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Ms. Viki, left, and Ms. Jumana hang out with the children.
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Classrooms are bright and inviting.
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Wendy Pritchard, director of Immanuel Lutheran's Open Arms Childcare Center, has encouraged all the members to get involved, even including shut-ins where she can. “We’ve asked them to fold brochures, stuff mailings, and put stamps on envelopes; they’ve made food for work parties,” she says. “Although they are not here physically, they still feel like they are a part of the church.”
Mike Dueber had been looking around for volunteer work since his retirement. He belonged to an 8,000+ member Catholic parish in Glenview, but felt rather lost in the crowd and didn’t know what he could do. When his wife Jeanene, a member of Immanuel Lutheran, joined the Open Arms planning committee, he finally saw a place for him. “I knew that membership had decreased over the years and I wondered who was going to do all the work,” he says. “I said, 'Shoot, I can do it.' It’s perfect for me. I enjoy the physical labor – better than being the boss.”
Mike, Jeanene and many other volunteers helped move thousands of books out of the library for its renovation, organized what could be used, cleaned, hauled garbage to the dumpster and even smoothed out mulch for the playground.
“Mike also spent weeks putting together chairs and bookcases and cubbies, etc. etc.,” Pritchard says. “We couldn’t have done it without him and our other dedicated volunteers.” Dueber jokingly estimates he tightened more than 5,000 bolts to build countless pieces of child-size furniture, but remains grateful he could help. “I just felt like I needed to give back and I got to do something I could do,” he says. |
by Diane Strzelecki
May 2007
Not everyone at Immanuel Lutheran in Glenview, Illinois, (see "New Ministry Brings New Life") was excited about operating a childcare center out of the former school building. Wendy Pritchard, director of the Childcare Center, came up against her first obstacles shortly after she arrived: members who opposed the new ministry and weren’t afraid to tell her so. Less than a year later, she has seen a shift in attitude.
“I really think it is God’s will for Open Arms to be open,” Pritchard says. “Congregation members who didn’t want the center have really come around and have been helpful and supportive.” Today, most of the congregation is both optimistic about the ministry and helpful in running it.
Immanuel's pastor David Barber has also seen a shift in member mindset, which he credits partially to the physical transformation of the church.
“The renovations we did to open up the childcare ministry showed members a sign of life they hadn’t seen in years,” he says. “This ministry has created some positive momentum and the dynamics of seeing children and families coming in have affected us in worship.”
Carla Wehrspann has been a member for four years and currently serves as congregational secretary. She was excited about what the ministry could mean for the church and the community, and recently joined the Open Arms Ministry Board to help. She has noticed the shift in attitude as well.
“The biggest change is some of the longer-time members have really come together for a common purpose, whereas before everyone was going in different directions,” Wehrspann says. “There used to be a sort of friction between the long-term members and newer members. I really feel like we’re all on the same path now.”
Barber agrees. “Through the process of renovation, I’ve noticed the alignment of our entire congregation to the ministry,” he says, noting that “older” members have come to see the value of this ministry in connecting to the community. “Caring for children gives us a great deal of joy and makes our life together a lot easier.”
Pritchard also feels the excitement of seeing a faith community healthy. Many of those who were not initially supportive have showed up at work parties, offered their help, and even provided critical resources to get the ministry off the ground.
Barber often feels overwhelmed at the change. “Right now there’s a sense of joy, living out God’s mission for the church,” he says. “If you are not moving forward together in mission, you are likely sitting around wrestling with a lot of issues that will make you feel frustrated.”
Wehrspann gives Pritchard a lot of credit for the turnaround. “Wendy’s presence and attitude, her witnessing, have done a lot for the congregation,” she says. “People have taken to her.” She notes that a previously “unenthusiastic” member surprised everyone by showing up at a work party and helped prepare the facility to host the biannual Open Arms Institute conference the last week of April.
Wehrspann and Pritchard are quick to comment on the strong leadership of Pastor Barber and Congregational President Tom Amato. “Our congregational president helped spearhead the effort, writing a lot of newsletter articles that have encouraged, directed and empowered everyone,” Wehrspann says. “Pastor’s dynamic personality and inspirational sermons helped change attitudes as well.”
“It’s God working through many people for a variety of reasons to help accomplish what he wants,” she says.
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