By James G. Wenzel
As a semi-retired business executive who has counted Christ as Lord for over 60 years, I have become very concerned over the challenges facing the committed Christian and the organized church. We are being openly confronted over the fundamentals of our faith, on significant social and family values, and on the validity of Scriptural truths. Never have we seen such pressures from die mass media, from special interest groups, and even elected leaders, to compromise our spiritual strengths, our personal morals, and the respect for each operand society. The focus of many of these attacks is based on so-called personal rights, individual choice, and freedom to do as we please, rather than to "love one another", or to live as a member of the Body of Christ.
When we are challenged to set our priorities, to take a position, to determine whether we should speak out or stay in the shadows, it pays to look back over our lives, count our blessings, and define the source of our strengths and the keys to our own spiritual growth. Such an inventory can open our hearts to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, give us strength to take what actions are appropriate for us, and share our rediscovered strengths with others.
IT HAPPENED TO ME
Just so, one of the significant milestones in my life occurred about 18 years ago. While serving as a Vice President of Lockheed Corporation, I was faced wim a very demanding schedule at the office, a lot of travel, and demands on my time from my participation in professional, civic and church-related activities. I became frustrated with the pace, and my life was confusing. One night I shared will) my dear wife that for the first time in my career, I felt that I was doing nothing well. In discussing how to solve this problem, the usual alternative for most of us came upù"Why don11 you drop some of the things that you are doing at church?"
Being honest with myself, I pointed out that I had an even more important problem, namely, a strong feeling that I was not really serving my Lord. What I was doing at churctiùchoir, solos, Bible study, etc.-ùwere simply things I enjoyed, but widi no real service motivation fromme. Ineeded togive priority first to establishing what God really wanted me to do, and then to structure my time and life as appropriate.
This period of indecision was most troubling. While on a trip to Washington, D.C., I knelt beside my bed and asked God to provide an answer to the question of service, to give me peace of mind, or a new direction so that I could sort things out. Our Lord is faithful and gracious, and the response came quickly. In a telephone conversation the next day with my wife, I learned that my pastor, Rev. Gerald (Jerry) Amundson of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Saratoga, wanted to see me on my return.
Pastor Amundson discussed with me a new program called "Lutheran Lay Renewal" (LLR), which was begun in the state of Washington. It was an opportunity to share with other visiting Christians what God was doing in our lives, to review our spiritual needs, to renew our faith and strengthen our church and each other. I told him that it sounded like an interesting program, but fearfully asked, "What do you want me to do?" He showed me die manual with its general committee, 14 subcommittees, and a not too well defined schedule, and said, "I would like you to organize and lead the program, Jim."
I was dumbfounded. I told Pastor about my personal problem, our family discussions and my concerns and prayer in Washington. He smiled and said, "I could have asked someone else, in fact you were third on my list. But something told me – 'Ask Jim!"*
As hard as the invitation was to accept, 1 knew that the Lord was giving me an answer. But I didn't expect to get hit over die head with a two-by-four. I told Pastor that I really needed to pray about his request, but I knew what the answer had to be. I told my Lord that I had absolutely no idea how to find the time or the energy to do such an important task, or the wisdom to handle the responsiblity, but lhat I would leave those problems up to Him.
It was an awesome experience for me, with many events and spiritual uplifts I will never forget. I put in a tremendous amount of personal time over the next four months, and everything got done;ù including all my other commitments. We have an amazing Lord!
The Lay Renewal Weekend was a wonderful success. Our congregation was renewed and changed, new priorities were set for spiritual growth, and 70 people committed themselves to go out to other churches to share (heir blessings. There was no question but the Lord had provided me with a direct answer to my question. I found a ministry, and my life has truly been changed, with a continuing drive to serve Him and my brothers and sisters in Christ, and with a wonderful peace of mind. God is good!
IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU
Working with congregations who want to experience personal spiritual growth and bring new life to their church through sponsoring a Lutheran Lay Renewal weekend,* has been a rewarding commitment. To listen to lay people share their hungers, joys, sorrows, and discoveries of new strength in a personal relationship with Christ, sends one home uplifted, thankful and encouraged. Witnessing to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, seeing His activity of striking sparks and His stirring of renewal fires within a local congregation, is a continuing ministry I will treasure all my life. To see how the LLR program in Washington and California has expanded to Hawaii, Canada and the remainder of the United States, is profoundly exhilarating.
If we Christians are concerned for the spiritual strength of our church, our families and our nation, it is so important that we begin by looking inward in order to renew our personal commitments to serve our Lord, to love one another and to strengthen the body of Christ. In a confused and self-centered world, we of the laity need to return to our "first love", to wake up our congregations, to reach out and make a difference in the lives we touch. We have, in Christ, the answers that the world and our neighbors need, and we must rise up in this critical time to the challenge.
So, if you too are a concerned Christian, and you are wondering what you can do – first share your concerns with our precious Lord. He will provide answers and a plan for your life. He will give courage and strength to take a stand in your area of influence, and an increased love for others. Establishing a strong personal relationship with Christ and serving Him in strengthening His church can be one of the most exciting steps in your spiritual growth. Maybe it will result in participation in, or leading a Lay Renewal in your own congregation. And maybe you too will find a new and precious personal ministry.
*LLR can be an exciting and aggressive approach to congregational rejuvenation, as testified to by the Rev. Gerald Nerenhausen from Oshkosh, WI. He says,"'For a pastor, having a renewal weekend is sort of like watching one of your younger children wake up in the morning. You stand there in the half-light where they are sound asleep. You want to pick them up and hug them, but it's better if you wait – and you do wait. The reward is a shy little smile, often followed by a grin, followed by a scramble, and then an armful of child. It is wonderful to see a congregation wake up in the early sun at a Lutheran Lay Renewal weekend The unconscious stretching of this part of the congregation, then the stretching of another pan, followed by a shy smile or a large grin, and then arms full of God's children rejoicing in their oneness in Christ." And Pastor Lester Hoffman in Phoenix: "We had a Lutheran Lay Renewal event here at Prince of Peace. It was truly the spiritual highlight of the year. Our members who participated and those who visited would agree that the weekend opened the door for people to share some of the treasures of faith which have been buried in their lives. Following the event itself, there has been more interpersonal sharing, more intentional prayer in our congregational life, and a spiritual growth which has been clearly discernible." Inquiries for materials and scheduling an LLR event can be directed to Lutheran Lay Renewal, 780 Ashbury Ave, El Cerrito, CA 94530, (510) 526-9548.