Emphasis Preaching Journal

Every year at family gatherings, as the extended family sat around a row of tables in Grandma's basement, the story of Grandpa Dan and the church was recited. Grandpa came from Germany as a young man. He purchased a homestead and began his new life. But one thing was missing in the small town near Grandpa's homestead -- a church. Yes, there was a Catholic church in town, but Grandpa was Lutheran, and there was no Lutheran church or any other Protestant church.

Grandpa set out to change that. He began to talk to neighbors, both townspeople and farm folk alike. He expressed his desire to worship God according to his tradition. He met opposition. The Catholics argued the town had a church; convert and join it. Those who were not Catholics were divided on what kind of a church to build; why should it be Lutheran? Time passed, and no church.

One day Grandpa received a letter stating that a Lutheran pastor would be in a town some distance away. Since Grandpa's horse was lame, he walked four days just to talk with the preacher. Grandpa's determination so impressed the preacher that he traveled back with Grandpa to visit the town. The result of that visit, was a Lutheran church built on Grandpa's land outside of town.

I am not sure why the story was told every year, but it was. Now, what I received from the hands of my family, I pass down to my children.