Complaining About Complainers

These are great days to live in Chicago if you love being a critic or complainer. There were high expectations for our beloved Chicago Bears who, midway through the season, have been a huge disappointment. Like people all over the country, Chicagoans endured months of negative political campaign ads leading up to the November elections that convinced us that all candidates for political office are untrustworthy and incompetent. And, to complete a sort of perfect storm of current events to complain about, the early signs are that we may have to endure a winter that will compete with last year’s polar vortex-driven season of seemingly endless snow and cold. 

I realize that my comments here are yet another example about the culture of complaining that seems to have become the standard for our society. I’m complaining about complaining! It’s hard not to get sucked into the habit of complaining with great regularity. I find myself expressing displeasure with all sorts of things – the weather, politicians, sports teams, church politics, taxes, getting old, food prices, people who drive too slow (or too fast), etc.  

A well-known on-air personality at a Chicago radio station has a weekly segment on his show called “the bright side of life.” During this part of his time on the air, people call in and describe something positive and encouraging they saw or experienced during the past week. I always enjoy listening to this. It provides a needed antidote to the complaints that are so commonly shared on talk radio and in other media.  

I get the same lift from the steady flow of “bright side of life” stories of new ministries that Wheat Ridge Ministries is privileged to help seed. Here are two examples:

Club 100 Charities was started by a group of retired businessmen and women in Jupiter, Florida, who wanted to use their talents and experience to make a positive difference in their community. Many of these people are members of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Juno Beach. In partnership with and on the property of a Haitian Christian church in Lake Park, they have developed a community center for children and families from local underserved neighborhoods, with services ranging from after-school tutoring and family counseling to sports programs, recreational activities and a food and clothing bank. When I attended the “grand opening” of this center recently, I was amazed by the variety of organizations committed to working together to make this program a success, including the local police department, teachers and students from schools and universities, the town’s mayor and the local chamber of commerce, professional athletes, and a variety of other generous volunteers. I know it’s become an over-used phrase, but I really felt like I was seeing a great example of “it takes a village to raise a child.”  

I was interviewed recently by a radio station in Detroit, Michigan, and was able to share Wheat Ridge Ministries’ role in another exciting and impactful new ministry. It was initiated by Grace in Action, a Lutheran church located in southwest Detroit. I have yet to visit this project in person, but two of our staff members are very excited about what they have seen there. The young leaders of this church have established a non-profit organization called Grace in Action Collectives that exists to help teens in their community gain leadership skills, vocational training, and job experience by creating revenue-producing businesses that provide services for the community. I’m particularly pleased that Wheat Ridge has been able to assist Grace in Action not only through a traditional seed grant, but also through our WeRaise crowdfunding site. Grace in Action raised over $21,000 on WeRaise to purchase a building to house the Collectives. 

Of course, complaining is nothing new. People have complained about each other, their circumstances, and their problems for a long time – think about Adam and Eve, the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness, the prophets and the disciples, just to name a few. As we enter the season of Advent, our complaints are another sign of a world in need of a Savior. 

Thankfully, there are also countless reminders (when I actually take time to look around) that while God didn’t create us to be complainers, God loves us even when we do. Fortunately, God did create us with a desire for service, community, care, kindness and generosity. Wonderful ministries such as Club 100’s Community Center and the Grace in Action Collectives remind me that it is possible to stop the complaining and fault-finding and focus instead on serving others with whom we share a common bond as recipients of God’s love made manifest in the birth of the Christ child.

So, away with the complaints and in with the hosannas! Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Seeds of Hope in New England

I heard a great seeding story last week that took place where I had never been before – Providence, Rhode Island. Not exactly the center of the Lutheran Christian church world, I suppose. This isn’t a story about seeds planted by Wheat Ridge Ministries, although it was told to me by two generous and faithful supporters of Wheat Ridge, Edwin and Margaret Boger. 

We were in the midst of a lively conversation about the work of Wheat Ridge, the changing state of the Lutheran church, and the good work of Ascentria Care Alliance on whose board of directors Ed served when it was still known as Lutheran Social Services of New England, when Margaret mentioned that they were long-time members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Providence. She shared how disappointed they were that the Lutheran school that operated at the church closed. This happened over 20 years ago, but this still saddens them.

Then Margaret shared a wonderful story. A short time after the school closed, a young priest, who called himself Brother Larry, stopped by the church. He wanted to establish a special school in the neighborhood that would provide a quality education for boys who came from challenging circumstances and needed extra help and support. Brother Larry knew that St. Paul Lutheran’s school facility was vacant and was hoping they might allow him to use the facility to establish his school. The leaders at St. Paul at that time decided that Brother Larry could use the school’s facility rent-free until the school could secure the funding it needed.

As Margaret was sharing this, I was thinking that something about the name “Brother Larry” was very familiar, so I asked Margaret what he named the school. She said, “San Miguel.” Then it dawned on me.  She was talking about Brother Lawrence Goyette, who is well known in Christian education circles as the founder of the San Miguel schools.  Today, there are 12 San Miguel schools across the country, all focused on providing quality education to underserved kids. One of the schools is in Chicago. In fact, the executive director of the school in Chicago for a period of time recently was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois.

Since Margaret and Ed shared this story with me, I’ve been thinking a lot about this act of generosity by St. Paul Lutheran Church. After all, he was a Catholic priest and the school he wanted to open certainly was not a “Lutheran” school. How easy it would have been to insist that Brother Larry pay rent in exchange for using the classrooms. Instead, God’s Spirit moved the leaders to this act of generosity and helped them see how the church could help serve needy children in the community. Here’s the impact of their decision as described by Brother Larry on the school’s website: “The greatest single gift to our small school during its infancy was the rent-free use of St. Paul's former school building. The Lutheran Parish also charged no fee for utilities during our first couple of years. Without the generosity of St. Paul's parishioners, it is doubtful that the school would have made it past year three.”

Experts often talk about the importance of congregations as centers of health and healing in their community and the assets they bring to a neighborhood, including stability and economic value. It’s likely that none of these “strategic” considerations were on the minds of the leaders at St. Paul Lutheran when they made the decision to allow Brother Larry to use the church’s classrooms. In all likelihood, they just knew it was the right thing for them to do and they did it. As a result, their act of generosity helped make possible an impactful, new education ministry for children and their families in Providence and, eventually, in 11 other locations in the United States.

At Wheat Ridge, during our weekly devotion and prayer time, we are currently studying the well-known “dry bones” story from Ezekiel 37. While the story of St. Paul Lutheran Church’s role in the founding of the San Miquel schools is not as dramatic as Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones coming to life at God’s command, it is another reminder that God is always at work in our broken world, breathing new life where there is pain and destruction and bringing hope where there was despair so that we can better grasp the miracle of God’s power, Christ’s victory over death for us.

Thank you Ed and Margaret for sharing this inspiring story and thanks to the good people of St. Paul Lutheran Church for your spirit of generosity! 

Here Come the Boomers … Final Thoughts

Given the transition of members of the Boomer generation into their older adult years, one could predict that we will begin to see a large increase in congregation ministries focused on the habits and lifestyles of aging Boomers. I have yet to see it at the church where my wife and I are members. Nor have I noticed a focus on boomer- sensitive older adult ministries among the requests for seeding assistance that Wheat Ridge Ministries is receiving from new health and human service ministries.

I’m not trying to be critical. Boomers are presenting a huge challenge for churches as we grow into our senior years. For example, it’s difficult to imagine myself participating in the traditional older adult ministries, such as group gatherings with names like “The Joy Group” or “Saved Seniors,” that have served members of the GI and Silent Generations so well. I’m hoping to enjoy several more years of service as a contemporary worship song leader and, as my schedule eventually becomes more flexible, engaging in other multi-generational activities in my church and community.

On the other hand, I suspect that as we age, Boomers will be grateful to be the beneficiaries of the care that churches have always provided for people as they face the inevitable health and independence issues that go along with growing old. A big question is whether churches will have the capacity to provide care for this large generation of people who are growing older.

I recently happened upon a blog written by Thom Rainer, CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Thom’s ministry focuses on observing and researching societal trends and their impact on the Christian church. In a recent post, he shares several ways that churches will feel the impact of retiring Boomers. He contends that “Retiring Boomers will kill traditional church senior adult ministries because they don’t like to be categorized as senior adults. Nor are they attracted by typical older adult ministry activities.” While this may be true, Thom’s observations about aging Boomers also include some interesting opportunities for the church, including:

1.      Some will have more volunteer time. But their retirement will break previous patterns. Many of these Boomers will continue to seek atypical retirement opportunities. There will be few “rocking chair” retirees among the Boomers. How can churches attract those Boomers who will have more discretionary time? Perhaps the next implication can answer that question.

2.      Most of the Boomers still want to change the world. Many of them may be disillusioned after four decades of work that was not meaningful and life changing. But they still have the spirit of the 60s, a spirit that desires to be different and to make a difference. If congregations can offer retiring Boomers such opportunities, there could be a surge of Boomer church adherents.

3.      The large Boomer generation will become more receptive to the gospel. Our data is anecdotal for now, but we are seeing indications that the Boomers may actually become more interested in spiritual matters in general and Christianity specifically. If so, this trend will be counter to other trends where adults tend to become less receptive to the gospel as they age. The Baby Boomers have tried it all and found no joy. They may likely turn to the hope of the gospel.

4.      Family will be a key value for both of the large generations. For the Millennials, family is their most important value. Nearly eight out of ten of the Millennials ranked family as the important issue in their lives. They told us that they had healthy relationships with their parents who, for the most part, are Baby Boomers. Some churches say they are family friendly, but few actually demonstrate that value. Churches that reach both of these generations will make significant impact.

To be sure, we who God put on the earth during a time that qualifies us as members of the Boomer generation will continue to be blessed by the healing touch of Christ as we grow older. What a blessing we can be to others as we respond to this Good News! 

I’m looking forward to the seeding opportunities that come to Wheat Ridge Ministries as churches and other Christ-centered organizations begin to focus on service to the Boomer generation. In the meantime, is your church considering or already engaged in “Boomer friendly” health and human care activity? If so, please use the response space below to share what you are doing. Thanks!

Enjoy the unique gifts of life that God provides in whatever generation you are blessed to call yours!

Here Come the Boomers … continued

Last month I cited several statistics from the recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) research study as evidence of the “sea of change” that is taking place in the United States as people like me, proud members of the baby boomer generation, grow older. This emerging wave of boomer older adults is causing much conversation about our nation’s ability to engage, care for and provide a safety net for the record numbers of older adults.

A high percentage of older adults is nothing new to most churches I visit during my travels for Wheat Ridge Ministries. Most of these people represent the “silent” and “GI” generations. What will our pews look like as these faithful and talented individuals are no longer in our pews? Will people of my generation remain active in worship and congregation leadership as they get older? And, just as important, will their children and grandchildren be active in the life of the church?

Two things are very evident from the recent NIH research. First, there is going to be a huge talent pool of skilled people who, as they retire or cut back on their employment, will have an increased amount of time to serve their community and their church. Second, since these increasing numbers of older adults will, on average, live longer than people of previous generations, the resources required to care for them during the later years of their life will increase significantly. 

Fortunately, our churches and communities are not without significant assets as we attempt to come to grips with the burgeoning older adult population. Organizations and activities focused on older adults in the Lutheran Church are a great example of this. The organizations that are members of Lutheran Services in America provide services to 1 out of every 50 people in the United States each year. Many of these people are older adults and many of them are served by a large number of excellent independent living, assisted living, and nursing care facilities for older adults, such as Lutheran Life Communities and Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. Lutheran Social Service organizations across the country, including great organizations like Lutheran Social Services of the South, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, and Lutheran Social Services of New York are daily providing services for older adults.

I recently asked Rich Bimler, past president of Wheat Ridge, to share a list of some other organizations he knows that are focused on serving older adults. Rich is more aware of older adult activities and resources in the Lutheran church than anyone else I know. Here are just a few organizations from his list:

• Adult Lutherans Organized for Action (ALOA) – This is a national ministry focusing on older adults celebrating and serving.   
• Ignite your Life – This is a program sponsored by the Ammerman Center for Creative Aging.  Its focus is helping younger older adults through programs, resources and modeling.
• LCMS Rural and Small Town Ministries – Focus on rural ministries with an emphasis on older adults.
• LEA EncourAGEnet – Hosted by the Lutheran Education Association, this network provides encouragement for retired/repositioned church workers and laity.
• Rich and Charlie Resources – Provides “encouraging words to those who serve.”
• Creative Communications – They produce a great devotional resource for older adults called Hope-Full Living.
• Lutheran District and Synod Older Adult events – One example is the Veterans of the Cross Retreat for retired church workers, hosted by the Florida-Georgia District of the LCMS each year.  
• Grant Makers – Wheat Ridge Ministries is one of a number of Lutheran-related grant makers who provide resources to assist older adult ministry efforts that are developed by congregations and other faith-based and community organizations.

At the base of all of these efforts (I hope) is the ministry with and for older adults that takes place every day through the life of individual churches. For many older adults, their church is their place of community, the place where they gather with people of all ages for worship, service and fellowship. Local churches are uniquely positioned to serve our increasing numbers of older adults through their own programs and by partnering with others in their community.

More on all this in the next edition of Rick’s Reflections. In the meantime, to whatever degree you have been chronologically gifted, celebrate God’s gift of life today!

Ready or Not, Here We Come!

As a proud member of the “baby boom” generation, I like to do what boomers do – pay attention to how boomers are influencing the world! I came upon a great example recently when a new research study crossed my desk commissioned by the National Institutes of Health (NIA) based on 2010 census bureau information. The report focuses on the effect that aging boomers are beginning to have in the United States. For example…

     • In 2010, there were 40.3 million people aged 65 and older, 12 times the number in 1900.
     • The percentage of the population aged 65 and over among the total population increased from 4.1% in 1900 to 13% in 2010 and is projected to reach 20.9% by 2050.
     • From 2010 onwards, the older dependency ratio — the number of people aged 65 and over per 100 people aged 20 to 64 — is expected to rise sharply as the baby boomers enter the older ages. In 2030, when all baby boomers will have already passed age 65, the older dependency ratio is expected to be 37, which translates into fewer than three people of working age (20 to 64) to support every older person.

The data in this last bullet especially caught my attention. While we boomers like to brag about the positive influence we’ve had in the world, by our shear presence we are creating some significant challenges for our children and grandchildren as we grow older. This challenge also is evident as one looks at health and health care data from the study:

 

     • Over 38% of those aged 65 and over had one or more disability in 2010, with the most common difficulties being walking, climbing stairs and doing errands alone.

     • Changing marital trends, such as the rise of divorces, as well as the increase in living alone among the 65-and-over population, will likely alter the social support needs of aging baby boomers.

     • Rates of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have declined among those 65 and older, but the percentage of overweight and obese people has increased. Between 2003 and 2006, 72% of older men and 67% of older women were overweight or obese. Obesity is associated with increased rates of diabetes, arthritis, and impaired mobility, and in some cases, with higher death rates.

     • Research based on NIA’s Health and Retirement Study suggests that the prevalence of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic lung disease, and diabetes, increased among older people between 1998 and 2008. For example, in 2008, 41% of the older population had three or more chronic conditions, 51% had one or two, and only 8% had no chronic conditions.

     • The cost of long-term care varies by care setting. The average cost of a private room in a nursing home was $229 per day or $83,585 per year in 2010. Less than one-fifth of older people have the personal financial resources to live in a nursing home for more than three years and almost two-thirds cannot afford even one year. Medicare provides coverage in a skilled nursing facility to older and disabled patients for short time periods following hospitalization. Medicaid covers long-term care in certified facilities for qualifying low-income seniors. In 2006, Medicaid paid for 43 percent of long-term care.

 

All of this begs a question used often in Luther’s Small Catechism:  What does this mean? For those of us who are interested in the church’s role in a changing world, a variation of this question is: “What does this mean for the Christian church as it reaches out in Christ’s name with health and hope to people in need?” I’m pondering this and hope to share some thoughts in future installments of Rick’s Reflections. In the meantime, I’d welcome your comments, whether you are a fellow boomer or a person from another generation who has to put up with us boomers. Blessings!

Fathers and Families

Like other fathers across the United States, I enjoyed being honored by my family again this year on Father’s Day. While my cynical side likes to take jabs at “Hallmark holidays,” I admit that I look forward to the special attention of this day. This year, Father’s Day was especially great since it arrived just a couple weeks after the wedding of our daughter and I’m thrilled to be a father-in-law for the first time! I’m also blessed that my own father is still alive and doing well. I called him on Father’s Day at his home in North Carolina. He’s 91 years old and refuses to resort to hearing aids, so our conversation was brief (and loud!). Just long enough to get a health update and let him know that we love him.

Those of us who are blessed with the God-given privilege of being a father know that it’s an awesome gift and we also know that fatherhood carries with it awesome responsibilities. Fortunately, there are millions of wonderful, fathers who love, care for, and serve as positive role models for their children. I’m blessed to have such a father in my life. Unfortunately, though, there are also far too many dads who, for whatever reasons, have not been present in the lives of their children, have not been a significant caregiver or provider, or have behaved in ways that have had a damaging impact on their family’s wellness.

There are many varieties of family units these days. They all exist to provide love, care and support for adults and children of all ages. The family is the basic unit of caring community in every culture. And, for those of us who recognize God’s creative power, caring for family is our way of responding to and sharing the story of God’s love for us.

At Wheat Ridge Ministries, we are blessed to know and support leaders and organizations dedicated to helping families be and become healthy and whole, no matter what shape or makeup they take. Our website directory shares the wide variety of programs geared to families. It’s amazing to see the church at work through such a wide range of projects and initiatives.

Praise God for the gift of families and for those who help families be all that God created them to be!

Thanks John!

One of the great blessings of serving at Wheat Ridge Ministries is meeting and enjoying relationships with so many inspiring, interesting and unique people. Across the breadth of our constituency of project leaders, recipients of services provided by ministries we assist, donors who support our work, and colleagues from other organizations, there is an amazing variety of people who have many different stories to tell. I’ve met some real “characters” over the years. I’ve listened to and learned from some really wise and intelligent people. So many individuals who exemplify Christ-centered living have encouraged my faith-journey.

Someone who fits into all of these categories was my good friend, John Walz. John passed away recently. He was 76 years young when the Lord took him to heaven following a bout with cancer and subsequent medical challenges.

My predecessor, Rich Bimler, recruited John to the Wheat Ridge staff as Director of Finance not long after I joined the team as Vice President for Programs in the early 1990s. He served in this role until just a few years ago. 

John Walz (center), pictured here with wife, Donna,
and Dave Siebert at a President's Circle Retreat, 
was a great friend of Wheat Ridge Ministries and a
devoted churchman who will be greatly missed!  

John just couldn’t seem to get enough of being involved in the work of the church. Prior to coming to Wheat Ridge, he had a long history of involvement and leadership in the Walther League, a youth and young adult organization of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. He was also extremely involved in his home congregation. I recall John coming into the office on many occasions extremely excited about some new strategy or structural change that he felt was going to make the congregation more effective in its outreach. I also remember him expressing his frustration when many of these efforts didn’t pan out the way he had hoped. But the frustrations never led him to “throw in the towel.” He was always convinced that he could contribute to making his church more effective.

The same was true at Wheat Ridge Ministries. One of the things I respected the most about John was his ability to combine his expertise as a “numbers guy” and his ability to be comfortable in the messiness and imprecision that is often a part of ministry efforts. While many finance and accounting types seem most comfortable with black and white objectivity, John worked well with “shades of gray.” He did a great job of keeping those of us on the team who always wanted to pursue a new idea mindful of the financial realities and consequences of our activities, but his main objective was to see as many people as possible served by our ministry efforts and he recognized that this often involved more than having good numbers on a financial report.

Up until the time of his death, John remained committed to using his gifts and abilities to serve the Lord through organizations he loved. In addition to sharing their time and talent, he and his wife, Donna, have been generous supporters for the ministry of Wheat Ridge for many years and they have regularly attended our annual President’s Circle Retreat. John was also a great blessing to other ministries including Lutheran Life Communities, Lutheran Education Association, and Bright Stars of Bethlehem, serving on boards and committees and providing accounting services. As John’s pastor quipped during his sermon at John’s funeral, “John never met a meeting he didn’t like!” I will say, however, that I saw John on a many occasions find a way to blend his love for meetings with his need for a nap!

I am deeply grateful for John’s assistance and strong encouragement. He consistently expressed his support and confidence in me. He was always curious about what I was doing or thinking, and often his inquiries led us to engage in great conversations about the mission of the church. I always knew I could count on John if I needed his help.

Thanks, John, for your friendship, encouragement and example! I’m one of many, many people who thank God for the privilege of knowing you and working with you. We celebrate your life and we celebrate that you are now experiencing the joy of your heavenly home at the feet of Jesus!

Be Not Afraid

The women who went to Jesus’ tomb on the first Easter heard the words, “Be Not Afraid” twice that morning, according to the account in Matthew 28. These were the same words the shepherds who were “abiding in the fields by night” heard at the time of Jesus’ birth.

I’ve tried to imagine what it would have been like to see an angel or to see Jesus alive after observing His crucifixion. Be not afraid – are you kidding me?! How could these women and these shepherds not have been afraid? After all, God created us with survival mechanisms to protect us from harm. Fear is one of them. To not be afraid at a strange site, an unusual noise, or a life-threatening situation would be abnormal.

Recently, Wheat Ridge Ministries hosted a convening of church leaders in Chicago who are trying to address violence in their communities. Just a few days later, on Easter day, we were reminded once again of the reason their efforts are so important as nine children who were playing in a Chicago park were shot by a spray of gunfire. A carefree afternoon turned, without warning, into an experience of fear and terror. 

The message to “Be Not Afraid” in the Easter Sunday Gospel lesson caused me to think about the projects seeded around the world by Wheat Ridge Ministries. I guess it would be true that these new ministries are assisting people who are afraid. The ABAN project in Ghana helps young women who were homeless and living in fear in the streets of Accra. The Noah Project in South Carolina encourages the development of respite programs for caregivers who are afraid of the toll of aging on their frail elderly loved ones and who are afraid of the effects on their own health resulting from serving as a full-time caregiver. The Bridges to Hope program in Nebraska helps men who fear the challenges of re-entering society after years in prison.

Be not afraid! These words were spoken by Christ and His angels not just to the women at the tomb, or those facing special challenges, but to all of us. What a great opportunity we have to be Gospel messengers by reminding ourselves and others that these are not a reprimand for being afraid, but words of comfort and hope. They are a reminder of Christ’s presence even as we are afraid. They remind us that the sources of our fears pale in comparison to the fullness of God’s love for us in Christ. And, they remind us that because of Christ’s Easter victory we are headed for an eternal future without fear. The apostle Paul assured us that we can “be not afraid” in these beautiful words:

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.   (Romans 8:38,39)

Christ is risen! Be not afraid! Alleluia!!

By the Time We Got to Phoenix …

I admit that my reasons for looking forward to a recent trip southwest on behalf of Wheat Ridge Ministries included the hope of relief from this year’s endless Chicago winter.  Phoenix, Arizona in March.  No snow.  No sub-zero temperatures.  Clean cars.  No potholes. No heavy coats.  Sunshine.  A parting blow as Deb and I made our way to O’Hare airport was yet another “snow event” that resulted in a two-hour flight delay.

Fortunately, once we arrived in Phoenix, it didn’t take long to remember the real purpose of our trip and experience the joys of this journey to the Grand Canyon State.  I was so pleased to be part of two great gatherings there - our Board of Directors meeting and our annual President’s Circle donor retreat.  Here are just a few “snapshots” from these meetings:

Kathy Anderson, Executive
Director of Survivors of
Torture International

• Getting to know Shahzad, an amazing young man from Pakistan, who is bringing the concept of parish nursing to his home country in spite of the many risks involved.  Shahzad’s story of faith and courage is amazing!
• Receiving a report from Susan Work, CEO of Holy Family Ministries in Chicago, that posted the first successful project on our new WeRaise crowdfunding platform for the “Peace Exchange” project, an innovative effort to teach and promote peace and end violence in urban neighborhoods.
• Touring the Christ Cares Clinic, an amazing new ministry developed by Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix that is already serving hundreds of uninsured and underinsured people.
• Learning about the important work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services to train volunteers who provide a caring presence for refugees who often must live in prison-like conditions in U.S. detention centers before they are allowed into our country.
• Getting updated on the important work of Survivors of Torture International, an organization in southern California that received seed funding from Wheat Ridge a number of years ago. They continue to share health and hope with people struggling to recover from the trauma of physical and emotional torture that resulted in being forced to flee their home country.
• Being inspired, challenged, and encouraged by excellent speakers and resource people who joined us for these meetings, including Paul Miles, VP for Development for the Make A Wish Foundation; Dr. Don Christian, Dean of the College of Business at Concordia University in Austin, Texas; and Dr. Rich Bimler, past President of Wheat Ridge Ministries.

Dr. Rich Bimler with
Jan and Dale Van Wulfen

During the retreat, Rich Bimler suggested to us that the letters ‘WRM’ not only stand for Wheat Ridge Ministries, but also for Where Relationships Matter.  These gatherings in Phoenix of our board and other key supporters of our mission are great examples of the immense blessing of significant relationships that are so much a part of our ministry.  It is wonderful to gather with such caring and generous people, to be honored by their friendship and support, to learn from them, and to be inspired by their spirit of generosity in response to the Good News of Jesus Christ.  This spirit of generosity was especially evident in the testimony that several of our President’s Circle participants provided as they shared with other attendees what motivates their generosity and why they continue to make our work a priority in their charitable giving.

Deb and I are back in Chicago.  It’s only snowed twice (so far) since we have returned!  In spite of the weather, we returned warmed by great relationships and the reminders of how people around the world continue to be moved by God’s Spirit to initiate and support new ministries of health and hope that are offered in the name of our healing Christ.

Blessings as you visit the empty tomb this Easter season to celebrate Christ’s ultimate act of healing!

Olympic Spirit

Perhaps you enjoyed watching the Winter Olympic Games like I did during the past couple of weeks. While I’m not a fan of all the sports featured (I wish I could warm up to curling), it is always impressive to see the level of skill and fitness that the athletes possess. And, it is inspiring to hear the stories of athletes whose extreme commitment and sacrifice have helped them reach their goal of making the team.

Of course, possessing extreme skill, effort and dedication is not limited to athletes. I was reminded of this as I traveled during the weeks of the Olympic games and visited with leaders of some of our Lutheran social service agencies.

I was fortunate to participate with CEOs of many of these agencies at the annual retreat of Lutheran Services in America. While the Lutheran church is blessed with many, many talented leaders in its congregations, schools and church body offices, I’m confident that none surpass the talent pool of this great group of “Olympic-caliber” church leaders. Effectively operating a social service agency, large or small, is a complex business these days. The agencies these CEOs represent make a huge impact in the lives of thousands of people. Did you know that 1 in 50 Americans is touched directly by the services of an LSA organization each year?! These CEOs “bring it” everyday, providing leadership in organization and fiscal management, human relations, board governance, development and marketing, social enterprise, etc., etc. And they do so with a deep commitment to sharing the healing touch of Christ with people in need.  

On the heels of the CEO retreat, I had occasion to get a closer view of a couple of these leaders on their home turf during a trip to the Cleveland, Ohio, area. 

Building Hope in the City is a 10-year-old organization birthed out of Trinity Lutheran Church, a 150-year-old congregation near downtown Cleveland. This organization exists to strengthen urban ministry and mission in northeast Ohio and beyond, pursuing the mission of “restoring the city to God by developing and linking people, communities and churches.” Brian Upton is a gifted leader who has been at the heart of this ministry since its inception and recently was named executive director. 

The staff and volunteers of Building Hope in the City are passionate about acting on God’s call to welcome new refugees from around the world who come to Cleveland. They assist in the resettlement and help make others aware of the many gifts and assets these new arrivals bring to their community. During my visit with Brian, it was my privilege to present him with the initial grant check for a new initiative being seeded by Wheat Ridge Ministries. This new program will provide culturally-sensitive counseling for refugees who are coping with and trying to recover from the trauma of violence, abuse and rejection from their countries of origin. They will train and equip volunteers from the refugee community in basic counseling skills. I’m very pleased that Wheat Ridge can assist in the initial development of this important health and healing effort!

Just a few miles down the road from Building Hope in the City are more outstanding leaders! Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) was established in the 1960s by revered founding executive director Dick Sering. LMM has been serving the needs of the underserved in Cleveland in powerful ways ever since with a focus on housing and shelter, community re-entry and support for at-risk youth.

Under the leadership of current President and CEO Andrew Genzsler, LMM is developing some very exciting and impactful new social enterprise ventures, including a metal works shop and what they call “Central Kitchen.” The Central Kitchen program provides food service training for unemployed and underemployed people in Cleveland. Many of the graduates of the program are employed by LMM. They prepare and deliver meals using food provided by local food banks to feed those living local shelters, including the men’s shelter operated by LMM and others who are living on the streets. Talk about a win, win, win, win plan! A very talented young man, Brian Mauk, directs the social enterprise program at LMM. If you are in Cleveland, stop by and see this wonderful program for yourself!

Praise God for the talented leaders in our church agencies who, through their heroic efforts, serve people who are so often forgotten and underserved. They are not driven by the Olympic spirit, but rather by God’s spirit working in them. Most likely there is a Lutheran social service agency in your community or somewhere nearby. Stop by sometime – you’ll see gold medal quality ministry in action! 

Care for the Caregiver

Almost without fail, when I’m in an extended conversation with friends, neighbors or colleagues who, like me, are “baby boomers,” concerns are expressed about the challenge of caring for aging parents or other loved ones. Of course, I have not yet fully confronted the fact that I’ll be the one needing care from family and friends sometime in the future. According to demographic trends, more of us will need care, and fewer family members will be available to provide it.

Recently, Holly Fiala, our Vice President for Advancement, shared with me a research summary published last September by the Wilder Foundation. It was based on interviews with about 200 primary and secondary caregivers in St. Paul, Minnesota. Of course, their research is not limited to those caring for older adults, but also includes those caring for anyone of any age who require significant and continuing care from others. Included in the Wilder research summary are some very interesting statistics:

• 43.5 million Americans provide part-time or full-time care for another adult age 50 or over;
• The nationwide economic value of unpaid, informal care provided by family and friends is estimated at $306 billion per year;
• The demand for informal caregivers is expected to increase by more than 20% in the next 15 years and by 85% in the next 40 years. 

Thank God for the uniquely gifted people who provide care for others! But, who’s caring for these wonderful people as they invest time and energy for the sake of a friend or loved one? By the way, the caregivers surveyed in the Wilder study invest, on average, 37 hours per week in this role!
According to the study, most caregivers depend on assistance from an informal support system. Just over half of the caregivers surveyed depend on assistance from another family member while 25% rely on a combination of family members and others, such as friends or neighbors. And 15% indicate that no one is helping them.

Fortunately, more formal support is also available in most communities, including paid services from for-profit and non-profit organizations, health care agencies, county or state services, and other community-based organizations. However, the study also indicates that awareness of these resources by caregivers is an issue resulting in underutilization.

As I thought about the role of the church in all of this, one other statistic caught my attention. Only 7% of the caregivers in this survey reported receiving help from a member of their faith community. This seems hard to believe. 

Fortunately, there are great models of faith communities in action to support the needs of caregivers that serve as examples of what faith communities can do. Wheat Ridge has had the privilege to help seed several such programs in recent years: 

• A Caring Place Community Respite Care Program – Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
• FUSION Special Needs Ministry – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Naperville, Illinois
• Experience the Embrace – Respite Outreach Care for Kansans Organization and Ascension Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas
• Adult Day Respite Care Program – Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Barrington, Illinois  

I’d love to hear from you about your experience as a caregiver of a friend or family member. If you have a minute, please post a comment below in response to one or more of the following questions: In what ways does your congregation engage, assist, or encourage people who are caregivers? If you are a caregiver, how could your church or other faith community be helpful to you? What helpful models of support for caregivers exist in your community?

Perhaps no story in Scripture more powerfully portrays the commitment of care for loved ones as the story of Ruth, who expressed her commitment to her elderly mother-in-law with these words: Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. (Ruth 1:16-17) If you are a caregiver, thank you for your commitment, compassion and kindness! May God be with you and bless you as you continue to respond to the Gospel in this wonderful and important way!