Operating at Full Capacity?

I enjoyed sitting in the office of Joanne Otte, our Director of Programs, the other day as she and our Assistant Program Director, Anya Knodt, expertly managed a live webinar for Wheat Ridge Ministries. The topic had to do with developing an organization’s mission and vision. It was led by a good friend of Wheat Ridge Ministries, Jill Schumann, who is a great leader and former President and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. The webinar was one of a series that we offer for non-profit leaders, including those whose organizations have received seed support from Wheat Ridge.

Included during the webinar was a series of “poll” questions designed to help participants provide input related to the theme. A question that particularly caught my attention was:  As you think about defining mission and vision, what do you find most challenging? Of the five possible responses, the winner by a large margin was:  Finding/engaging enough person power for the process.

The number of participants in the webinar was far too small to draw broad conclusions, but I am confident that had the sample been much larger, this response option would have still been the number one choice. Person power is one of the main ingredients of organization capacity. Without staff members, revenue streams, equipment, etc., it is impossible for an organization to function effectively. Unfortunately, in the life of many non-profit organizations today, achieving and sustaining appropriate capacity is a significant challenge.

There are many reasons why this is the case. Sometimes leaders simply try to take on too much in their efforts to address an important need. Sometimes the organization’s mission, structure, business model, or operating plan is ill conceived. Sometimes leaders are unwilling to consider collaborations or partnerships that would improve capacity and impact. Sometimes there is too much competition for clients or resources. 

Complicating the efforts of most non-profit organizations to achieve the human, material and financial capacity they need to be effective are perceptions by supporters and potential supporters about what demonstrates effectiveness. One misguided notion in this regard is that low operating expenses for administration and fundraising equals organization effectiveness. I was very pleased last year when the executive directors of three very well-known and highly respected non-profit “watchdog” groups (Guidestar, Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance) signed a joint letter to donors in the United States pointing out the danger of what they call “The Overhead Myth.” Accompanying this letter are some compelling statistics that demonstrate that keeping operating expenses low does not make an organization effective. In fact, the opposite is often true. This data also demonstrates that inaccurate reporting of financial information is extremely common as non-profit organizations attempt to prove their efficiency. For example, during the year 2000, 37% of public charities with annual contributions of $50,000 or more reported no fundraising expenses to the IRS. Thirteen percent reported spending nothing on administrative costs and general expenses. As a wise person once said, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is!" It is impossible for any effective charitable organization to operate without administrative costs. Organizations who do not invest in their capacity can become trapped in a cycle of “capacity starvation” that results in decreased effectiveness and impact. 

If you are interested in taking a closer look at this issue, check out the resources listed at the end of the “Overhead Myth” letter. For an even deeper dive, check out Dan Pallotta’s very interesting books on this topic, Charity Case and Uncharitable.

Of course, all of us who choose to be generous in support of important causes also face capacity issues. The occasional news story of a non-profit “gone bad” makes us worry about whether we can trust organizations with the resources we share. Our mailboxes are full of appeals from organizations that all have a compelling reason why our support is needed. Doing research to figure out which organizations are worthy of support takes time. It’s no wonder that increasingly, people who have been blessed with the financial capacity to do so are forming family foundations and hiring staff to help them make prudent decisions.

The good news as we consider and address capacity issues, whether as individuals or organizations, is that our generous God has an unlimited capacity to bless us with vital capacity to be blessings to others. Our capacity includes generous hearts moved to service by the Holy Spirit, generous intellect and skill to build and sustain impactful ministries in our communities, generous resources that we can share with others, and generous wisdom and intellect to make wise decisions about the distribution of these resources.   

The financial challenges facing local, state and federal governments make the role of churches and the entire non-profit sector increasingly important in helping those who require special care or who cannot help themselves. Our service organizations will need to operate at maximum capacity to be effective. Thank you for investing your personal capacity in organizations and causes that impact the lives of others with health, hope and healing!

 

Time to Love One Another, Right Now!

My 17-mile drive to and from the Wheat Ridge Ministries office each day provides ample time to catch up on daily news stories on the radio. I’m not sure why I just don’t switch to all-music stations. Almost every day, there is a lead story about violence stemming from hatred toward a person of another race, culture or lifestyle. All too often, even the reporting of the story seems flavored by a bias in one direction or the other. To be sure, we are living in a world in need of healing.

A good friend of mine, Marlene Lund, lives in New York City and serves as the Director of the Center for Urban Education Ministries. You may recall that for several years the CUEM was located at Wheat Ridge Ministries. It was our privilege to help seed its development. Marlene recently wrote a poignant post for the CUEM eNewsletter on the theme of hatred and violence in response to a recent incident in New York that attracted world-wide attention. I am pleased to share it, with her permission (thanks, Marlene!): 

I’m writing this message as NYC and the rest of the country continues to reel from the random murder of police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, while on duty in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. According to the assassin, these murders were committed in retaliation for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. PO Ramos’ death hit many in the NY Lutheran community hard, as his children were former students at St. Peter’s Lutheran early childhood center in Brooklyn. Four families, four tragic deaths—who’s to blame?

As an aftermath of the shootings, demonstrations have cropped up in many cities in the U.S and globally. The police are furious at Mayor DeBlasio, demonstrators are furious at the police. As Christians, we need to be on the side of justice and peace. We need to be the voice of reason and hope. Violence of any kind, whether perpetrated by police or by the general public, is unacceptable. It’s easy to take sides, play the blame game and forget the human beings that lost their lives in a senseless manner.

What this situation has done is to provide an opportunity for dialogue and for education. I do believe that the majority of police are good people who desire to help others. I do believe that racism is still a problem that makes people uncomfortable and is hard to speak about.

Our churches should be safe places where frank discussions about inequality can take place, whether racial, economic or social. In fact, I’m glad that several prominent Lutheran theologians have addressed these shootings publically.

When incidents like these occur, I can’t help but think of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific, which includes the song, “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught.” The lyrics include the lines:

You’ve got to be taught To hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught From year to year,
It’s got to be drummed In your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff’rent shade,
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late, Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate, You’ve got to be carefully taught!

Our schools should be places where children are taught tolerance and respect for others, themselves and those in authority. All of this needs to be deliberate and ongoing. They’ve got to be carefully taught!

Being a child of the 1960’s, I lived through the civil rights demonstrations and the call for equality. I hope that we haven’t become complacent. I hope that we take action. I hope that our Christian love for all who are suffering due to the events of this last year shines through.

Perhaps you can recall times when the words, attitudes and actions of parents or others you trusted and respected when you were a child wittingly or unwittingly taught you to disrespect or even hate people who were different than you. I sure can. These influences on today’s children (and adults) have multiplied as a result of our media-centered instant communication environment that makes it so easy to sow seeds of distrust and hatred toward others who look, act or believe differently than we do.

 

Fortunately, even in the midst of these daily reminders that we live in a broken world, Christ’s Easter victory over sin and death provides us hope for a future filled with healing love rather than prejudice and hatred. What an important opportunity we have as Easter people to plant seeds of health and hope, recognizing everyone around us as a person uniquely created and loved by God. What a great time it is to teach this Good News to our children as we live into the encouragement Christ provides to “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Matthew 7:12) 

 

Like Marlene, I’m a child of the 1960’s, so I can’t resist concluding with words from a “hymn” of hope and encouragement from that era written by a band called The Youngbloods (the #5 hit in 1969!). It’s not one you’ll find in your hymnal, but I think it’s a great chorus to sing as we experience the joy of the Easter season each and every day of the year! 

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now

The Paradox of Generosity

I recently finished reading a very interesting book called, “The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose.” The authors, Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson, are leaders of the Science of Generosity Initiative based at The University of Notre Dame. 

“The Paradox of Generosity” describes research testing the premise that people who are generous over time receive tangible health and wellness benefits as a result. This is an observation made not only in the Bible, but also in the teachings of many major world religions. For the Christian church, the apostle Paul’s encouragement in 2 Corinthians 9:6, provides one example: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

The results of the Science of Generosity research, which included conversations with and surveys of large numbers of individuals throughout the United States, has led initiative leaders to conclude that it is true that people who are generous with their time, talent and treasure over a sustained period of time are happier and experience wellness to a greater degree than those who are not generous. According to the research, generosity … 

1. Fosters and reinforces positive emotions and reduces negative emotions in givers;
2. Triggers chemical systems in the brain and body that increase pleasure and experiences of reward, reduces stress, and suppresses pain;
3. Increases personal agency and self-efficacy;
4. Creates positive, meaningful social roles and personal self-identities for generous givers to live out:
5. Reduces maladaptive self-absorption;
6. Requires and reinforces the perception of living in a world of abundance and blessing;
7. Expands the number and density of social-network relational ties;
8. Promotes increased learning about the world;
9. Increases givers’ physical activity.

An obvious question when considering this research is the motivation for generosity. Are we generous because we know we will be happier and healthier? The interviews and case studies from the research indicate that generous people are aware of the benefits they receive from their generosity, but it is not their primary motivation. Instead, their generosity is motivated by factors such as their faith perspective, a desire to live into the examples set by their parents and significant others, or by personal experiences in which they benefitted from the generosity and care of others.

 

I read “The Paradox of Generosity” shortly after returning from Wheat Ridge Ministries’ 18th Annual President’s Circle Retreat in Austin, Texas. I sometimes refer to this gathering as our “stockholder’s meeting” because it brings together generous people who are making a significant investment in our seeding mission. Significant during this annual retreat are inspirational stories of impact presented by leaders of new ministries seeded by Wheat Ridge. The retreat is also a time of fun and fellowship as these like-minded people gather together.

 

It was so helpful to have on my mind those who attended this year’s retreat as I considered the implications of the Science of Generosity research. Our attendees represent so well the thousands of people who provide support for our mission and who serve others so generously through the encouragement they receive from the resources of Wheat Ridge Ministries. These wonderful people are great examples of generous living and the blessings that flow to and from both giver and receiver from generous living. Our President’s Circle Retreat is a mountaintop experience for me each year because it allows me to be inspired by, and learn from, people who are models of generous living. It is abundantly evident that these people lead generous lives, understanding that all that they possess comes from God’s abundant generosity and responding with joy to the greatest gift of all – the redemptive love of Jesus Christ. 

 

Wouldn’t it be great if living a generous life became recognized as the main prescription for happiness and wellness in the world? What if doctors prescribed generosity as a way to stay well? What if “The Paradox of Generosity” became a best seller? Imagine a world ruled by generosity, filled with people who understand and experience the observation of St. Francis of Assisi that it is in giving that we receive! 

 

Enjoy the celebration as your heart and voice is filled with joyful alleluias during this Easter season in response to God’s ultimate act of generosity, the new life that is ours through Christ’s victory over death! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

 

Red and Yellow, Black and White

"We must face the fact that in America, the church is still the most segregated major institution in America. At 11:00 on Sunday morning when we stand and sing and Christ has no east or west, we stand at the most segregated hour in this nation. This is tragic." Dr. Martin Luther King – 1963

I’ve thought about Dr. King’s observation many times over the years as I’ve worshipped in a variety of churches around the country while on the road for Wheat Ridge Ministries. My experience has been consistent with research that indicates that things haven’t changed much since 1963. A quick search turned up research that indicated that in the United States currently, in 90% of religious congregations, more than 80% of the congregation membership is comprised of a single racial group.

I was especially blessed recently to worship in a Lutheran church that is clearly among the 10% of churches where this is not true. Redeemer Lutheran Church is located in the Harrison neighborhood just north of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was founded more than 100 years ago when persons of Swedish descent populated the neighborhood. As with many urban neighborhoods, the Harrison neighborhood has experienced many changes over the years and it has faced its share of economic challenges and other problems. Today, the neighborhood is in the midst of change again. It’s attracting a vibrant mix of people from a variety of races and cultures who are increasingly attracted by the close proximity to downtown Minneapolis.

For many years, Redeemer has been committed to being a center of health, hope and healing in the Harrison neighborhood. Pastor Kelly Chatman has a wonderful vision of the church as a transforming presence in the neighborhood. In 1998, Redeemer established a separate non-profit organization aligned with the congregation called the Redeemer Center for Life. The Center has been a springboard for a variety of new ministry ventures, ranging from low-income housing to businesses that provide vocational training and employment for young people in the neighborhood. Wheat Ridge Ministries has benefitted over the years from the opportunity to help seed several of these innovative efforts.

Although I have visited Redeemer many times over the years, I had not been able to join the congregation for worship until my visit there during the Martin Luther King Day weekend earlier this year. What an experience! The sanctuary was filled with a wonderfully diverse blend of people … young and old people, rich and poor people with a rich variety of skin colors and ethnic origins. All of these people gathered in community to worship God together and to partake in the body and blood of Christ at the communion table. The liturgy and music was a reflection of this great blend of styles and cultures.

The Good News shared by Pastor Kelly in his sermon included a wonderful application of the question asked of Phillip by Nathaniel in the Gospel of John, Chapter1:  “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Kelly observed that this question could be asked about all of us, as we each have characteristics that can cause doubt in the minds of others and, sometimes in our own minds, about whether we are worthy of God’s love.  And, he reminded us that God’s answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!” By God’s grace and through the redemptive power of Christ, good can come from all of us as we bring our unique gifts to the table in response to God’s love.

My worship experience at Redeemer reminded me of a song I learned as a child (you probably did, too), that I’ve been thinking about a lot since that Sunday:

Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world.

Red and yellow

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children

Of the world.

 

Wouldn’t it be great to live to see the day when Dr. King’s vision of all God’s people – people of all races, ages, sizes, cultures, education, states of health, and economic status – working, living, and even worshipping together, is the norm rather than an exception? What a great preparation for the eternity we will spend when we meet these brothers and sisters in Christ in heaven!  

Rick and Deb’s Excellent European Christmas Vacation

The Christmas holiday was especially memorable for the Herman family this year. Our daughter, Kris, has been living in Germany for the past four years. Although we’ve enjoyed visiting her several times, she’s been encouraging us to come at Christmas time. This year, we were able to make it happen. We recently returned from a wonderful two weeks with her and our other daughter, Katie, and our son-in-law, Tony, who also made the trip.

Other than some coughs and colds that we either transported from the U.S. or were gifted with as we arrived in Germany, the trip was absolutely great. I won’t go into detail about the culinary experiences. However, I did learn a few things. Did you know, for instance, that while mainly known for its very important role in World War II, the city of Nuremberg is also the birthplace of the bratwurst? Or that Nuremberg makes a similar claim regarding Lebkuchen, a wonderful gingerbread cookie? They are very serious about bratwurst in Nuremberg. They insist that authentic brats are small links, served three to a bun. Local restaurants have to earn a seal verifying that the brats they serve meet their high standards. Of course, we found brats of all kinds and lots of other great food and drink, as well as lots of handicrafts at the Christkindlmarkts in every city we visited. 

While exploring the food, drink and beauty of Germany at Christmas was great fun, what made this trip so special was the fact that the five of us were together virtually “24/7” for two entire weeks. Unprecedented territory for the Herman family! In a Chevy Chase movie, this would certainly have been a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case. In spite of tight quarters and all of us riding in Kris’ car for our numerous excursions, and the occasional need to have an extra measure of patience with each other, it was so nice to be together. Given our busy lifestyles and the fact that we live so far from each other (Deb and I are in Illinois and Katie and Tony live in California), this time together was a very unique opportunity – one we most likely won’t be able to pull off many more times. Our time together helped me appreciate anew God’s gift of family and the blessing of my wonderful wife, daughters and new son-in-law, who courageously agreed to spend two weeks in close quarters with his in-laws! 

I was also reminded of God’s gift of family when we worshipped on Christmas Eve at a community church in the town of Ramstein. You may recognize the name of this town. It is home to one of the largest U.S. Air Force bases in the world. We joined about 300 members of the military and their families. I sometimes forget how young most members of our military are! And if the number of small children present was any indication, having kids while in service to our country is a very popular pastime! It was an energetic and noisy worship service with the wonderful sounds of children and moms and dads singing Christmas hymns and listening to the Christmas story from Luke 2, as read by several of the children. Being with these people from far away places who gathered to worship the baby Jesus seemed so fitting as we heard Luke’s description of Jesus’ introduction to His mother and father and the extended family of people who came from all around to see Him in the manger: 

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

The Chevy Chase “Vacation” movies and other family comedies wouldn’t be so popular unless they reflected the reality of how challenging family life can really be.  So as we thank God for the gift of family, let’s also give thanks for the professionals and volunteers who dedicate their lives to encouraging, supporting and helping families be all that God intends them to be. May your family be a source of joy, love, peace, forgiveness, health and healing throughout the new year! 

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!