STEWARDSHIP FOR LIFE

In the previous issue of the Concordia St. Paul Magazine, Rev. Jim AA ‘61 and Karen Laatsch shared about the joy they receive from giving abundantly and how that joy is much greater than simple happiness. In this issue, they talk about how a lifetime of stewardship has allowed them to give joyfully.

Jim grew up on a farm in the unincorporated community of Caroline, Wisc., about 45 miles northwest of Green Bay. One of eight children, his family was impoverished, so much so that they did not have a refrigerator, a bicycle, a baseball glove, a TV set or a telephone when he was growing up.

When it came time to attend college, Jim first attended Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University Chicago) in River Forest, Ill. before transferring to Concordia St. Paul to complete his associate of arts degree. It was during that first year Jim decided that, at some point in his life, he would donate $1,000,000 to the church in thankfulness for his Christian education. “I wanted to do something extraordinary for the cause of Jesus Christ in addition to being a teacher or a pastor,” he says.

Early in their marriage, Jim and his wife Karen dedicated themselves to tithing from their income and focusing on stewarding their God-given resources wisely. “It's the way that I use the things God has blessed me with that brings joy, not the ‘saving’ of those things,” Karen remarks.

And so, Jim and Karen have lived below their means while giving generously to the church and living frugal lives. “My bias is that there is no evidence that having more things makes you happier,” admits Jim. “Having more things makes lots of people less happy.”

While serving in ministry in Colorado, Jim and Karen were able to invest in real estate utilizing zero down FHA loans that were available in the 1970s. When they left Colorado for Wisconsin and sold the real estate, they were able to begin investing in the stock market, staying with it despite the inevitable ups and downs.

Wisely stewarding their money has allowed the Laatsches to bless Concordia St. Paul, other Concordias, their congregation, and other ministries and nonprofits. They’ve also had the opportunity to travel extensively, including to Israel with Dr. Mark Schuler, Emeritus Professor of Theology at CSP.

Karen encourages others to think about and act on how they might become better stewards. “I would encourage everyone to take that first small step and see where God will lead them. It's an exciting journey.”