The Road to Hong Kong

With apologies to Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, this title seems like a fitting description as I write this on my journey back from Hong Kong and China. The “road” included direct flights between Chicago and Hong Kong – 15 hours to travel to the other side of the world – another miracle of God’s creation!

The long and winding roads of Hong Kong weave around bodies of water, up hills, through tunnels, and on crowded streets. If you haven’t been there, imagine New York on steroids, with awesome hills and mountains on all sides. What a place! One of the great financial centers in the world, Hong Kong has beautiful high-rise office buildings and apartments and masses of people everywhere. The energy level of the city is off the charts. A state of the art mass transit system is particularly impressive. I was able to check my bag and check-in for my return flight at a train station in the heart of the city before hopping on a train to the airport. I hope someone in authority at O’Hare airport is reading this!

The road that brought me to Hong Kong from Wheat Ridge Ministries’ office was our Center for Urban Education Ministries, a part of our program services dedicated to encouraging new models for Christian education in our cities. The Center’s work includes a lecture series named in honor of Dr. Mel Kieschnick, a leading Christian educator in the Lutheran church for over 60 years, and a man with a special heart for ministry in the city. Early in his career, Mel served as a missionary in Hong Kong. He remains highly respected among the Christian community of Hong Kong and they invited him to come to Hong Kong to serve as the speaker of the lecture series that bears his name. Wheat Ridge Ministries also has a strong history of seeding new ministries in Hong Kong and China, so we were also invited to promote and encourage support for Wheat Ridge and for the Center for Urban Education Ministries.

The road in Hong Kong led us to Hong Kong International School, one of the premier American schools in the world, and owned by the Lutheran Church. With over 2,400 students from countries around the world in grades K-12 on three campuses, this school is a model of excellence in education in the Lutheran Christian tradition. Dr. Kieschnick was the founding board chair for HKIS and his lecture to the faculty was a powerful reminder of what God has caused to happen over the years, as the school overcame tremendous obstacles to become the great institution it is today.

The road trip continued as Mel also delivered a lecture at Concordia Lutheran School in Kowloon, where he served as principal for many years. Concordia is another school of distinction, serving over 1,000 local students in a beautiful new facility. It is one of 34 Lutheran schools operated under the banner of the Hong Kong Synod of the Lutheran church. I met principals and teachers from several of these schools. As is the case in the U.S., these teachers are filled with a passion for sharing God’s love with children as they provide an excellent academic environment. And, as in the U.S., these urban schools are much more than academic institutions. They are ministries of human care that serve the needs of students, families, and the larger community.

I’ve known and respected Mel for many years, but I was still overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for him and his wife, Jane, by people in the Lutheran community in Hong Kong. A beautiful garden was dedicated in their name at Concordia Lutheran School while we were there. And a large number of school alumni, many of whom knew Mel as their teacher and principal, gathered for a great party one evening to honor them. Among the reasons these people praise God for Mel and Jane is that many of them came to know Jesus through their witness.

After this wonderful occasion, I took a left turn from Hong Kong to visit mainland China to see firsthand work being seeded by Wheat Ridge. There are 31 cities in China with a population of over 1 million. There are also thousands of rural villages like the Miao (Hmong) village of Long Tan. This village of 120 people is tucked away in the hills three hours northwest of Kunming in the Yunan Province. I met the people of this village thanks to a wonderful organization, Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation. Through CWEF, Wheat Ridge is helping seed a program that equips people from churches in villages like Long Tan to serve as health educators. The hard working people of Long Tan are representative of millions of people who live off the land in China, earning a meager income and living without basic resources many of us take for granted such as clean water, modern sanitation, and access to medical care. It was inspiring to meet several of the people who have been trained as health educators. These are full-time farmers who work hard just to provide for themselves and their families. Yet, they care so much for the people of these small villages that they take time to become trained as volunteer health educators in order to promote good practices that reduce illness and premature death. They are, indeed, sharing health and hope in Christ’s name! I’m thankful for the great food and hospitality provided by the people of Long Tan, who were so generous to this strange looking very tall (by their standards) white guy who is the poster child for Mandarin language deficiency!

Contrary to what many Christians in the U.S. assume about the ability of people to practice their faith openly in China, the church is growing rapidly. While denominations do not exist as such in China, the Chinese government supports the establishment of non-denominational Christian seminaries, and pastors establish churches that are organized into regions. Mr. Long, who traveled with us to Long Tan, supervises pastors and lay evangelists in one of these regions. On the way back from Long Tan, we stopped to visit an evangelism training class. We were treated to several hymns sung beautifully by those in the class and accompanied by a man playing, of all things, an accordion! We came to learn that evangelists are taught how to play this very portable instrument so that they can accompany singing during worship services. What a creative and practical idea!

The road back to Hong Kong led us to one more unique and exciting experience: 250 Lutheran educators from a variety of Asian countries were gathered for a conference sponsored by the Asia Lutheran Education Association (ALEA). Did you know that there are over 150 Lutheran schools in Asia? I was thrilled to see that the focus of this conference was “service learning.” This is an intentional process, also used by many schools in the U.S., designed to help students become aware of the needs of underserved people and become involved in acts of service. I learned that virtually all of the Lutheran schools in Asia include service learning as a significant part of their curriculum … a wonderful way that these schools are helping students share God’s love with others.

So now it’s time to hit the road toward home. I return to the states reminded once again that the more I learn, the less I know. I’m in awe of the beauty of God’s creation in Asia, God’s love for His people there, and the impact of Christian congregations and schools, including the significant presence of Lutheran Christians. I’m made aware again that God’s Spirit has no boundaries. And, I’m so thankful for the opportunities that God continues to provide Wheat Ridge Ministries to encourage and assist leaders in places like Hong Kong, Kunming, Long Tan, and even Chicago, Illinois, as they respond to God’s call to develop new ministries that share health and hope in the name of our healing Christ.

School Days, School Days

As children and teachers have been returning to classrooms this fall, education sure has been in the news. Last night, I watched an ongoing segment on NBC Nightly News called “Education Nation,” during which they highlight the state of education in the United States and what can be done to improve it. Here in Chicago, there are daily headlines about a dispute between the mayor’s office and the Chicago Public School teacher’s union over the length of the school day. Perhaps you’ve seen the award-winning documentary Waiting for Superman that describes the challenges facing public schools in Washington, D.C. I saw a similar documentary on public television the other day about the Detroit public schools. While all schools seem to have significant challenges these days, those facing our urban schools seem the most daunting.

Not as widely publicized, but certainly no less important for those of us who believe in the importance of quality Christian education, is the plight of Lutheran and other faith-based schools in urban areas. For a variety of reasons, these schools, which complement as well as provide an alternative to our public schools, are disappearing from our cities. In some cities, such as Detroit and Los Angeles, Lutheran schools are on the verge of extinction.

The challenges facing Lutheran education in our cities is not limited to day schools. Christian education is a hallmark of Lutheran congregational life. Congregations provide a variety of Christian education opportunities including Sunday schools, vacation Bible schools, pre-schools, after-school and adult education programs. When urban congregations decline or lose touch with the people in their neighborhood, opportunities to touch the lives of children and families in the name of Christ are lost.

Ironically, even as many of our urban Christian education programs struggle to exist, quality Christian education continues to be highly valued by families seeking educational excellence in a safe, caring and value-rich environment. Stories abound of the great sacrifices parents are willing to make in order to place their children in such environments.

In this midst of all of this, it has been heartening to see examples of urban Lutheran congregations and agencies making a huge impact by creating innovative Christian education programs that address the needs of students and families. Consistently, the leaders of these new ministries understand that their programs are much more than educational programs. They are ministries that involve caring relationships and address the needs of body, mind and spirit in children and families. Wheat Ridge Ministries is privileged to have helped seed a variety of these new ministries over the years. Descriptions of those we are currently seeding are available on our website.

I remain very excited about our efforts to encourage and support innovative models of Christian education in our cities. Several years ago, Wheat Ridge established a Center for Urban Education Ministries. The Center is helping us provide focus to this aspect of our support for new health and human care ventures. Under the leadership of Executive Director Marlene Lund, the Center helps encourage new urban education ministries by discovering and sharing new models, connecting and convening leaders in congregations and schools who have a vision for Christian service in the city, and providing resources to assist these inspired leaders.

It is also good news that our Center is not alone. There are a variety of efforts through the Lutheran church-wide offices and other agencies and organizations to support and encourage quality Lutheran education in our cities. In Chicago, the Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foundation provides great support for Lutheran schools in the city. The Lutheran Foundations in St. Louis and Ft. Wayne also invest heavily in urban Lutheran education. Innovative new models for urban Christian schools are emerging through Lutheran leaders like Kole Knueppel (www.schoolsthatcan.org/) and Andrew Newman (http://www.hopeschools.org/ and http://www.educationalenterprises.org/).

If you’re seeing innovative and effective Christian education efforts in the city being accomplished by congregations or church agencies near you, I’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, please keep all of our Christian educators, including those who witness their faith as they serve in public school settings, in your prayers, so that through their efforts, children and families may experience the touch of the healing Christ!

Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping, Slipping …

These late summer days in Chicago certainly make me conscious of the passing of time. Each morning, the sun is coming up a little later and setting a little earlier in the evening.

When I start thinking about the passage of time, for some reason my brain retreats to several 1970’s and 1980’s pop songs, including Steve Miller’s “Fly Like An Eagle” and its lyrics “time keeps on slipping into the future” and Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle.” I’m breaking into song as I write … it’s a good thing you can’t hear me!

Time was on our minds earlier this month as our executive staff gathered for our annual “off-site” retreat. We tend to be a pretty time-oriented group, so meeting dates, deadlines, and work plans were among the items on our agenda. Ironically, while we refer to this gathering as a “retreat,” it tends to be a struggle to manage our work time and our leisure time so that we can enjoy each other’s company and the beautiful setting in which we meet. Sad, but true.

Our preoccupation with time was a theme of one of our morning devotions and we spent time considering some of the most well-known words from Ecclesiastes 3 (yes, also well known as the lyrics to another song from the memory banks … Pete Seeger’s “Turn, Turn, Turn,” popularized by the band “The Byrds”).

Our discussion of Ecclesiastes 3 took us in several interesting directions as we considered the meaning of “a time for” in our personal lives and in the mission of Wheat Ridge. Since our retreat took place right after the congressional debt ceiling crisis and subsequent market reactions, it was reassuring to read this text as a reminder that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity as God provides a regular rhythm for life even in the midst of what often seem like random, chaotic times.

Ecclesiastes 3 also reminded us that life is about the good times and the bad, the happy and the sad. The times and seasons of our lives are filled with both. One season prepares and equips us for the other. I suspect you’ve either concluded from your own experience, or heard from others, that tough times are really some of the most valuable times of life.

One of our staff members suggested that we isolate the seasons mentioned in Ecclesiastes into categories by what we’d typically perceive as good times and bad times. As often as I’ve considered this text, I had never done this before. Looking at the separate lists was quite interesting. Here’s our list of the “good times” … A time to be born, to plant, to heal, to build, to laugh, to dance, to gather, to embrace, to search, to keep, to mend, to speak, to love, and a time for peace.

Likewise, our list of “bad times” … A time to die, to uproot, to kill, to tear down, to weep, to mourn, to scatter, to refrain from embracing, to give up, to throw away, to tear, to be silent, to hate, and a time for war.

The first thing we discovered looking at these lists is to be cautious with our assumptions. We concluded that not everything is automatically good or bad all the time. Is it always good to speak and bad to be silent? Is mourning good or bad? Is there ever a time when uprooting, or going to war is ultimately a good thing?

Considering the mission of Wheat Ridge to share health and hope through the new ministries we encourage and support, these lists also proved very interesting. Our “bad times” list looked very similar to the list of health and human care issues that lead inspired leaders to come to Wheat Ridge for assistance as they serve people who may be weeping, giving up, enduring sickness and death, hatred or loneliness.

Likewise, we agreed that our “good times” list was a wonderful vision for what we pray are the outcomes of seeding new ministries of health and hope. What a beautiful thing to experience the seasons of life that God intends for us … seasons where we embrace, laugh, dance, live in peace with others, gather and mend as we experience wellness of body, mind and spirit!

Thank God for the seasons and the gift of life!

The Eagle Has Landed!

Recently, I had one of those days that a children’s book might call a “rotten, terrible, stinky, really bad day.” In retrospect, and in comparison to the plight of so many people who are coping with difficult life circumstances, it really wasn’t that bad. But, it was a day that found me engaging in a little self-pity and wishing I was lying on a beach somewhere far, far away. I don’t have this kind of day often, but when I do, it’s usually accompanied by a sleepless night, which I had that evening.

As good timing would have it, I was scheduled the following morning to engage in one of my most effective summertime stress-relieving activities – playing an early-morning round of golf with friends. While just the thought of this usually energizes me, that morning it really did not … I was tired, frustrated and arrived at the course wondering if sleeping a bit later would have been a better option.

But, I persevered. My playing partner’s good mood helped some, but even though I hit some pretty good shots on the first few holes (an uncommon occurrence), I still wasn’t experiencing the joy that a round of golf usually brings.

On the fairway of the fifth hole, I was helping my partner search for lost his ball in the rough. In the midst of our search, I noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye followed by a “swooshing” sound as what looked like an eagle took off. Apparently, I had disturbed her search for food or rest that morning. I jumped back … this unexpected surprise got my adrenaline flowing!

The bird wasn’t done with us yet, though. Later on the fifth hole, as we were walking up to the green, it appeared again, landing on the fringe of the green, just sitting there watching us, like some spectator at a golf tournament! When we both two-putted (another uncommon occurrence), I sort of hoped it would squawk, acknowledging our good play. Maybe she expected us to “eagle” the hole, but it was still nice of her to watch our bogies. This beautiful bird just sat there, watching us until we walked off toward the next hole, then it flew away.

I need to add that we have since been debating whether this was, indeed, an eagle, or whether it was some other large, handsome bird (you’re correctly sensing by now that I’m not a regular bird watcher). I’ve since done some internet searching and have discovered that eagles do indeed appear occasionally in northeastern Illinois. My story is that it was an eagle, and I’m sticking to it!

That eagle changed my day. She was the kind of surprise I needed, a gift that took me out of my doldrums and reminded me again of the beauty of God’s creation. The rest of the round was, indeed, more enjoyable. I wish I could report that the eagle inspired me to shoot a record low round, but I can’t. I can report, however, that this unexpected incident changed my mood for the better for the rest of the day.

God’s grace works in mysterious ways. Upon returning to my office, I noticed two pictures that have been sitting on my window sill that I hadn’t given attention to for a while. They are pictures of – what else? – eagles! They are two of several painted by young children for an event Wheat Ridge sponsored a few years ago through our Center for Urban Education Ministries called, “A Flock of Eagles.” The event honored outstanding urban Lutheran educators. I was so taken by them at the time that I kept them for my office. Since my eagle incident, they’ve taken on fresh meaning.

All of this has taken me back to the great words of hope and encouragement in Scripture, which, perhaps, is what God intended would happen through this odd incident. From Isaiah 40 …

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

I hope an eagle flies into your life today … watch for it!!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Bonjour!! I’ve recently returned from a wonderful two-week visit to France, my first-ever trip to Europe. The occasion was a music and art tour, sponsored by Concordia University Chicago, and I tagged along with my wife, Deb, who was part of the faculty contingent. We traveled throughout France with a group of 70 students including the tour choir, chamber orchestra, art majors, and several alumni. The musicians provided concerts in several beautiful cathedrals.

I wasn’t in charge of anything on this trip other than getting to the bus on time and generally staying out of the way! This was great because I had time to absorb and consider the sights and sounds along the way. Here are just a few of my musings from this journey:

What a World! All too often I take for granted the beauty of God’s creations. I’m thankful that the opportunity to see France for the first time shook me out of this bad habit. The beauty and charm of the French countryside, the villages, the cathedrals, the vineyards … wow!

The Power of Lunch. I’m typically not much of a lunch person, especially on days I’m in the office. So, it was great to gain some appreciation for this important time of day from the people of France. They also seem to understand the importance, from a wellness perspective, of taking time mid-day to relax, renew and enjoy the company of others. It was fun to see shops, even in the touristy areas, with “out for lunch” signs posted and to watch school children walking home for their noon meal. Of course, given the quality of food we experienced in France, who wouldn’t want to slowly savor the taste experience?!

Why so Many Languages? The fact that many of the countries in Europe are the size of some of our U.S. states makes me wonder how it would be if each of our 50 states had its own language. ( I realize some would say that places like Wisconsin and North Carolina DO have their own language!) I need to learn more about how these distinct languages came about. With the people of Europe already enjoying easy travel between countries as well as an increasingly common currency in the Euro, is it possible that someday there will be a common language? Until I get my act together and become fluent in some other language, I vote for English.

Are We There Yet? At various points along our tour through France, we’d hear the students from the back of the bus having fun recalling the favorite family vacation question, “Are we there yet?” Even though I get to travel a lot, it still amazes me how quickly we are able to get from place to place thanks to the marvel of air travel! Breakfast in Chicago and dinner in Nice … it’s a miracle!

Now that’s Old! Being a product of Illinois and Florida, I enjoy traveling to the east coast of the U.S. where so many historical sites date back 200 or 300 years, sometimes more. This is nothing, however, compared to many of the castles, cathedrals and villages in Europe. A good reminder of what a youngster the United States really is in the lifeline of civilization.

Here is the Church … The cathedrals and churches we visited were awe-inspiring to be sure. I honestly don’t know how they constructed these magnificent buildings given the equipment available when many were built. As in the U.S., the spires and towers of churches in France serve as centerpieces of villages and communities. Not being in any one place long enough, I don’t know how many of them house vibrant communities of believers or how many of them are active centers of health and healing outreach in their community. It appeared that many primarily served as tourist attractions … but I hope I am wrong about this.

America’s Got Talent! Looking back, I don’t recall being as intelligent or talented during my collegiate years as the students I met on this trip. The musical ability of the singers and instrumentalists is awesome and inspiring. Those with whom I was able to have extended conversations seem very focused on living their faith and making a difference in the world. Very encouraging!

Thank God for Family! One of the special benefits of this trip was time spent not only with Deb but also with our two daughters. Katie came along on the tour. Kris lives in Germany and was able to join us in Paris before we hopped the bullet train to visit her new home outside of Kaiserslautern. Even though it’s easier than ever to stay in touch, there’s nothing like time together in person! I returned from France thankful once again, for three great gifts of wellness to me … Deb, Kris and Katie.

Thanks for letting me share. Whether you do a vacation or a “staycation” this summer, I hope you find time to relax, renew and refresh as you enjoy the warmth of this wonderful season!

How Do You Spell “Entrepreneur?”

One of the joys of serving on the Wheat Ridge staff is the opportunity to be inspired by the creative and dedicated efforts of leaders who have been led by God to serve and care for people in their community. I hope you are likewise inspired as you read stories of these leaders and those they serve in the materials you receive from us.

Beginning a new ministry venture is not an easy thing to do these days due to a variety of issues, including funding challenges and increasingly complex regulations. It requires determination, focus and an ability to think “outside of the box.” We find ourselves describing these people more and more as “ministry entrepreneurs.” As you may know, an entrepreneur is a person who organizes or manages an enterprise with a willingness to take considerable initiative and risk in order to achieve impact. Personally, I find the biggest challenge when talking about this type of person is spelling the word entrepreneur … thank goodness for spell check!!

Anyway, I was not surprised when my eyes were drawn to an article about ministry entrepreneurs that a staff member placed on my desk recently. It was written by Bill Wilson, president of The Center for Congregational Health, which is headquarted in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Bill’s article is entitled, "Four Ways for Ministers to Become Entrepreneurs" and it appeared on www.ethicsdaily.com. Here are his suggestions for pastors and other church leaders how an entrepreneurial spirit can be injected into the life of congregations and clergy:

1. Cultivate the spirit of creativity and innovation personally and as a congregation. Find those who are blessed with such traits naturally and invite them to tutor you. Someone in your congregation has the entrepreneurial spirit in abundance. They probably work in a non-religious field. Find them and learn from them.

2. Ministers must bring others along on the journey. Clergy sometimes have the mistaken notion that laity cannot absorb or appreciate the complexities of modern ministry. Many cannot, but some do and want desperately to help the church work smarter, not harder. I have found that these uniquely gifted people often feel unappreciated and unwanted in local churches. They've endured many rolling eyes and old-school sighs. Validate them and they will fill a vital role in your congregation.

3. Create space in your life and calendar for creativity and innovative thinking. Find times when you can empty your head and allow the Spirit to inspire. Spend at least one day a month in planning and preparation. Congregations need to relieve their ministers of the crush of meetings and the unrealistic expectation that she or he is the only one who can hold every person's hand through every medical procedure. It's not biblical, it's not true, and that expectation will rob your minister of every ounce of his or her creativity.

4. Find those who practice the faith in your style and tradition and are innovators. Visit them. Read their writings. Listen to them. Spend time with them. The entrepreneurial spirit is contagious. I hope you catch it.

Speaking of finding time to be creative, Wheat Ridge Ministries just completed an impact study of more than 50 sabbatical grants that we have awarded to congregations during the past five years. To access this report and other helpful materials related to ministry sabbaticals, please visit our website.

Blessings as you enjoy God’s gift of creativity and use it in service to others!!

The Importance of Play

One day a few weeks ago, the Wheat Ridge office was closed for our annual “staff day,” a day during which we celebrate God’s gift of each other and the team ministry in which we are privileged to participate. This day is always a reminder to me of how fortunate I am to have amazing colleagues to work alongside in pursuit of the mission of Wheat Ridge.

It was also fun this year to invite the staff of Lutheran Church Charities, another Chicago-based organization, to join us for our morning session. LCC is a great servant organization, positioned as a first-responder to natural disasters and other tragedies in the Midwest and, increasingly, around the United States and even beyond.

Our presenter and facilitator for the morning was our very own Mark Schoepp, who serves as Church Relations Representative for Wheat Ridge. Mark is a great teacher and advocate for wellness of body, mind and spirit. He has developed a special interest in the wonders of the human brain and in “brain health.” Every time I hear Mark speak on this topic, I come away amazed and in awe of God’s creative miracle of the human body!

Mark’s specific theme for the morning focused on the importance of play for healthy minds, bodies and spirits. He had us using straws, duct tape, paper cups and a few other items to see who could build the tallest structure using these materials. Unfortunately, our table team lost by a few inches … but it was the sturdiest!

Even more fun and interesting to me was a discussion at our tables about the games we played individually and with others when we were children. I hadn’t thought about “Red Rover” or “Running Bases” for a long time! It was great to reminisce and think of the good times these games provided.

This discussion of brain development and the importance of play have me wondering about a number of things, including:

 Do the electronic games and toys that kids enjoy today add to or take away from the creative discovery processes that are so important for brain development? How can parents make sure that video games don’t totally replace the fun of building forts and houses out of the cardboard container that the refrigerator was delivered in?

 If play is the important “work” that a young child must engage in for reading readiness, how can we help parents resist the temptations of overly academic and test-oriented preschool and kindergarten programs?

 If current research on brain development and physical activity is anywhere near accurate, why do so many education leaders have students sitting at desks for increasingly longer stretches while recess and physical education is eliminated?

 Similarly, if the skills required by leaders are increasing “right brained” skills related to creativity, why is it that art and music programs seem to be the first programs to be eliminated in efforts to balance school budgets?

 In the midst of our business and hard work, how do we as adults not lose site of the gift of play, which is so important for both whole person wellness and for creative problem solving?

If you have thoughts about any of these questions, I’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, be sure to take some time to play!!