time. She was a “friend” who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and would need major sur- gery to save her life.
Now the story comes (almost) full
circle. Two days later I headed over to their home to thank them for visit- ing Living Water and present them with a shawl that is symbolic of the prayer support we wanted to give them through the journey ahead with cancer. (The prayer shawl ministry was launched in the past year by Johnson’s wife, Heidi.)
Peter Johnson and Bourget, 9, members of Living Water Lutheran Church, Cameron, Wis., were brought together by their love of a certain hairstyle and their passion to raise $200 for the local Humane Society.
31 The second family was sitting
opposite them. For several months Kelly Kallenbach had been a guest and volunteer at Ruby’s Pantry, Living Water’s monthly food distri- bution to families needing an extra boost each month with putting gro- ceries on the table. “Kelly,” I said, “I’m so glad you’re here.” We chatted for a while before she turned to catch up with her 5-year old daughter, Bella. It was then that I found myself standing next to Bridget Legore, who had been sitting next to Kal-
lenbach. “Hello,” I said. “I’m Pastor Ned. Welcome to Living Water. I’m so glad you could be here today. May I ask how you’re connected to Kelly?”
She replied in a quiet voice, “I’m
Kelly’s spouse and Bella is our daughter.”
I said, “I am so glad you’re here.”
Connecting the pieces That conversation led me to con- nect the pieces. The month before at Ruby’s Pantry, Kallenbach shared the name “Bridget” during prayer
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The visit was brief, prayerful and appreciated. Through their tears, they told me how long they had been searching for a place where they could experience God’s grace and be part of a community of believers where their family was valued and accepted.
As I drove back to my office, I
thanked God for opening this door and allowing Living Water to be part of the Spirit’s work in this fam- ily. My phone rang, and the request brings this story full circle. A few days later in the abandoned
office building we rent for worship services, a handful of us gathered around the font: Legore and her mother, Kallenbach, Bella, Janine Hanson (Legore’s new Living Water prayer partner), my family (including our dog) and me.
The phone call I received in the car was from Legore, who said: “I’m having major surgery soon and I’m not baptized.”
I poured the water over her head and pronounced those words of unconditional love: “Bridget, child of God, you are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Also at the font was a large man with an even larger heart—and sport- ing a pink mohawk. After the last blessing was pronounced he stood up, gave Legore a big hug and said, “Sis- ter, welcome to the family!”
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