The Glue

As a Quality Review Nurse at Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Room and a father in a household with five teenagers and one preteen, Jerry Janssen faces many challenges daily. However, very few of those challenges are as memorable to him as the situation he faced as the vice president of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) when he was in high school. The president of LYO had enlisted into the Army before his term of office was complete and Jerry became the leader of the organization by default. One of his inherited duties was to report on youth activities to the annual ELCA’s Central/Southern Illinois Synod assembly. This presented a problem. “I don’t like crowds and I hate to speak publicly. Yet I was scheduled to speak to hundreds of people,” Jerry explained. When he reluctantly stepped up to speak, he was so nervous that the podium on which he leaned was visibly shaking. Suddenly Jerry felt a hand on his shoulder. Jerry turned to see his pastor, Tom Christell, standing beside him. Pastor Christell kept his reassuring hand on Jerry throughout the presentation.

A lifelong member of Grace, Jerry remembers fondly many other people, who supported and encouraged him as he was growing up. He remembers Lola Marbold and Velma Lawson had craft classes for the children of the congregation. Cindy Anderson led the youth in the puppet ministry. Ted Ekle and Alan Oehlert taught memorable Sunday School lessons. Norma Browning and Roberta Volkmann directed the children’s choir. “Grace was my second home. I knew I was loved,” recalled Jerry.

In middle school and high school Jerry’s support group extended beyond the walls of Grace when he began attending LYO events such as confirmation camp, youth retreats, and leadership lab. There he met young people from all over the state and adult leaders who provided positive guidance and fun. Many of those relationships continue in Jerry’s life. He first met Pastor Krieger at an LYO event. One of the adult leaders, Cindy Svanda, reached out to Jerry electronically with support and encouragement when he was going through a difficult time in his life. Now Jerry’s children are participating in LYO activities and Jerry is pleased to observe the relationships they are building. He noted, “This summer my kids made connections from other areas of state they wouldn’t have made without the amazing faith community that LYO provides.”

Jerry and his fellow Grace members continue to encourage their youth. Jerry recalled, “When I was in school, we had to have fundraisers such as car washes and bake sales to raise money to attend LYO activities. Now the congregation has added a line item in the budget for youth support. This is most heartwarming.”