Phil Proctor remembers pastoral visits to Bowe Bergdahl’s home more than a decade ago. In 2003, Bergdahl was a teenager living with his parents and older sister in their rural home in Hailey, Idaho. Proctor was pastor of Sovereign Redeemer Presbyterian Church, an Orthodox Presbyterian (OPC) congregation in Boise.
The Bergdahls built their home in a picturesque valley, filled it with books, and homeschooled their children. Proctor remembers the family—including Bowe—as rugged, outgoing, and highly intelligent.
More than 10 years later, the rural family has seized international attention: On Saturday, a group of Taliban militants released Bowe Bergdahl—now a sergeant in the U.S. Army—after holding him captive for nearly five years....