In memory of three faithful friends of LWR

This summer we mourn the passing of three great friends of Lutheran World Relief—Walter Jensen, Ove Nielsen, and Milton Briggs. All three men lived lives of great service to God and neighbor and all believed profoundly in the work of Lutheran World Relief.

Walter Jensen faithfully served as treasurer for both Lutheran World Relief and its sister organization, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). LIRS president Ralston Deffenbaugh, Jr. had the privilege of serving within Walter’s tenure and shares the following words of appreciation about him.

“Walter was “Mr. Lutheran” in New York City. He was the chief financial and administration person for the Lutheran Council USA and for related agencies. At various points, he was the treasurer for LIRS and LWR and was on the board of many of the Lutheran organizations in New York.

What a wonderful man Walter was! Faithful servant, good common sense, sunny disposition, one of those who helped bring the Kingdom near. When St. Paul listed the gifts of the spirit and included administration, there was Walter.”

Ove Nielsen was also a blessing to Lutheran World Relief in many ways. He served LWR with distinction for 23 years—from 1957 to 1980—as Assistant Executive Director. As is the way with time, our memories of Ove range from the stories of those who knew and loved him, to the legends that lived on after his retirement. Staffers who missed working with Ove knew him by reputation. “In my early years at LWR,” Jeff Whisenant, LWR’s Executive Vice President recalls, “Ove’s name was sometimes used to invoke fear, or to inspire us to greater heights of parsimoniousness in the expenditure of LWR’s resources.”

Milton Briggs served Lutheran World Relief for 27 years working within the Africa program. Those who worked with Milton describe him as “a charming fellow” whose life’s passion was music—a gift he shared with those at LWR and within the former New York-based Lutheran Center during Christmas services and other chapel events. Long-time friend and former LWR staff member June Braun, shares, “I will miss Milton sorely. For many years, Milton has come to my house for holidays and we would eat, sing and have a great time. He was a good friend and a great servant.”

The entire Lutheran World Relief family joins me in extending our heartfelt condolences to the families of Walter Jensen, Ove Nielsen, and Milton Briggs. We give thanks to God for their lives and service, and we rejoice in God’s steadfast promise of life eternal.

Thanks in Three Languages

In Sri Lanka, thousands remain displaced and living in overcrowded camps. So long as they are in need, LWR’s work to feed and care for them continues. Your gifts are providing food and water, education for children, and more.

Central to this tireless effort is our dedicated LWR Sri Lanka team, led by Country Program Manager K. Thampu (known as “Nalee”). Together with partners on the ground, Nalee and staff work day and night to help meet the physical and psychological needs within the camp. When thousands of people were moved to a new zone of the camp and needed food, Nalee and staff traveled in the darkness of night to deliver. We are blessed to have to Nalee and staff serving as vehicles of our love and caring for our global neighbors.

Below Nalee reflects on the impact of your gifts. As you read Nalee’s words, know that your contributions and prayers are desperately needed, well utilized, and much appreciated.

“ I pray every morning and every night. I thank God for those who have helped me during the day, for the help with my work. I try to think of each person who has made such an effort. But last night I thought this is not enough. How can I say thank you to U.S. Lutherans in a different way? The work we do with our partners in Sri Lanka is huge—it is difficult but amazing work. The gift of U.S. Lutherans is equally amazing to me.

When I go to Manik Camp and see how much our partners have helped, how tirelessly they serve food and water and offer psychological support, and when I read their reports saying LWR supports 24 community kitchens providing meals for almost 27,000 IDPs I think: HOW? How can I thank Lutherans in a different way? I hope I can someday find a way to express the gratitude I feel. I speak three Sri Lankan languages, so for now I guess my thanks can only be expressed to them through language. But I will do it three times; Thank you, Nantry (Tamil) Isthithy (Sinhala).”

If you want to take part in this life saving work, please give a gift to the Sri Lanka Crisis fund. Together we are saving lives and inspiring hope.

Freedom Now!

In honor of Independence Day, some thoughts on freedom. Happy Fourth!

Freedom now! Not as a human demand, but as a divine declaration.
Freedom now! Not as a right based on race, but as a gift of God’s grace.
Freedom now! Not as a sweet by-and-by, pie-in-the-sky fancy, but as a yearning fulfilled, as a prayer answered, as a panting satisfied.
Freedom now! Because Christ came to earth, in the here-and-now, and now we have the “right now” promise that whomever the Son sets free is free indeed.
Freedom now! To speak as voices for the voiceless, especially persecuted believers.
Freedom now! To fight for what is right.
Freedom now! To turn relational war-zones into sacred shalom zones.
Freedom now! Liberated by Christ from the sandbox of selfishness.
Freedom now! Launching into a life of service.
Freedom now! Spreading forgiveness far and wide.
Freedom now! Soaring with wings like eagles.
Freedom now! Running without ever getting weary.
God is granting freedom now!