Easter and Pastor Don Wukotich announcement

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to this week of Filling, a program for education
and celebration of what's happening throughout Filling Homes. I'm Tina Parsons.
Welcome back to the program and Easter blessings to you
all from Filling Homes. Thank you so much for tuning in.
In the spirit of Easter, I'd like to share with
you an article written by a past executive director, Pastor

(00:22):
Don Ugitich, God's power, love and mercy.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Lord, thank you.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
For those individuals, families and churches who have powered our
ministry for more than a hundred years. And thank you
for all those inspiring people we serve and the incredible
people who serve them, our staff. They have lives, families,
and stresses of their own, but they stop everything to
help other folks with burdens too heavy to carry all alone.

(00:50):
When I'm out and about, I often hear words of
appreciation for our ministries and the thousands of interventions provided
every day and all through the night by our device
voted caregivers.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
I always appreciate.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
These kind words, but I know where they belong, right
at the door of those who make things happen. On
the front lines of our ministries. These people are awesome
and I am honored to know them as colleagues and ministry.
We have a long list of accomplishments, and we have
another list of things in need of doing that we
haven't finished.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
We are not giving up.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
We keep trying and have made a bit of progress,
but these challenges are still there.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Our friends are still there too.

Speaker 1 (01:32):
Together with our devoted staff, they know the reasons for
our ministries, why they are important.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
And how they are accomplished.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
When God calls, those who answer the call know what
happens next. God's power. That time Cindy spoke to us.
Her voice was wavering, but strong and firm as she
remembered abuse suffered as a child. Her father was a
mean man, a bully who made himself larger by beating
on little ones. When one day the Lutheran pastor from

(02:01):
her neighborhood came by with a social worker from LSS.
My father was so big, he was loud and mean.
I never thought anyone would be able to stand up
to him, but they did. And that social worker, she
was just a little bit of a thing, so small
alongside my father, but.

Speaker 2 (02:21):
She stood up to him. She stood up to.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
My father and changed my life, God's love. When Audrey
wanted to go to Fillingholme's costume dance as Cinderella, her
friend Zach took her shopping. Together, they selected an array
of fabric for Audrey's costume. Later, Zach went out from
materials to convert Audrey's wheelchair into a lovely carriage. He

(02:44):
fashioned a celestial canopy for Audrey's chair, draping sheer fabric
over flexible rods and surrounded everything with Christmas lights powered
by the wheelchair batteries. On the night of the party,
Zack dressed as Prince Charming, bought flowers and escorted Cinderella
to the ball, where they danced the night away. It
was the best ever God's mercy. Tim was a collector

(03:07):
of pennies. He kept them in a jar that was
somehow fastened behind his wheelchair. Everyone around Luther Holme would
remember Tim's morning greeting and then the question that would follow,
God a penny. For a long time, I wondered what
Tim did with all those pennies. One day I asked
Pastor Elvira. Oh, She said, when the jar is full,

(03:29):
he asks if Tony can take them to his friends
at Saint Louis helping hands for the poor. By God's
grace and the goodness of his people, we have experienced
a year of accomplishment. It is true, however, that there
is more to be done in the years before us.
May God continue to bless our ministries with the light
of his presence, power, love, and mercy. Pastor Don Bukitch,

(03:54):
that's a pretty powerful message, and even though written in
twenty sixteen, everything Pastor Don wrote stands true today. To end,
I would like to share a message from Lutheran Ministries
of Mercy President and CEO Terry Rodriguez. It is with
deep sadness and heavy hearts that we share the passing
of our beloved Executive Director Emeritus, Pastor Donald L.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
Wukitch.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
Pastor Don retired in twenty seventeen after having spent just
over thirty one years guiding our ministries. He was much
more than a leader. He was a visionary, a mentor,
and a true champion of our mission. During his lifetime
of service, he led with compassion, integrity, humility, and an
unwavering commitment to our community. Under his leadership, our organization

(04:42):
grew both in impact and in heart, and his legacy
will continue to inspire all those who follow in his footsteps.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all
who have been touched by his extraordinary life. We are
grateful for the time that we had with Pastor Don
and will honor his memory by carrying forward the work

(05:03):
he so deeply cared about. As the programme concludes and
we carry about our Easter weekend, may the joy of
the Resurrection fill your hearts and homes in this season
of renewal. May you find peace in the promise of
new beginnings. Thank you for spending time with me, and
tune in next week for another This week at Filling