two local churches and restoring a congregation on Tybee Island.
Springthorpe began work on the book shortly after Hoornstra’s death in 2003 at age 83.
“He was a fascinating guy and a great inspiration to me,” Springthorpe said.