Our guest on the podcast is Pastor Joel Gaertner, the Director for Special Ministries of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod). The reality is that ALL of us have special needs, but many of us tend to wear them more on the inside than the outside. How can Christians and Churches be a more welcoming place for with special needs, especially those who have to navigate the challenges of bodies and minds that don't work the way that many others do.

We will spend some time talking about what people with special needs are wanting from their Christian brothers and sisters and how we can better reflect the hands and feet, the heart of Jesus to them. It's short and to the point, but here's a summary you can remember:

"Be Curious. Just do it! Fail forward. Keep going!" We hope this 40 minutes will be a good investment in our own self awareness to serve others!

You can learn more about Joel's ministry focus here: https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/special-ministries/

Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org
Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Reflections on Memorial Day and Ending Well

Memorial Day is thought of many different ways. A national holiday. The start of summer vacation. Family gatherings and cookouts. A day that honors those in the armed forces (That's actually Veterans Day in November). And then there is the actual intention - honoring those who have given their lives in military service to this country.

On the podcast this week, host Mike Westendorf and Pastor Pete Panitzke reflect on the value and importance for American Christians to pause and consider the sacrifice of men and women who gave their lives to protect the freedoms that we have enjoyed.

With the recent passing of Mike's father Paul (Vietnam Veteran), Mike shares some thoughts on the confident end of earthly life that we have in Christ and some of the comforts and lessons learned as his dad finished his earthly race. Lessons and conversations that hopefully help us wrestle with how we want our earthly lives as a Christian to end and to end them well - honoring God and showing the next generation how to die well too.

Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org

Our Guest this week is Jim Buske of Lighthouse Youth Ministry and he relayed a story he asked a man in the predominantly African American Garden Homes neighborhood of Milwaukee about the challenges the city and the neighborhood faces. His friends answer was informative, not just for minority communities, but speaks to an increasingly important need for all people groups.

The response? The neighborhood lacks "Uncles". The man or woman working in their yard or garage that the neighborhood young person could come and see what they were doing, learn by observing and asking questions. The neighborhood lacks trusted advisors and the younger generation is telling us the same. They don't need older people to be heroes, but they are wanting a trusted friend and advisor that they aren't necessarily related to.

This opens an important door for Christian men and women to serve younger generations and a huge opportunity for young people to connect to the Body of Christ (the church), Not for religions duty, but for Christian relationship and humility is the path to that deeper relationship.

In this episode we'll talk about some of the challenges of mentoring and the need for the church, young and old, to lead with greater humility as we seek to learn from one another and walk best in the commandment Jesus gave his church "Love One Another".

To learn more about Lighthouse Youth Ministries please visit: https://www.lighthouseyouthcenter.com/

Leave a comment or, if you have questions for us to consider on the podcast, please email our host Mike Westendorf at mwestendorf@stpmuskego.org

Great Questions, Great Conversations is a podcast of St. Paul's and The Bridge Lutheran church in Muskego, WI. For more information visit www.stpaulmuskego.org