LifeTIMES
A monthly ministry of Lord of Life Lutheran Church of Maple Grove, Minnesota
January 2012
For many people, a new year may bring a bit of self-reflection. As Christians, what is our identity? In a large congregation such as Lord of Life—who are we or who is the person sitting next to you during worship? Here is just one of the faces of faith in Lord of Life and her name is Jessie Kolb.
Living Out My Faith
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hat do you recall most about growing up in the Lord of Life congregation…retreats?…your C3 small group or leader?… worship with your family?
I have been a member at Lord of Life since first grade—about 20 years ago! I had my first communion in the old building and was confirmed at the new location. It has been a big part of my spiritual journey. For me, Lord of Life has been a place of growth and learning through C3 groups and an AWOL (A Work of Love) mission trip. I joined Lord of Life because my best friend went here and I thought it would be fun to go to Church School with her. This is one thing I like best about Lord of Life—it is inclusive and welcoming to everyone. I still love Lord of Life’s former mission statement of ‘Gather joyfully, Grow spiritually, and Go faithfully, so that all may have LIFE and have it abundantly in Jesus Christ.’ The AWOL trip reminded me of the importance of serving others, and this has continued to be central to my life. It was probably on that trip when I discovered that my life would never be complete without living out my faith in service to others—along with the joy that brings when you are with friends and a community. What countries/organizations have you served in, Jessie, and what were your responsibilities/tasks? Why did you decide to serve with these organizations? While in college I interned at Minnesota International Health volunteers, where I helped make an informational DVD about health care for Somali families. After graduating from St. Olaf, I joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Kazakhstan—on the steppe of Central Asia—to serve in a women’s rights organization. My organization provided business training for women and promoted awareness about domestic violence. After my first year of medical school, I went to Haiti to work at a boys’ orphanage and clinic. While I was there, I discovered an amazing organization, Maison de Naissance. This is a free birthing center in southern Haiti that not only offers a safe place for women to give birth, but also prenatal care, birth control, and HIV testing. It was truly remarkable. As the poorest country in the western hemisphere, Haiti has many challenges. One is having the highest maternal fatality rate in the —continues on Page 10
a prayer for the new year Dear Lord, please give me A few friends who understand me and remain my friends; A work to do which has real value, without which the world would be the poorer; A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed; An understanding heart; A sense of humor; Time for quiet, silent meditation; A feeling of the presence of God; The patience to wait for the coming of these things, with the wisdom to recognize them when they come. Amen. —Anonymous
“For me to live is Christ” Philippians 1:21a