Word of his death spread through his former congregation after a church member who had stayed in touch with Ezernack was notified Tuesday that he had been killed.

Parishioners gathered Wednesday night at the small church on West Newport Road near the village of Elm.

The Rev. Don Crutcher led the small group in a prayer for Ezernack's family.

"I pray for the folks in Iraq and Afghanistan," Crutcher told the congregation. "Bless the soldiers willing to fight for us so we can enjoy freedom."

Although Ezernack left the church in 1999 to pursue a military career, several parishioners said his legacy endured.

"I didn't really know God or the Bible before Troy taught me," Kathy Balmer said. "He helped give my life a purpose, and his death is a horrible thing."

Ezernack baptized dozens of people, including 62-year-old Grace Wealand.

"Pastor Ezernack baptized me 11 years ago," Wealand said. "I loved him for how he helped bring me into Christianity."

Ezernack was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, which was based in Vicenza, Italy.

Ezernack and other paratroopers were storming a building in Qalat, Afghanistan, when they were attacked by insurgents. A grenade explosion killed Ezernack, according to the Department of Defense.

Ezernack, a native of Louisiana, graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1988 at Texas Baptist College, Longview, Texas.

He left the South for Lancaster County after learning Trinity Baptist Church needed a pastor.

Ezernack and his wife rented a small home on Cinder Hill Road in Warwick Township.

While pastor, Ezernack attempted to increase membership at the church by recruiting children from Lancaster city.

He established a bus route to pick children up from their city homes and bring them to the church.

In 1996, Ezernack found himself at the center of a police investigation.

Parents of children who took the bus from Lancaster to the church accused Ezernack of forcibly baptizing their kids.

Penn Township police and a county detective spent two months looking into the matter before clearing Ezernack.

Investigators determined the parents had signed permission forms allowing Ezernack to baptize their children.

Ezernack's mother, Francis Harrison, of Shreveport, La., was informed Monday about her son's death.

Ezernack's brother, Paul Ezernack, and sister, Deborah Hudson, also live in Louisiana. His wife, Gail Ezernack, lives on a military base in Italy.

Ezernack will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. A memorial service in Shreveport is planned for Oct. 22.

He planned to remain in Afghanistan for another 10 months before being stationed at a military base in Louisiana.

While in Iraq, Ezernack was part of a security team guarding government buildings during the 2003 provincial elections in Kirkuk.

Ezernack told Stars and Stripes magazine in May 2003: "It's good they're electing officials. It's democracy come true, but I'm also happy for selfish reasons. I want to go home, and the sooner they take control of their own city, the sooner I'm outta here."

Ezernack also told the military magazine about the challenges of guarding the elections building.

"Sometimes, it gets pretty hairy out there," he said. "Other days, I just dip my Copenhagen and wait for the time to pass by."