Fred B. Craddock, the famous preacher and teacher of preaching, once delivered a sermon in which he shared his fantasy, as a young pastor, of being a martyr and gloriously giving his life for Jesus. The sermon was amusing, complete with blindfold, firing squad, and statue erected in Fred’s honor. It also never happened. Craddock remarked that he never imagined that rather than laying it all on the line, Jesus would ask him to quietly give his life 25 cents at a time.
I think some within the ELCA fantasized that we would somehow lay it all on the line and that our agenda of DEI, LGBTQIA+, AMMPARO, and stewardship of creation would provide the prevailing path into God’s promised future. Now we are disappointed and even distraught because our nation chose a different route. Truth be told, the church has been out of step with the culture ever since Jesus challenged Jerusalem and Rome. I recall visiting Latvia with Pastor Andreas Teich and learning about the church under communism. For most of its life, the church has given its life 25 cents at a time. Solidarity was the church’s best form of advocacy as it cared for widows, orphans, and soldiers who had no one to care for them. Lending a hand proved more constructive than wringing our hands.
In 2024, gifts to our synod from individuals, which totaled $21,050, came from people who generously and consistently give their life for Jesus in what sometimes seems to be small ways. In addition to Craddock’s sermon, I am reminded of Jesus’s assurance that “whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward” (Mark 10:42). I anticipate giving our life 25 cents at a time is how the church will serve as we move into the future.
I also anticipate that proclaiming the Jesus we know will prove unpopular, risky and even dangerous. The Jesus we know preached good news to the poor, reached out to heal the sick and the suffering, welcomed the estranged and outcast, ate and drank with those deemed sinners and beyond God’s love, and on the cross, opened his arms to all.
People both inside and outside our church may want us to paint a different portrait of Jesus. Meeting with a congregational council recently, I was asked if the ELCA could become pro-life, honor biblical marriage, become less woke, and emphasize obeying the Ten Commandments more than receiving God’s grace. If we make these changes, I was told, their church will grow.
I think we need to adjust to giving 25 cent cups of cold water rather than imagine that we are going to eliminate racism, classism, sexism, discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation, and climate change. I think we all need to adjust to proclaiming the Jesus we know loudly, clearly, and boldly for no other reason than sharing this good news is itself an act of nonviolent resistance to the powers of death at work in the world. When you proclaim Jesus and find yourself in trouble, I’ll have your back.
Jesus healed. Jesus taught. Jesus welcomed. Jesus provided for. Jesus brought good news to people who needed it. We can proclaim this. We can also do this 25 cents at a time. And we are. The cups of cold water that the congregations and people of our synod offer not only nourish the people who received them, but also refreshes my colleagues and me who minister on your behalf. For this, we give thanks.
The Rev. Craig Alan Satterlee, Ph.D., Bishop
Additional Resources
Stronghold Grants
At this moment in the life of our nation, people in our country are afraid and in need of a stronghold. To assist congregations in providing a stronghold, Bishop Satterlee, in consultation with Pastor David Sprang, establishes “Stronghold Grants” for congregations reaching out to the immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQIA+ communities to share the love of Jesus, provide a safe space for prayer, fellowship, and conversation, and to offer resources and assistance to help members of these communities navigate the situations in which they find themselves. Learn more.
Care for the Refugee and Immigrant Community
On and after January 20, 2025, President Trump issued several Executive Orders which affect churches that support refugee and immigrant populations. Our Synod Attorney shares information on these orders and resources for congregations. Learn more.
ELCA AMMPARO and Global Refuge Webinar
Join ELCA AMMPARO and Global Refuge for a webinar, “What Now—Resources for Faith Communities after Executive Orders” on January 30 from 4:00-5:00pm ET. Register Now.
ELCA Resources
Presiding Bishop Eaton’s Statement on Immigration Executive Orders (January 28)
Presiding Bishop Eaton’s Pastoral Message on Executive Orders (January 24)
Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service)