"As pastor of Immanuel congregation, I was thrilled with the experience and the aftermath of the Renewal Weekend held in September 2014. It brought joy to my heart to see our members reflecting on their relationship with the Lord and expressing their faith in small group settings. There was a spirit of joy and unity among the 80+ individuals who participated. Members of Immanuel became more familiar with each other and learned to ask for prayer from one another. The weekend sparked a renewed enthusiasm for service to the Lord and participation in small group Bible studies. I am deeply thankful to the team of lay witnesses who gave of themselves. They did an outstanding job in leading us in renewal." - Pastor Kevin Graudin, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Easton, MD
"The weekend gave the members opportunities to share their faith stories with one another. This has greatly strengthened our community and our resolve to share that faith with others. We are more excited and aware about how God is present and active among us." - Pastor Scott KuechenmesiterHall, Nativity Lutheran Church, Allison Park, PA
"LLR was a very strong program at Christ the King. The result has been a real shift in our ministry as a congregation. We are growing a renewed focus on Small Group Ministry, and there has been a real desire to find new ways to build relationships. We already had a strong presence in our community, and growing in our relationships with each other has helped make that even stronger." - Pastor Jeff Kallevig, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Tigard, OR
"The sincere personal testimonies of Jesus working in the lives of the LLR team members touched hearts and inspired each of us in a closer walk with the Lord. Your genuine love and praise for our Savior was contagious! You have our heartfelt appreciation for bringing new life and energy back into our church. As a whole, the LLR weekend left the participants feeling renewed and strengthened to serve God better. Thank you for responding to God's call to provide Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with a Spirit-filled and faith-strengthening weekend." - Pastor Fred Schenker, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wexford, PA
"I had wonderful experiences in the past at Lutheran Lay Renewals and was confident in the outcome of our weekend at Lake Wylie Lutheran Church. The personal testimonies were a critical element to encourage greater spiritual commitment and service. The weekend also provided a great boost to the core leadership: encouraging, empowering, and especially in stimulating spiritual growth. The small group meetings in homes help people to be ready to share with fellow members and raise the Sunday pew friendship to a much deeper, more personal and spiritual level. The outcome of LLR in time will change the general nature of the congregation to be a vibrant assembly instead of a lukewarm institution. It happened at Lake Wylie Lutheran beyond any outcome I could have imagined." - Bob Schilke, Stewardship Committee Chair, Lake Wylie Lutheran Church, Fort Mill, SC
"The Renewal was everything we had hoped for and more. Our church had a wonderful spiritual awakening and our sense of unity and mission has been energized and firmly established." - Pastor Richard Schowalter, Carlton Hills Lutheran Church, Santee, CA
"We want the LLR team to know how very much we appreciate all of your prayer, hard work, time, travel and expense in presenting a wonderful Lutheran Lay Renewal weekend at St. John! Thank you so much for exciting and encouraging us to accomplish our mission to Know Jesus! Tell About Jesus! and Love as Jesus Loves! We are very thankful to all of you." - Pastor Dave Kramer, St. John Lutheran Church, Beatrice, NE
'The Lutheran Lay Renewal Weekend held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Irwin, PA in November of 2013 was a wonderful spiritual blessing to the congregation. Those in attendance were "fired up" to deeper commitment to Jesus Christ and His church. A new men's group was formed and is involved in many areas of service." - Pastor Clifton Suehr, Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, Irwin, PA
"We plan to start continuing Wednesday night prayer meetings. Many were so strongly moved by your LLR team's faith stories and sharing that they want to get involved with this style of prayer and sharing here at Faith Lutheran. The LLR team provided such a positive impact on all of us here at Faith Lutheran that we long to continue your loving examples. We expressed many other ideas we want to see happen here at Faith Lutheran but for now we want to thank all of you again, for sharing Christ's love with us." - David Hryniuk, General Chairperson, Faith Lutheran Church, Elko, NV
"It was a great experience that will certainly enhance the life of the church in many ways. The team was superb in leading discussion groups." - Pastor Michael Pozzutto, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bolivar, OH
"We were filled with the Spirit for three wonderful days and blessed by the ministry of the excellent visiting team that came to us." - Jim McDonald, General Chairman, Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach, DE
"My friends, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the most joyous, uplifting experience I have had in my life to date! I know I speak for all involved at Grace Church when I say thank you as well for helping to create a spark in us and for awakening a stirring inside to recommit our time, talents and treasures to God. You are all so dear to me and I know we have made lasting friendships through Jesus Christ. May God continue to bless you all as you work through your ministries! My only regret is that the weekend flew by too fast! I needed more like a week with you all!" - Lynda Steuer, General Chair, Grace Lutheran Church, Rochester, PA
"A great "army" of 23 came to minister to us. A HUGE SUCCESS!" - Pastor David Miller, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Moreno Valley, CA
"I watched as God brought healing and renewal to individuals and a deeper sense of cohesion to the congregation." - Pastor Bob Quaintance, Good Hope Lutheran Church, Boardman, OH
"My hopes and expectations for our LLR weekend were greatly surpassed! It was truly a challenging, faith-strengthening, Spirit-filled event. The positive effects are already being realized, including definite plans for a monthly “church night” which will include fellowship, faith sharing, and Bible study (on the book of The Revelation to John, no less). We pray for God’s blessings upon LLR’s continued ministry and upon all of our visiting team members, led by Bill Oehlschlager." - Pastor Tom Moog, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Sewickley, PA
"Fantastic!! Those who participated in the entire weekend were truly blessed. We were all blessed by the testimonies of the team members and encouraged to begin to tell our own. I think folks loved the small group meetings and a chance to sit and talk with one another about faith and life. Thanks again to the team for a wonderful weekend." - Pastor Bob Stevens, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Pasadena, MD
"The sincerity and willingness of team members, as well as their faith stories, was very powerful. Dick's sermon stressing service and witness was extremely well done and inspiring." - Pastor Donald Carlson, Calvary Lutheran Church, Grants Pass, OR
“Early in the fall of 2011, 8 wonderful faith-filled people came to our congregations of Berea and Saron Lutheran Churches for our Lay Renewal weekend. The entire weekend was one of great blessing to us all. Stories of faith, of hope in the midst of pain, of love for one another and for Christ were shared so freely and wonderfully. This would not have been possible without the living witness and example of the lay renewal folks who came to lead us. It was such a boost to our lives in Christ! My folks are still talking about it.” - Pastor Mark Fischer, Berea and Saron Lutheran Churches, Youngsville, PA
"Your team showed the Spirit at work to many who had retired from the Lord's work." - Pastor George Thune, Christ Lutheran Church, Reedley, CA
"Powerful and glorious. ...We cannot thank you enough for what you have brought to our congregation. Indeed, lives were changed and perspectives renewed. Faith was uplifted and healing was ever present. We fully intend to grasp the energy and love shown in the weekend's gatherings and make it our own for the sake of bringing the power of Christ to the community and the world." - Pastor Dave Saylor, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Evans City, PA
"This renewal event far surpassed my highest expectations! I am thankful for LLR; I am impressed. The team members are ordinary, down to earth people who love the Lord and it SHOWS! They seemed to be and came accross as being genuine and transparent. Their love for Jesus was obvious." - Pastor Jerry Barnhart, Calvary Lutheran Church, San Lorenzo, CA
"Thank you from the bottom of my heart and the hearts of the members of Ascension Lutheran Church for giving of your time, energy, laughter, and love to us this past weekend. Thank you for the JOY which you brought to us all. We are renewed! Your ministry is doing marvelous work to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit and spread the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." - Chris Krupar, General Chairperson, Ascension Lutheran Church, North Olmsted, OH
"A new spirit is blowing. The youth group is growing. There is a lot of participation in things going on in help and attendance. Three Bible study groups have been organized - one a men's group meeting for breakfast - a couple's group - and a single's group that is so big it is being split into two groups. We are looking at a young women's group." - Pastor Barbara Love, Zion Lutheran Church, Harmony, PA
"To say that we (God) unleashed the Holy Spirit upon our congregation would be an understatement! Prayers were answered for every part of the weekend. It was a huge success, bringing new life and changing lives as a result." - Pastor John Saethre, Concordia Lutheran Church, Kingsburg, CA
"It was positive, inspiring, and helped folks feel more comfortable in sharing their faith. I feel honored and blessed by the work of the visiting team." - Pastor Roger Keller, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Saxonburg, PA
