Russ Hildebrandt

Russ Hildebrandt is one of the novel's primary characters. He is a middle-aged man, and the associate pastor of First Reformed Church. He is married to Marion, and is the father of four children, Clem, Becky, Perry, and Judson. Russ has been a member of the Christian community since he was a young boy. Over the years, his staunch beliefs evolved, particularly during the time he spent with a Navajo tribe in Arizona during World War II. Russ realized that the Navajos' version of spirituality did not simply abrade his own, but expanded it. Shortly after leaving the Navajo reservation on the mesa, Russ met Marion, a young Catholic girl. He was immediately taken by her liveliness and unpredictability. After falling in love with her, Russ began adopting all of her beliefs and opinions. They eventually married, despite his parents' objections.

For a time, Russ and Marion...