"10 Minutes with . . ."

Rick Pullen, Chief Diver and Chief Operations Officer Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue Unit

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:51:00 GMT

While The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod carries out its disaster response work following Superstorm Sandy, individual LCMS members use their specific gifts to show mercy to those in need.

Rick Pullen is the Chief Diver and Chief Operations Officer of a 42-member dive and rescue team in New Jersey. While Pullen's house was being flooded with debris, mud and water from the effects of Superstorm Sandy, he and his teams were rescuing stranded residents.

Regarding how his Lutheran faith plays out in service to others in the midst of disaster, Pullen, a member of Village Lutheran Church in Lanoka Harbor, N.J., explains, “We talk about time, talent and treasure; my talent is just something not many people possess. So I can give back to people in need, especially those in dire straits. God gave me these talents, and it would be a waste not to use them.”

The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Pullen (RP).

LW: How do you and your dive and rescue team work?

RP: We do everything from safety patrol of the 21 miles of shoreline along the bay, and rivers and lakes, to recovery of items, boats and underwater crime scene assistance. When emergencies like this arise, we’re swift water rescue folks, using shallower boats to rescue people. The final count when we last checked was 150 people pulled from their homes. Thankfully, everyone we’ve rescued during this emergency has been alive: shaken, cold and wet, but alive.

We have a relationship with the fire departments. [We have] daily communication as our rescue building is next to the first aiders. We’re dispatched by the police department. In the course of this emergency, we were also able to stage 911 call-and-response out of our building. Our team works on donations. We’re totally independent and 100 percent volunteer.

Some of our dive-team members lost their homes as well. The six-foot waves brought in six-feet of water and wiped out a good portion of my house, and debris came floating in. A group from my church has been helping me clear out debris from the house. Many people have lost their homes completely; I’m blessed to still have a home.

LW: What is the biggest challenge for you and your team during this crisis?

RP: For my team and me, it’s working in black-water situations. When everyone else is running from the danger, we’re running toward it. There’s a lot of hazard, wind and waves. It’s dark, there’s no visibility underwater and it’s 100 percent by feel. This is why we train every week around the year, non-stop. I’m constantly the papa bear looking over my kids [the rescue team] to make sure they’re okay. I’m super-aware of my capabilities, and in a command situation where I have to put someone in harm’s way . . . that’s hard.

LW: What are things like for those affected by Superstorm Sandy right now?

RP: The circumstances go from a little water damage to homes being wiped off the planet. Infrastructure is totally down. We have to rebuild our lives and homes. My pastor has been involved. The LCMS has been involved. We’re blessed to have great, great friends in our parish and communities. The biggest thing is [that] it’s a sense of family and kinship. We usually sit across the pew from people, and we’re all polite, but when things like this happen and those people come and dig three feet of mud out of your house, that’s amazing.

LW: How can Lutherans in the LCMS help those suffering the effects of Superstorm Sandy?

RP: You name it. We need everything from toothpaste to dollar bills and everything in between. People need food, dry socks, homes. Anything you can imagine that’s part of your daily life, people don’t have anymore. People are in despair. They need encouragement and support.

About the Author:
Jeni Miller is an editor-at-large for The Lutheran Witness.

10 Minutes with . . . Rev. Heath R. Curtis

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:54:00 GMT

by Jeni Miller

Concordia Publishing House (CPH) has just released a new resource that will allow readers to immerse themselves in Lutheran heritage. The Apocrypha: The Lutheran Edition with Notes is a collection of texts that, while not divinely inspired, are helpful for Christians to read. CPH’s new book is the only ESV edition available, chock full of study notes, annotations, articles and illustrations that are meant to help the Lutheran reader navigate through these books.

The Rev. Heath R. Curtis, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Carpenter, Ill., and Trinity Lutheran Church in Worden, Ill., served as a contributor to this new edition. Curtis wrote the study notes for several chapters in Sirach, drawing on his background in the Classics to help bring the reader to an understanding of how to read this book in the best and most useful way.

The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Rev. Heath R. Curtis (HRC).

LW: What was it like for you as a contributor to this new edition of the Apocrypha?

HRC: I really enjoyed it because this is part of our Lutheran heritage. So much got lost in the LCMS's transition from German to English. Every German Bible CPH ever printed was a Luther Bible, which always included the Apocrypha between the Old Testament and New Testament. When Luther says these are books that are not part of Scripture but are good to read, he meant not only privately but even in church.

It’s always challenging to take on a piece of ancient Greek and dig deeper into it; you really have to look hard and figure out the best way to elucidate it for English readers. Sirach is like Proverbs part 2 in the Wisdom literature category. A lot of that is practical, how to live life. Some of the references in there really show how helpful it is to have a Classics background. Most challenging though is dealing with the ancient Greek and Hebrew culture and languages.

LW: What is the difference between this and previous editions of the Apocrypha?

HRC: This is the first that’s been put out in English, and this version is like the new Lutheran Study Bible. It has study notes, comprehensive introductions and even a very detailed introduction to the 400-year history between Malachi and Matthew.

That’s why Lutherans need to read this: It really fills in the gaps between Malachi and Matthew. People may have wondered, “Why on earth is the New Testament in Greek? Where did these Greeks come from?” The answer to all these questions is in the Apocrypha; it’s the link between worlds and cultures. It’s an essential part of intelligently studying Scripture.

LW: Why should Lutherans be interested in checking out this book?

HRC: History. The Apocrypha contains the connection between the Old and New Testament worlds. As Lutherans, it’s part of our tradition. Not only are there lots of pious stories that teach morality, but there is so much history that certainly any history buff would consider this a must-have

LW: How should Lutherans properly regard the Apocrypha, and how can they read it in a way that is helpful and affirming of faith?

HRC: Lutherans can read it as a resource. For example, I’m encouraging some in my Bible classes to check out the book. For the people who are already using the Treasury of Daily Prayer and who want more to read, this is the perfect book for them. It’s very helpful, especially in this particular edition with notes. That way, when the reader gets to those junctures, the notes explain how something there obviously departs from what we learn in the Old and New Testaments. It’s like having a Lutheran guide right there in the study notes; it removes any concern and confusion.

LW: What else do LCMS Lutherans need to know about this new resource?

HRC: We are actually already using the Apocrypha, but most don’t notice it. A lot of introits, graduals and other parts of the liturgy come from the Apocrypha. Anytime you see in the hymnal the words “liturgical text,” it is likely from the Apocrypha and often from Sirach. As Lutherans, we’ve been praying the Apocrypha for a long time. Now we can actually read it.

About the Author: Jeni Miller is an editor-at-large for The Lutheran Witness.

10 Minutes With ... the Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller Jr.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:40:00 GMT

by Melanie Ave

The Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller, Jr. serves as first vice-president of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS), a position to which he was elected in July 2010 during the LCMS National Convention. As we look to next year’s triennial convention, Mueller offers some insight into his background, duties, family and motivation.

The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Mueller [pronounced Miller] (HM):

LW: Tell us about your family and where you grew up.

HM: My father was a bachelor pastor for a number of years. In the fall of 1951, the neighboring pastor told him he had a new young teacher in his school. He conspired to introduce her to my father. By August of 1952, they were married. I came along in 1953. Though my father was 15 years older than my mother, God gave them a great life together. The oldest of seven, I have four brothers and two sisters. We grew up in North Dakota and Michigan, moving to Michigan when I was 10. I was blessed to attend Lutheran grade school in both places.

LW: Before becoming the LCMS’ first vice-president, you served as district president of the Southern Illinois District for 16 years and a congregational pastor for 15 years at small and large churches in Illinois. What do you remember about your first sermon?

HM: My first parish was in Chicago. I served there for four years. I remember being thoroughly frightened, just awed by the responsibility. I also remember the Scripture passage. I spoke on 2 Cor. 5: 20: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

LW: How quickly did the fright go away?

HM: It never fully does. If you’re not anxious, you can become cavalier about the process of preaching. My experience has been that my best sermons were the ones where I really struggled over the text and struggled to get it right. I’m working hard to express it in the best way possible, working hard to make sure Christ is clearly proclaimed. There’s always some anxiety about that.

LW: What are your responsibilities as first vice-president?

HM: The actual job description is in the bylaws. It’s two things: I’m chairman of the colloquy committees, and I do whatever the president asks me to do. That could be anything! But I am blessed to be closely working with President Harrison.

LW: What are colloquy committees?

HM: Both pastors and teachers from other church bodies can, by applying for colloquy, come into The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. There are two committees that I chair that oversee the process. There’s a 20-page manual and a 12-page application form on the Synod website that explains how the process works

LW: One of the duties LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison has assigned you is oversight of the Koinonia Project. What is that?

HM: Koinonia is a Greek word that means “fellowship” or “communion.” This project is designed to foster theological discussion toward greater unity. It’s being piloted currently in the Nebraska, Northern Illinois and South Wisconsin districts. Each one involves people from across the spectrum. Under the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions, we are seeking to resolve issues that cause division. Before convention next summer, there will be a detailed report concerning what we’ve done and where we’re going with these pilot projects. We’re trying to learn what works and what doesn’t.

LW: How do you compare your past job as a district president to your current job as first vice-president at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis?

HM: People ask me sometimes if this is more difficult or more work than being a district president. The answer is “No, it’s not.” It’s about the same. It’s just a different pattern. When I was a district president, I could focus on my 110 pastors and my 96 congregations. Now we have a much broader perspective where we have to see the whole picture.

LW: Who was one of your mentors?

HM: The first person would be my father. I grew up watching him go about ministry until he passed away. I would talk to him a couple of times a week about ministry. My father was a great Greek scholar. Sometimes I would ask him to help with research into the Scripture texts for my messages. In his retirement, he’d love to sit down and write all kinds of notes and suggestions for me. That was neat.

LW: What do you enjoy doing on your time off?

HM: I have a nice little garden. I mess around with that. I like to work on my house. It used to be that when I had time off, I’d work on the house or in the garden. My wife and I in the last four or five years have recognized our hobby is going to visit our kids. [The Muellers have three grown children and two grandchildren who live in Iowa and Indiana.]

LW: What is something about you that not a lot of people know?

HM: I enjoy reading and collecting books about Abraham Lincoln. I’ve always admired Abraham Lincoln and not just what he did in terms of the Civil War and keeping the country together. He asked these guys to be on his Cabinet who were his rivals for nomination as president. He not only formed this team of rivals, but he won them all over for the most part.

LW: What are your hopes for the LCMS in the future?

HM: I gave the graduation address at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. (where he also received an honorary doctorate). I got to speak to the graduates about the confession of faith that we have and the mission God has given us. Our confession of faith keeps Christ at the center . . . always seeking to bring the greatest comfort to hurting and broken people. That’s why I’m a Lutheran. That message is not something for us to keep to ourselves but to tell it as much as possible. And if you think that outreach is our top priority, that’s exactly right. It is the command of Christ! We are saved by God’s grace alone for the sake of Christ alone, and that gift is through faith alone. That’s the message that must be told because that message brings the greatest comfort to hurting and broken people. This is what we constantly pray for the pastors, teachers and congregations of our Synod.

LW: Any additional thoughts you’d like to share?

HM: There are two great blessings in my life. First is my wife, Faith, and our family. I would not have been able to do the things I’ve done without Faith. And the greater blessing, of course, is knowing the Lord Jesus and His death and resurrection for us. There are a lot of things that I don’t know the answer to, but I know that Jesus lives and He said, “Follow me.” That’s what has pulled me forward.

About the Author: Melanie Ave is the Public Relations Coordinator for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

10 Minutes With . . . Colonel Bud Day

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:19:00 GMT

by Jeni Miller

“For the very fact that the sword has been instituted of God to punish the evil and protect the good and preserve peace, (Romans 13:1, 1 Peter 3:1) is proof, powerful and sufficient, that fighting and slaying and the other things that war-times and martial law bring with them, have been instituted by God. What else is war than the punishment of wrong and evil?” (Martin Luther, Whether Soldiers Too Can Be Saved)

LCMS member Colonel Bud Day understands the office of the sword, the punishment of wrong and evil and what it means to suffer for the good of his neighbor. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and Command Pilot, Day served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, including five years and seven months as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. During that time of being captured, escaping and living on frogs and berries to survive, then being recaptured and tortured, Colonel Day remained steadfast in faith in God and in service to his country.

Colonel Day is the most decorated U.S. military service member since General Douglas MacArthur, receiving more than seventy decorations, and he is also a recipient of the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross. Following his retirement from the military, he resumed work as a lawyer in Florida, where he currently attends Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Shalimar, Fla..

The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Colonel Day (CD).

LW: Why did you choose to serve in the military?

CD: When I was in high school, just coming up on 17 years old, World War II had started, and we had been attacked by the Japanese. I wanted to defend my country. Although I hadn’t initially planned on a military career, I couldn’t see doing anything other than that until the war was over. Due to my service, I earned four years of college eligibility, enough for a degree or a couple of degrees, so I decided to either become a doctor or a lawyer-–so I became a lawyer.

LW: It would be impossible to recount here what you went through during your military career. In the midst of war, imprisonment, torture and death, how were you able to remain so courageous?

CD: I have been very frightened many times. I don’t make any excuses or apologies for that. However, I experienced that there was physically a calm that God gave me in the midst of trouble. One thing I always insisted on was to stay within the legal limits of things you can do in warfare and never exceed those. To the best of my knowledge, I never exceeded those limits. I have killed a lot of people, but I never acted outside of what I was called to do. Being a soldier is not easy, but I was able to remain courageous because I knew that I was involved in defeating a lot of evil for the good of my neighbor.

Sometimes I had so many prayers, I was convinced others probably couldn’t get their prayers in edgewise because I had so many lined up! I also used to say Psalm 23 everyday.

LW: When in Vietnam, your plane was shot down. Was this a time of faith building or faith questioning?

CD: I never questioned my faith. It never faltered. No matter what our enemies tried to tell me or what I heard on the radio, God never allowed me to believe them or question my faith.

LW: How does your Lutheran faith impact your work and life, both past and present?

CD: I believe that your faith is a big part of your persona. It dictates how you conduct yourself and how you live, the stand you take on certain issues. I’ve always held onto the outlook that God runs the universe and has a plan for all of us. Everything that happened to me-–and that continues to happen to me-–is a part of God’s perfect will.

LW: It is difficult for many people, especially civilians, to see being a lifelong soldier who has and is willing to go into combat as a God-given vocation. How do you see your service in the Armed Forces as a vocation given by God?

CD: Freedom is not free. We even acknowledge that in the hymns that we sing in church, like Onward Christian Soldiers, as we recognize that there is always a war raging and that all people should be treated fair and equally. Sometimes people are given the vocation to fight to protect that, which is why I see no conflict in being a Christian and being in combat at all.

LW: How can we in the LCMS who are not engaged in military service best serve and help our brothers and sisters who risk their lives for our protection?

CD: We not only need to believe in Christ, but we also need to be diligent in acting out our beliefs. The best way to help those in the military is by prayer and keeping the faith.

About the Author: Jeni Miller is an editor-at-large for The Lutheran Witness.

Diving In

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:00:00 GMT

by A. Trevor Sutton

About a decade ago, Thomas Finchum was on a houseboat vacation with his family. His grandmother noticed him diving off the top of the houseboat. Being a former diver herself, she gave him a few pointers. Finchum, 22, became an Olympic Diver for the USA National Diving Team.

In the 2008 Olympic games, Finchum finished fifth in synchronized and 12th in individual platform. In June 2012, he retired from the sport after learning that he had not qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Finchum is a member at Zion Lutheran Church in New Palestine, Ind. The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Finchum (TF).

LW: How is it that you first became interested in diving?

TF: It is actually a pretty funny story. My grandmother, Barbara Whiteside, used to be a diver when she was younger. My whole family went on houseboat trip, and my grandmother taught me how to dive off of the houseboat. When we got back home from the trip, my mother signed me up to take formal lessons. That was when I was nine years old, and now I am 22 and still diving.

LW: What has been your proudest moment in your diving career?

TF: My proudest moment in diving definitely has to be representing the United States in the 2008 Olympics. Even though my results were not the picture perfect outcome I was hoping for, when I came home I realized what an honor it was to even be there. Even though I went over there with every intention of medaling, I realize it is a big deal to represent your entire country at the Games.

LW: To what extent has your family influenced and supported your diving career?

TF: Family is a very important thing to me. They have played a huge role in my life. They raised me in the Christian faith always teaching me that anything is possible with God. I could be an Olympic champion or the worst diver in the world and they would still love me just the same. Although I come from an athletic family, sports were never forced on me. All my siblings have been involved in some sort of athletics with my sister competing in gymnastics and my brother playing baseball. My dad is the high school basketball coach at Lutheran High School of Indianapolis and my mom is the family’s cheerleader.

LW: What is your favorite book of the Bible and why?

TF: I love the entire book of Philippians, but in particular I like it because my confirmation verse comes from it: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” To me, it is so crucial to have faith in Christ and something to believe in beyond yourself. When I am 30 feet up in the air on a platform, it is nice to simply trust in Him. In life, there are all sorts or ups and downs; just last year I had shoulder surgery and it was very scary not knowing if I could be back to the same level I was diving. I trusted that God had plans for me. Eventually, I came out stronger than I was before the surgery. Afterward, I could see how awesome His plan was.

LW: How do you maintain composure on top of the diving platform?

TF: There is a great deal of practice that goes into staying focused and maintaining composure. Much of our training is in keeping focus. As a Christian diver though, my relationship to God does play a large part in this focus. Before I dive, I always pray and ask God to be with me.

LW: To which countries has your diving career taken you?

TF: I have been to lots of countries as a result of my diving. The ones that come to mind are Russia, Germany, Spain, Australia and Great Britain. I have been to China more times than I can count. I’ve also been to Brazil and Italy. I really loved Italy. I love the pizza there; it is entirely different than American pizza, but it is still really good.

LW: What sort of interactions do you have with your teammates and divers on other teams?

TF: My teammates and I are very close even though we sort of have to compete against each other for a spot on the Olympic team. Many of us have been traveling together for six or more years. We have all become great supporters of one another. It is the same way within the broader world of diving. It is crazy to think that I have friends from all over the globe.

LW: Tell me about your home congregation.

TF: We are members at Zion Lutheran in New Palestine, Ind. It is a great church, and the pastor is awesome. I love being there with my family and getting to worship together. I play in the praise band there with my brother. It is a very fun and inviting place to be a member.

LW: You’ve been to many different countries and met many different types of people. Why are you still Lutheran?

TF: I love the Lutheran church. I was baptized at ten days old and then literally grew in Lutheran churches since my mother was the church secretary. Since I can remember, I have been raised in the Lutheran church. I particularly enjoy the traditions that the Lutheran church maintains. I have been to plenty of other churches with my friends who are from different denominations, but nothing is the same as the Lutheran church. It feels like home to me.

LW: Have you ever had an opportunity to share your faith with teammates, coaches, or opponents through your diving?

TF: I do on occasion have the opportunity to share my faith with other divers. For me, the one thing that I have learned from dad is spreading your faith in Christ through your actions. By simply being the best person you can be and living as a Christian role model, you are sharing the love of Christ with others.

LW: Tim Tebow credits his success as a professional quarterback to his Christian faith. How would your diving career be different if the Lutheran faith was not a part of your life?

TF: Without my faith, I would not be where I am today. Really, where would any of us be without God? I certainly would not have gone this far or been this successful without God’s presence in my life and relying on Him.

LW: I heard you are in a band. Tell me about that.

TF: I just recently started a country band called the Northern Nights. We played at a Super Bowl event here in Indy called Taste of the NFL. It was an event to raise money for soup kitchens and food banks around America. It is great to be able to do what we love and help others out in the process.

About the Author: Rev. A. Trevor Sutton is pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Haslett, Mich.

10 Minutes With . . . General John W. Vessey

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:49:00 GMT

by Jeni Miller

“In the same way, when I think of a soldier fulfilling his office by punishing the wicked, killing the wicked, and creating so much misery, it seems an un-Christian work completely contrary to Christian love. But when I think of how it protects the good and keeps and preserves wife and child, house and farm, property, and honor and peace, then I see how precious and godly this work is; and I observe that it amputates a leg or a hand, so that the whole body may not perish.” (Martin Luther, Whether Soldiers Too Can Be Saved)

These words from the beloved church father, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, are echoed still today by one of the greatest--and LCMS--military heroes of our time. General John W. Vessey, Jr. served our country in active military duty for more than 46 years, beginning in 1939 when he enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard and concluding in 1985 as Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Ronald Reagan. Throughout those years, General Vessey fought in North Africa and Italy in World War II, as well as in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

In addition to his extensive active service, he also served as first commander-in-chief of the Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command and as the appointed Presidential Emissary to Hanoi to negotiate with the Vietnamese government regarding the fates of missing Americans. His numerous honors include the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defense Distinguished Service Medals, in addition to many other military decorations. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart and other medals from 19 friendly and allied nations. In 1992, President Bush awarded him the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. General Vessey is also the only person to have ever achieved every rank the Army had to offer.

The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with General Vessey (GV).

LW: You have quite an impressive catalog of accomplishments and honors. Out of your extensive military career, what stands out to you as being the greatest honor, privilege or responsibility?

GV: For me, the greatest honor was the opportunity to serve for 46 years with some of the finest men and women that our country produces. It was exciting and rewarding, but when it comes down to it, most of my accomplishments and honors were due to the work of others. I am just a fellow simple human being that God allowed to be in extraordinary situations and places on this earth.

LW: Considering your service in World War II, Vietnam and Korea, what was the biggest challenge in your career and how did you overcome adversity?

GV: I had marvelous Lutheran, U.S. Army chaplains that constantly reminded me that God is in charge. Without the chaplains, my service would have been much more difficult. I often compared the chaplains to Zacchaeus in the tree. Zacchaeus was a short guy, but he climbed that tree to get up to see His Lord. The chaplains allowed me to see God when otherwise I wouldn’t have seen Him.

LW: What was the greatest blessing you encountered in your career?

GV: God has been very kind to me and my family. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful marriage, three amazing children and the opportunity to serve with hundreds of thousands of men and women in the military. That is the greatest blessing of all–-the people.

LW: How does your Lutheran faith play a role in your courageous work, both when you were in active duty as well as now in retirement?

GV: I’ve been a lifelong Lutheran, and for that I am thankful. Martin Luther once wrote a pamphlet called Whether Soldiers Too Can Be Saved. I really took that to heart. Article 16 of the Augsburg Confession--which among other things says that Christians may serve in just wars--well, one can certainly take comfort in that too. Christ goes with us wherever we are. The Lutheran Confessions are blessings to us and make us stronger and help us understand the Word of God even more.

One blessing I encountered after active duty was the occasion to serve with some wonderful Lutherans on the Board for Mission Services and as Chairman for “For the Sake of the Church.” It was a great opportunity to help promote Lutheran education. It’s important to have a Christ-centered environment, both in higher education and in the military.

LW: In what ways are you involved in your church?

GV: At 90 years old, right now the only thing I do is participate on a committee to write a mission statement and long-range plan for my home church, Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Garrison, Minn. In the past though, you name it, I’ve done it: chief vacuum cleaner operator, stewardship committee member, Bible study teacher, usher . . .

LW: How can we, as Lutherans, properly view military service in light of caring for our neighbor and protecting him in his body?

GV: It first starts with Article 16 of the Augsburg Confession: It is not only right to serve but it is a duty for Christians to serve the civil community. As Luther pointed out, we live in the two kingdoms: the kingdom of God on the right and the civil on the left. We are God’s representatives in both places, but we are also fallible and sinful beings in both places, so we need to carry God’s Word with us as we do His work in the community. Being a soldier is not only okay but is even required by civil authorities for the safety of citizens.

For the young people today, I encourage them to consider a bit of service to the nation, whether it is teaching in schools or in the Armed Forces or what have you. It is an important thing, and you can take your Christian beliefs to that service, making both the service and yourself stronger.

LW: Most of us go through our lives in an occupation that does not require us to make life-altering or life-taking decisions in defense of country or self. How does the Christian soldier deal with the inner conflict that may accompany such an occupation?

GV: Prayer.

LW: In the military, is there a struggle of having to compromise or follow orders that burden the conscience?

GV: There are certain things you just don’t compromise on. According to our Lutheran Confessions, we are to obey the orders of civil authorities--until we are ordered to sin. Then God is in charge.

I never allowed my Christian beliefs to be a secret. I sometimes went out of my way to be sure they weren’t a secret! When traveling to places that were enemies to the U.S., I knew that they would bug our living facilities. So I’d do my daily devotions and prayers under the bug so they could hear loud and clear where my beliefs lie. That led to a number of interesting conversations later in life. At one point during my six years of diplomatic work, I was working with former Soviet Union folks. One day I met with the former Chief Historian of the Soviet Armed Forces and he asked to speak to me privately, so we went out in the hall together. He told me that he knew I was a Christian and he wanted to tell me that he himself had been baptized just the day before.

I’ve been blessed to have an interesting life with the opportunity to sit with presidents and kings and dictators and prime ministers. Sometimes I’d argue with them, sometimes pray with them. It added a lot of spice to my life!

LW: Any final words of wisdom?

GV: Our Lord has given us a few orders: Follow Me. And love your neighbor as yourself. And take the Word to the far reaches of the earth. It’s not “If you want to do this, then go ahead.” There are no alternatives. And that’s an order!

About the author: Jeni Miller is an editor-at-large for The Lutheran Witness.

10 Minutes With ... Angelina Gomez

Wed, 09 May 2012 17:39:00 GMT

by Melanie Ave

Angelina Gomez, a retired information systems analyst, is vice-president of her congregation, St. John's Lutheran Church in Montebello, Calif., and also serves as director of vacation Bible school and Sunday school. She is the founder and president of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League's (LWML) Priscilla Guild and chairs the LWML's Heart to Heart Sisters Committee.

Gomez has three children--Richard, Russell and Priscilla--and four grandchildren. The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Gomez (AG):

LW: Tell us about yourself and your faith.

AG: I am the oldest girl of a family of 13. I am the proud mother of two sons, Richard and Russell, and a daughter, Priscilla. I am very blessed to have these wonderful children who have made my life complete. I have four wonderful grandchildren, three boys and one girl. I am not only a proud mother but a proud grandmother. I was raised a Lutheran and attended Lutheran schools all my life. I graduated from Lutheran High School in Inglewood, Calif., in 1963. I have a strong faith that sustained me through the loss of my mother who died at 46 years old. It grew even stronger, and I grew closer to God in raising my children after my divorce. I am committed to sharing the Word of God with my family and friends and whoever I meet as that is God's command that we "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation."

LW: How did you get involved with LWML, and how has it affected your life and your ministry?

AG: I became involved with LWML as a little girl because my mother, Juanita, would take me with her to the Ladies Aid Dorcas Society meetings at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Houston. In 1956, my father Charles moved our family to southern California as my mom was in need of a heart specialist who resided in California. We attended La Santa Cruz Lutheran Church, and again my mother became a member of the Ladies Aid Society.

My love of LWML came from years of working with women who were passionate about their service to the Lord. I will never forget that it was an LWML member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Mrs. Hansen, who picked me up from Lutheran High School and took me shopping for a graduation dress, shoes and my first pair of nylons. She knew that we belonged to a large family and my father was not able to afford what I considered luxuries.

I also will never forget that another LWML woman by the name of Barbara Manske came to our house when my mother had open heart surgery and asked my dad what she could do to help. My dad said, "You can wash." She gathered numerous bags of clothing and washed all of it. These acts of kindness from women who knew very little about us but were willing to go the extra mile affected my life in that I genuinely want to serve anyone regardless of creed or color.

LW: What is Heart to Heart Sisters, and what is its relationship to the LCMS?

AG: Heart to Heart Sisters is a program made up of women from the LCMS whose mission is to follow the mission of LWML, which is to motivate, equip and ensure opportunities for women of diverse ethnic groups to serve the church and witness to the world. The LWML recognizes that the Body of Christ grows and is strengthened when sisters of every age, class, culture and ethnic group are sought out to participate actively in LCMS churches. The LWML recognizes that there are gifted ethnic women serving with joy and passion in many ethnic-specific ministries throughout the LCMS. However, because of the nature of ethnic-specific ministry and the fact that many of these women leaders are converts to Christianity themselves, they are unfamiliar with the culture of the LCMS and LWML. They often feel isolated from the church-at-large.

LW: Why is having a rich diversity of women involved in the church important?

AG: When you value the ministries of ethnic women throughout the LCMS, you give yourself a large margin for success. In identifying women in these ethnic-specific ministries, you begin to work together as a team to achieve LCMS goals. Through the Heart to Heart program, we let ethnic women come to the realization that as women of the LCMS, they are already members of the LWML, the official women's auxiliary of the LCMS. This is largely unknown to ethnic women of our Synod. We discover ways for ethnic women to connect with other LCMS women and participate in the leadership of the LWML. Their participation will enhance and enrich the ministry of the entire LCMS and LWML.

LW: How do women get involved?

AG: Any woman interested in becoming involved with the Heart to Heart Sisters program can contact me or any of the Heart to Heart committee members. The Heart to Heart Sisters program participants must have a heart and some experience in cross- cultural ministry. Age or race is not important.

LW: What is your ultimate goal for Heart to Heart Sisters?

AG: The ultimate goal for Heart to Heart Sisters is to achieve the primary goals of LWML. The mission of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League is to assist each woman of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod in affirming her relationship with the triune God so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world.

The Primary Targets are: (1) growing in the Lord. Women of today find guidance for their lives, encouragement for their walk and inspiration for joyful service through intentional study of the Word; (2) valuing all women. Women of all ages, stages of life, races, locations and cultures are welcomed, mentored and encouraged to be active partners in the shared mission of LWML; (3) living the mission. As the "Face of LWML," women are engaged in opportunities to use their gifts to impact the world for Christ in their daily lives.

About the Author: Melanie Ave is the Public Relations Coordinator for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

10 Minutes With ... Rick Holste

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:12:00 GMT

by Melanie Ave

This past year, the schools in both LCMS Iowa District East and Iowa District West wanted a mission project that would unite them all. Their chosen project? The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod’s “Building Homes and Hope in Haiti” effort. The children and staff at the schools wanted to raise money to build a home for a family left homeless from the Haiti earthquake in 2010.

“The students recognized that the people of Haiti didn’t have much to begin with, and for many of them, what little they did have was taken away,” said Rick Holste, a fourth-grade teacher at Immanuel Lutheran School in Waterloo, Iowa. “It created a sense of compassion.” Holste helped organize the project for the two districts. The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Holste (RH):

LW: Why did the schools choose the “Building Homes and Hope in Haiti” project?

RH: It seems as though after the earthquake in Haiti there was an immediate outpouring of aide for Haiti. We felt a strong need to keep our students aware of the long-term needs that existed. All of the Lutheran schools in Iowa were encouraged to designate their chapel offerings for the first quarter of the current school year toward this mission. Principals were then contacted and asked to have their schools help raise funds. A high percentage chose to participate.

LW: Tell us more.

RH: The cost of building a one-bedroom home with a bathroom is approximately $6,000. Our goal was to be able to provide enough money to build a home. Our goal of $6,000 was met. I personally was overwhelmed by the generosity of the students at Immanuel. We initially set a goal of raising $1,000 during the nine-week period. In addition to our chapel offerings, we did a bake sale, donated concession money from our sporting events and had two out-of-uniform days where students could wear jeans for a dollar contribution. The students were always asking me for updates on our total. Through God’s grace and the compassionate hearts of the students, we raised more than $2,500 at Immanuel.

LW: Why were the students committed to this project?

RH: I feel like the students really enjoyed helping others. Last year, they had collected school supplies to send to children in Haiti, so they already felt a connection to Haiti and were well aware of the needs in Haiti. I think our students also really realized how blessed they are.

LW: Any anecdotal details you can share?

RH: It was exciting to see the children’s enthusiasm grow. Whenever one goal was met, they would immediately want to set a new goal. I was constantly bombarded with questions from them on what our new total was. Perhaps what was most touching was one Monday morning when a fifth grader came to me and told me that he and his mother had gone around the neighborhood asking for donations. He couldn’t wait for Wednesday to come so he could put in the money he raised.

LW: How was the message of Christ a part of this project?

RH: In addition to helping with their physical needs, we prayed for the spiritual growth of the people of Haiti. The students realized that through their actions they were spreading the Gospel message. I hope that as people read this, they will encourage their schools to adopt either this project or similar projects. When students know Christ’s joy, they naturally want to share that with others.

To learn more about the LCMS “Building Homes and Hope in Haiti” project, visit: www.lcms.org/bhhh.

About the Author: Melanie Ave is the Public Relations Coordinator for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

10 Minutes With ... Rev. Jeffrey Kuddes

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:04:00 GMT

by Melanie Ave

The Rev. Jeffrey Kuddes is a Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS) pastor of nearly 20 years who has developed an ongoing love for the people of Madagascar, a country 10,000 miles from his southeast Minnesota home. Kuddes currently serves a dual-parish, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran in Waltham, Minn., and St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran in Hollandale, Minn.

In April 2010, after busy Lent and Easter seasons, he wondered if he should get involved in short-term mission work. Later, with the support of his congregations, Kuddes accepted a call for chaplains to accompany an LCMS Mercy Medical Team (MMT) trip to Madagascar. “After my first trip, I was changed in so many ways, more than I could detail,” he says. Since then, Kuddes has been to Madagascar two more times and led a team there in October 2010 for the LCMS MMT program. He has even helped establish a mission society with other LCMS pastors and laymen that benefits the Lutheran Hospital in Antsirabe, Madagascar, and the Malagasy Lutheran Church.

Kuddes and his wife, Michele, have three children: Caleb and his wife, Chelsea, and Jacob and Naomi. The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Kuddes (JK):

LW: You recently led a short-term mission team to Madagascar. What was that like?

JK: Leading a team in October 2011 was a bit daunting. While I have become well-acquainted with our Malagasy partners and am in contact with them regularly, I was still nervous about all the preparations to leave, presenting all the documentation (visas and baggage permission) that is necessary for travel, the gathering of the team (usually in Europe) and then proceeding to Madagascar, a 10,000-mile trip.

Additionally, on this last trip, we were a small team of four--three registered nurses and myself; no pharmacist and no doctors. Sinner that I am, I did worry, but for no purpose. As usual, our Lord provided all that was needed.
When the day came, all was packed, the documentation was done. We all met in Paris and flew to Madagascar. We flew through customs like we’ve never done before, and through the week, we ended up treating 1,079 patients in five clinics with the help of some wonderful Lutheran Malagasy doctors and helpers beside us. Thanks be to God! It was more than either of the other two trips. Indeed, God is gracious and merciful and so very forgiving, even of a wretch like me.

LW: We understand you are developing a mission society in Madagascar. Can you offer some more details?

JK: This has become a great joy for me in addition to my call as pastor here in Minnesota. We worked hard on that first trip, and yet I realized that there was so much more to do. On my second trip to Madagascar, I met with [Lutheran Hospital and Malagasy Lutheran Church officials] to establish projects whereby we could provide funds to fulfill needs for the Lutheran Hospital in Antsirabe and for the Malagasy Lutheran Church. To that end, through fundraising here in the United States, we have been able to send a little more than $30,000 for various projects in these areas. I was able to witness the work that had been accomplished there on my third trip. Again, thanks be to God!

Much was accomplished, but there is still so much more to do. Our next major project is to finish the building of a Lutheran school in Nanotonana. I visited the 150 children enrolled, which could expand to 300 or more with help. They are desperate for a roof, additional rooms, tables and chairs, books and more.

We are looking to raise, by the grace of God, around $15,000 to accomplish this goal. Please pray for us, and help us if you can. As Luther said, “We are beggars!” You can’t imagine how grateful these dear people are that there are those who live over 10,000 miles away who would care about them and their lives, often ones of desperation and dire poverty. They are moved to tears, as are we!

LW: Why do you think it’s important for Lutherans to participate in these short-term teams?

JK: With respect to the LCMS MMTs, it’s primarily important that we have willing, talented medical professionals to do the work of mercy in many places where medical needs are currently underserved. I do believe that being Lutheran and making the Lutheran connection, for instance, 10,000 miles away is equally as important. It is easy for brothers and sisters in Christ to feel alone, no matter where they live. To make that connection of faith is not just a wonderful experience but a faith-strengthening experience for all concerned. We are one together in faith and in the confession of that faith--Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ, our Savior.

LW: How is Christ’s love shared with the people you are helping?

JK: Christ’s love is given in body and soul, and the two are together in each person. As the body is helped, it is good for the soul, and the other way is true too. The LCMS MMTs are there for both! To be sure, we are there to provide relief from the ravages of sin to the body. Along with the dedicated and caring knowledge of our medical professionals who are ready to diagnose and treat a variety of physical ailments, there is also medicine and ongoing physical and spiritual care from our local partners.
The love of Christ is given from His people to His people in this way. In addition, one of my tasks as team chaplain is to have devotions, which I did morning and evening for the team. God’s Word gives strength and peace to our teams so that they can then share Christ’s love with others in need.

LW: How can people support these teams?

JK: Support can be given by prayer and money and participation, plain and simple. We should always pray God’s mercy for us and others and for the salvation of the world.

Pray the Lord of the Church that His will is done in your life and that His Kingdom comes to you and through you! To that end, gifts of money are crucial for our work, for your work.

And then there is you! We need you to volunteer and serve. The LCMS MMTs are oriented around providing medical help. We need medical professionals and hard-working laypeople to volunteer to serve for just a few short days. Any and all are invited and encouraged to live the love of Christ by giving as God gives the opportunity--either with talent or treasure.

LW: Is there anything else you would like people to know about the LCMS MMTs?

JK: As I go about doing presentations on these trips, I have heard comments like, “Well, Pastor, you know there’s plenty of work to do right here at home.” And I wholeheartedly agree, and we should be doing that work too!

The issue is resources. Because we are so greatly blessed in the United States, resources for help are many. In third world nations, poverty-stricken nations, nations with inept or corrupt governments, the resources are few to non-existent.

We can, we should, be the resource! We are alive in Christ to resource the world with the love and mercy of Christ. By the grace of God, this is what we do in Madagascar, Haiti, Kenya, India and throughout the world. Would you like to help? Would you please help?

Learn more about LCMS MMTs at www.lcms.org/mercyteams.

---

About the Author: Melanie Ave is the Public Relations Coordinator for The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

10 Minutes With ... Rev. Jeff Williams

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:15:00 GMT

by Adriane Dorr

Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Williams was raised in the western suburbs of Chicago. While in third grade, he decided he wanted to become a pastor, and he did, graduating in 1992 from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. Rev. Williams served congregations in Kansas, Wisconsin and Colorado and then on the faculty of Concordia University Wisconsin.

He joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in 1977 and was later appointed as a chaplain in 1994 to serve units in Kansas and Colorado. His CAP awards include Exceptional Service, Commander Commendation and Achievement Awards; the Gill Robb Wilson Certificate (the highest senior member training award); life saving, Air Search and Rescue and numerous activity ribbons.

The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Williams (JW):

LW: Give us a brief history of the Civil Air Patrol.

JW: The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) grew out of efforts by Gill Robb Wilson and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in the months preceding World War II. The founders were very aware the United States was not ready for the war that everyone expected, so they decided to offer the services of civilian pilots and airplanes for domestic use. CAP was chartered on Dec. 1, 1941, six days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the opening days of the war, CAP was tasked with spotting German submarines that lurked off the East Coast. Using light civilian aircraft, CAP is credited with sinking one submarine and locating survivors of 369 ships.

Consequently, the first aerial photographs of ground zero on Sept. 11, 2001, were taken from a CAP Cessna 172. CAP also provided support on the ground and in the air for Hurricane Katrina, the floods in North and South Dakota and during the Gulf oil spill.

LW: The LCMS has a number of men who are endorsed to be chaplains in the CAP. What is their role?

JW: According to the LCMS’ Ministry to the Armed Forces website, there are 29 LCMS pastors serving as chaplains. Although the CAP chaplain is a volunteer and receives no pay or benefits for his service, he still has to meet the same educational and ecclesiastical endorsements as an active duty, Reserve, National Guard or Veterans Administration chaplain. This means the chaplain must have a Master of Divinity degree and be endorsed by the Synod.

In Emergency Services, the chaplain is available to support the cadet and senior members who are working to support the community. During the recent Gulf oil spill, CAP provided several chaplains to support CAP, the Coast Guard and others who were trying to minimize the damage to property and life. The chaplain may be called upon for prayers, for services, for counseling, for that friendly ear or to be part of an incident debriefing team.

CAP chaplains may be on the front lines at a disaster, while non-CAP clergy are not allowed in the area because they do not have training. Chaplains may be trained in Critical Incident Stress Management, helping first-responders deal with the horrors of natural and man-made destruction. We are trained to function in a pluralistic society while maintaining the integrity of our confession, never compromising the truth of the Gospel.

LW: Why are CAP chaplains so necessary?

JW: The chaplain provides a reminder of God to those who are serving their country or community. Countless active duty military have spoken of the comfort they have received from the chaplains who are present as they face danger. Although CAP is a civilian, non-combatant organization, CAP members face the stresses of long hours and dangerous missions to save the lives of those in trouble. CAP members often are asked to search for a downed airplane in the same weather that caused an airplane accident. CAP members are asked to fly blood or vaccines at night, in poor weather or conditions of urgency. Chaplains support these missions.

LW: What do these men and women need to hear with regard to matters of faith?

JW: Cadets and senior members, like the world at large, need to know of God's grace and mercy as found in Christ Jesus alone. The CAP chaplain proclaims salvation by grace through faith for the sake of Christ. In the various chapel services he prepares, the chaplain proclaims the same Law and Gospel that any Lutheran pastor proclaims any time he is so privileged to serve God's people. The CAP chaplain may be conducting that service in a classroom a hotel lobby, an airplane hangar or outside. No matter, we preach Christ and Him crucified for the forgiveness of sins.

LW: As the Colorado Wing chaplain, in what sorts of situations have you found yourself bringing Christ to those in need?

JW: Two weeks after being named as the Colorado Wing chaplain, there was a wild fire in Boulder that destroyed over 160 homes. CAP was called out to help with relief supplies, sorting donated food and clothing and distributing it to those who had lost everything. We were on the job for two weeks. As each new shift came on, I would offer a prayer. During the lull in activities, I was able to speak of God's love, grace and mercy even in the midst of the raging fire. As a chaplain, I was able to care for our members by making sure they were hydrated, rested and receiving proper nutrition. I was able to care for our members by offering prayers, encouragement, short devotions and Scripture readings.

LW: Why is the LCMS’ continued involvement in CAP needed?

JW: We, as Lutherans, have the full and complete truth of salvation by grace through faith for the sake of Christ. We have the proper understanding of the means of grace whereby the Holy Spirit calls us and preserves us in faith in Christ Jesus. As both Lutherans and non-Lutherans serve their communities, we need to support them with prayer. We need to be there in the prophetic role of pastor, applying God's Word to various situations. We need to be there in the priestly role by representing the people entrusted to us to our heavenly Father. We need to be ready to answer the questions posed by those who do not know Christ Jesus. We need to proclaim God's rich grace and favor when the opportunity arises to provide chapel services. By providing chaplains, The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod shows that God cares for His people and that in the same way Jesus walked with mankind, we walk with our neighbors to represent Christ to them.

LW: What is the greatest joy of being able to bring Christ to the suffering?

JW: I get to bring Christ to those who are uncertain, who don't know Him, who sit in the darkness of sin. By being there, by listening, by answering their questions, I can show them the hope that comes from faith.

Everyone is suffering from something, be it ill health, a wildfire or waiting for word that a downed airplane has been found with survivors. Everyone has doubts; everyone feels the effects of sin. Every chaplain, every pastor, can tell stories of burdens lifted, hope restored and lives changed because we preach the cross of Christ Jesus. That is to say, the joys of CAP chaplaincy are the joys of being a pastor.

---

About the Author: Adriane Dorr is the managing editor of The Lutheran Witness.

Ten Minutes with . . . Doris Knuth

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:31:28 GMT

by Melanie Ave

In this interview, Doris Knuth, director of the Concordia University Chicago Early Childhood Education Center, explains the many benefits of a Lutheran education, particularly in the lives of the very young. Congregations and Christian day schools within The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS) operate more than 2,200 early childhood centers and preschools nationwide, educating more than 128,000 children. The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Knuth (DK):

LW: How did you end up in early childhood education?

DK: After graduating from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., in the early 1970s and spending a few years in the business sector, I was fortunate to find a position as a teacher. Working with children is a learning process, and I found that I enjoyed each day. Sharing those “ah-ha” moments has always been a highlight as a teacher.

LW: Seven LCMS schools were selected earlier this year to receive the National Lutheran School Accreditation’s “exemplary status” recognition out of 90 schools that it accredited or re-accredited in 2010. (The total number of accredited schools is 596.) What was it like when you received the news about your center being one of those recognized?

DK: To be chosen is an honor. We were excited, proud and even humbled. To be able to stand alongside six other incredible institutions has reinforced the understanding that early childhood education is an important part of children’s growth and development.

LW: What is it like teaching children about the Lutheran faith?

DK: As a free standing early childhood center, we have the challenge of bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to many families without the assistance and support of a home congregation. Research has shown that children learn by utilizing their senses and having an active part in the learning process. Making experiences real and tangible for children is the center of early childhood education. Making our faith in Jesus Christ real and tangible is the beginning of understanding what it means to be a Christian. It comes from knowing that all of us are loved and are able to love in return. We help children understand that, as children of God, we are given the ability to share Christ’s love and forgiveness with others. Including prayers, stories and songs throughout the day enforces our understanding of the depth of God’s love for us, a love so deep that He would send His only son to die for our salvation.

LW: Why do you think it’s important to help children not only to develop socially, emotionally and physically but also spiritually?

DK: Helping children develop socially and spiritually lays the groundwork for all other content areas. Learning about God’s love and forgiveness as a gift to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, at all times enables children to share this gift with others. Developing a sense of empathy, respect and friendship are encouraged through the Word of God.

---

About the Author: Melanie Ave is the Public Relations Coordinator for The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

Ten Minutes with . . . Tim Goeglein

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:51:00 GMT

Tim Goeglein thrives on communication. An Indiana University, Bloomington journalism graduate, Goeglein kick–started his career at an NBC affiliate station in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He later worked in Washington, D.C. as deputy press secretary and eventually as communications director for Indiana Senator Dan Coats. He then served as special assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liaison under George W. Bush from 2001–2008.

Following his work in the capitol, Goeglein accepted the position of vice president for external relations for the Colorado-based organization Focus on the Family, “a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive” (www.focusonthefamily.com).

He is also the author of a recently-released book entitled The Man in the Middle: An Inside Account of Faith and Politics in the George W. Bush Era. Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to George W. Bush, wrote the forward to Goeglein’s book. “At any given time, a handful of people--several hundred out of more than 311 million Americans today--are called by a president to serve on his White House staff. For seven eventful years Timothy Stanley Goeglein was one of those select few working at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” says Rove. “This book is his story of his time on the White House staff in years of controversy, conflict, and war.”

Goeglein and his wife, Jenny, have two sons, Tim and Paul, and are members of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Va. The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Goeglein (TG):

LW: What led you to choose a career in communications? What do you love about sharing ideas and knowledge through varying mediums to a large audience?

TG: Ever since I was a young boy growing up in Fort Wayne, Ind., I knew I wanted to be in journalism. I loved both the print and electronic media. Ernie Pyle, a fellow Hoosier, from little Dana, Ind., was my favorite reporter, and I came to see that his evocative, crystalline writing made him the best reporter and observer of World War II. I also admired the anchorman duties of Walter Cronkite. I came to see, many years later, that I disagreed with his worldview, but as an anchor and observer, he was definitive and the best of his era. But I was inspired by Pyle and Cronkite, and as I say in my new book The Man in the Middle, I came to a juncture in my life where I knew that, although I loved the world of ideas, I did not want to live encased in them, and I was not an intellectual because I loved people more than ideas. And so I decided on a life in journalism, which I still believe is the ultimate profession.

When I graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, I became an executive producer at the NBC affiliate in my hometown. A year and a half after I began working at the TV station, Dan Quayle became Vice President, Dan Coats became a U.S. Senator and the latter invited me to join his original staff as the deputy press secretary.

We were a staff that loved God and country, and I came to see, through their examples, that public service could be noble. So this was a vortex of communication, ideas, principles, and service, but all underscored by my love and passion for Jesus Christ who is the center of my life without peer.

My vocation had become people; relationships matter, beginning with my relationship with Christ. And so many years later, when I came to the White House, I saw that this combination was a way to live my faith by living my ideas.

LW: Your career has taken place largely in political realms. In these high-stress, high-profile arenas, is it difficult to contend for your Lutheran faith?

TG: I am tempted to say yes, but the answer is no. Luther is more relevant now than ever.

His Augustinian view of the two kingdoms has served me well as I have negotiated this pathway between Athens and Jerusalem, between government and God, between faith and public life, between faith and reason. Luther makes it clear: There are two realms. We are citizens of our beloved country but our ultimate destination is heaven. The city of God and the city of man are two different places. We must respect and even love that bright line of difference.

All vocations have equal dignity and worth. The church is strongest and best when it is the church; government has its separate realm, which is also God-ordained. The purpose of government is justice. We need Christians in public life, in the arts, in the military. We have to be salt and light wherever God puts us, and we must be salt and light with joy and contentment. And no matter where we are, we must struggle to be prepared to be, in Wordsworth’s great line, “Surprised by joy--impatient as the wind.”

It is indeed considered bad manners by some to speak of faith in the public arena. We live in a time when our country, culture and civilization have become more secular. But our exceptional country is not like Europe, where the secularization there is almost suffocating. We remain, as Michael Novak has called us, a religious republic.

Our marvelous country was founded by dissenting Protestants. We Lutherans have had a giant role in the shaping and forming of our country; we must continue to impact our country and world for ends that are pleasing to God. That boldness will sometimes result in a serrated edge of criticism. But lest I mix Calvinism with Lutheranism, the Westminster Shorter Catechism is right: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

LW: How has your understanding of the Lutheran idea of vocation given value and brought joy to your work?

TG: C. S. Lewis was right: Happiness is not joy. Pleasure is not joy. Joy is joy, and it is mostly a Christian internalization of sheer contentment in Christ, despite our circumstances. I learned, having put myself into a crisis, that when you are clasping the cross with both hands and holding on for dear life, you come to know Jesus in a way that is not theoretical or existential or elevated. Ours is a personal God who loves us unyieldingly. There is a kind of boundless, depthless, endless love that Christ sheds on us daily. When I ascend our parish altar and eat Christ’s body and drink His blood, I know I am partaking in a joyful, singular meal. That is joy, even transcendence.

When I kneel down in my parish each Sunday about 10:05 a.m., and tell God that I am confessing the evil, wretched, horrible things I have said, done and thought, I am confident He is hearing me and then absolves me. It is all bound up in His real presence; there is no symbolism there, like Christmas lights and the confetti of New Year’s. He is Christ; He is with us. Now.

And when I depart my parish, I always pass the baptismal font, and I dip my fingers in, and then cross myself with the water that evokes floods and rains and the washing away of dirt by the very hands of Jesus, and I think: This is not happiness or pleasure or exhilaration. It is joy. It allows me to go into the world and to perform with confidence and peace the vocation and work God has given me to do. Joy and vocation are inextricably linked, and when that mix is most potent, one feels a sense of elevation rooted in the humility of our fallen nature made pure by sheer grace, mercy, and love. I have found joy in my work because of my relationship with Jesus Christ; He goes before me despite the fact I am a poor, miserable, failed sinner.

LW: Why do you believe it is important for Lutherans to be involved with politics specifically and the culture in general?

TG: All Christians are called to be salt and light. Our first duty as Christians in the secular realm is to vote. That is just good citizenship. But we are called to shape, form, impact and enmesh our faith into every realm of life. Politics is very important; our worldview is wrapped up in all kinds of policies that are decided by judges, senators, governors and presidents: marriage, the sanctity of life, adoption, the justness of war, and so on. We must be involved. But politics will never save us, and politics, in my view, is downstream from culture.

A very great senator said the principle difference between conservatives and liberals is that conservatives believe if you want to impact politics, you have to impact culture first. He also said liberals believe that if you want to impact culture, you have impact politics first. That is astute and true. As orthodox Christians, we must vote; we must work in campaigns; we must hold public office; we must serve those who hold political posts; we are to be judges, governors, state legislators and serve on city councils. But just or more importantly, we are to compose music, write screen plays, teach in universities, create poetry and verse and serve in symphonies and foundations. That is, we are to impact culture. Culture grows from religion, not the other way around. We must bring our Christian worldview to the arts, to government, to all the various walks of life.

LW: Your book points to the vital nature of strong, stable families in revitalizing a civil, moral, ethical culture. How can the church assist in this effort?

TG: There is no more important institution in any culture, any country, any civilization than the family. The family is the foundation without peer. That is why I am spending my professional life at Focus on the Family; we place families, marriages and parenting in the center. Jesus Christ is our pillar. Show me a country with strong, stable, confident nuclear families, and I will show you a strong, stable, confident country. Show me a country with weak, fractured, broken families, and I will show you a weakened, fractured country.

We are, in America, at a key precipice. Forty percent of marriages end in divorce. Forty percent of Americans are born out of wedlock. Cities like Detroit have 400 liquor stores in the city limits and none or virtually no supermarkets. This is measurable social and moral decay.

But I am not dour or pessimistic. I believe that a renaissance or rebirth is indeed possible; we must re-fuse faith into our public life and culture, but we must focus like a laser beam on family health and strength. The role of the church in this endeavor is not only important it is crucial. Government cannot cause a family to fall in love again. It cannot save marriage. It cannot tuck a child into bed at night. The task and challenge is tall. We must revitalize our civil, moral and ethical cultures. The way forward is a robust Christianity that brings to all the avenues of life a worldview of grace and compassion that is mercy-based. Lives change when Jesus is at the center. He is what Eliot said of Him: The “still point” of “the turning world.”

LW: If readers are interested in ordering your book, where can they find it?

TG: They can purchase The Man in the Middle: An Inside Account of Faith and Politics in the George W. Bush Era from www.amazon.com, Books-a-Million, Barnes and Noble, the Broadman and Holman website and in most Christian bookstores. There are all kinds of easy links to the book, including the Focus on the Family website.

LW: Finally, in The Man in the Middle, you describe several historic events (e.g., the stem cell debate; September 11, 2001; the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, etc.) that occurred while you worked at the White House. Does one event in particular stand out in your mind?

TG: Yes, the event that stands out most in my mind is the greatest grace that was ever extended to me. In fact, the grace and mercy that President Bush extended to me, in the midst of the greatest and gravest crisis of my life, is the purest sense of mercy I have ever experienced, and it was rooted in his own compassionate Christianity. I actually begin The Man in the Middle with this story, and I will save the details for those who will read the book. But suffice it to say that, in public life, I have rarely if ever known any president of either party to go so far out of his way to extend such genuine forgiveness to a White House staff member in the way George W. Bush did to me. My prayer is that Christ would be honored by my sharing this story from my life and that everyone who reads that chapter, and the book, will internalize a story of redemption that I think is animated by the best of the Christian life.

---

About the Author: Adriane Dorr is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness.

The Rev. Matthew Heise

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:40:00 GMT

by Melanie Ave

The Rev. Matthew Heise serves as a career missionary to Russia and other former Soviet republics for The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS). This October, as we celebrate World Mission Month, Heise offers a glimpse into his life overseas.

The following is an edited Lutheran Witness (LW) interview with Heise (MH):

LW: You were called as a theological educator for the LCMS in 2001. What does that mean, and what do you see as your main purpose or goal?
MH: A theological educator basically teaches at Lutheran seminaries or Bible schools. We often work with our church partners or other Lutheran bodies in countries where Lutheranism is just beginning, as in Mongolia, for example. My goal is to get my students to learn more about the Scriptures and also to think deeply about how they can convey that information to others in their culture.

LW: How open are the people of Eurasia to the Gospel?
MH: The people groups I work with in Eurasia are very open to the Gospel. Basically, I am dealing with two types of people. For some, like the Russians, it is a restoration of the Gospel witness that was lost over the long years of Communism. For others, like Mongolians and other people groups of Central Asia, it is a new witness, and I am constantly amazed at how the Holy Spirit is preparing the hearts of people around the world to hear God’s Word.

LW: The former Soviet Union closed all Lutheran churches in 1937. Their pastors were either martyred or exiled, and parishioners were scattered to the edges of the Siberian landscape. How has this history in the former Soviet Union affected Lutheranism there?
MH: The Lutherans in the former Soviet Union know what suffering means. I always compare this to our peaceful church life in the United States. So, when we speak about church life, it is very serious for them.

LW: How has your work in Eurasia changed you?
MH: I always say that I have a front row seat to the work of the Holy Spirit around the world today. I have been humbled to see that we are simply a part of the great move of God’s mission throughout the world today. It is not our mission. It is His!

LW: Is there anything else you would like people to know about what you do or how best to support you and others like you who serve the LCMS overseas?
MH: I am so grateful that every day people in congregations assist us in strengthening new mission work around the world. They are the backbone of our work. Their prayers and support make it possible for us to help various evangelists reach out to their own people in the manner they know best for their own culture.

About the Author: Melanie Ave is the Public Relations Coordinator for The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

Rev. Glenn Merritt

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:12:00 GMT

by Kim Plummer Krull

One year after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, more than 1 million people remain homeless, and the Western Hemisphere's poorest country has struggled with a cholera epidemic. But amid huge challenges, LCMS World Relief and Human Care's (WR-HC) Rev. Glenn F. Merritt says that the Synod’s mercy ministry, with the help of partners and donors, is making positive steps to assist suffering Haitians.

LW: Jan. 12 marks the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that killed some 230,000 people and left more than 1 million homeless. How do you describe Haiti today?

GM: Haiti is a country filled with complex challenges for today and unique opportunities for tomorrow. The majority of Haitians are resilient and determined to survive day to day without any real hope for improvement in the future. The entire nation staggers under the enormity of the burdens it must bear, yet there is a real eagerness for the Gospel.

LW: Haiti’s problems sound overwhelming. How do you know that the LCMS is making a difference?

GM: When you see the faces of men, women and children who have just received medical care, a home, food or heard the Gospel, we know that we are making a difference, one person at a time. With our partners, we have helped clean up debris, built homes, provided nutritional meals and clean water and shared Christ’s love. We are making a difference, and, by God’s grace, we will continue to do so. Compassion and mercy are the call of the church, not optional activities.

LW: When you see such suffering, what does it mean to you to be a Lutheran?

GM: As a Lutheran Christian, I understand that the theology of the cross ultimately points me to Christ’s suffering when I am faced with the tragedy of a suffering world. In the cross, we find the courage to encourage others, the presence to persevere and the mercy to be merciful to the helpless and hurting of our world.

> Learn more about “Building Homes and Hope for Haiti” at www.lcms.org/bhhh

> Read a story about Glenn at minotdailynews.com

> Visit our disaster news blog: mercyforever.lcms.org

About the Author: Kim Plummer Krull (kimkrull@sbcglobal.net) is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Des Peres, Mo.

Interview reprinted from the January 2011 issue of The Lutheran Witness. All rights reserved.

Subscribe to The Lutheran Witness