Seeding New Ministries: Q&A with Richard Herman

Richard Herman, President of Wheat Ridge Ministries, Itasca, Illinois, spoke with HopeandHealing.org about what “Lutherans seeding new ministries of health and human care” means. Through grant making, connecting and equipping activities, Wheat Ridge Ministries is committed to assisting and encouraging new and innovative human care ministries as they are developed by congregations and other faith-based organizations in the United States and around the world.

HopeandHealing.org: Could you describe the theological motivations behind your ministry, in particular the seeding aspect?

Richard Herman: We see seeding as a biblical concept. There are many parables and other references to seeding in the Bible – from mustard seeds to analogies about growth and sustainability. We are really about helping people who are inspired to start a new outreach that addresses a human care need. We help them as much as we can to start and sustain that effort.

We’re an organization that strives to follow Christ’s example of service. Christ’s ministry on earth was a healing ministry and our desire is to see the church live out that Christ-like model. We base a lot of our work on the John 10:10 passage, “I have come so that you might live life to the full.” We talk a lot at Wheat Ridge about people experiencing fullness of life made possible in Christ.

HH: Could you expand on why seeding is so important for local churches?

RH: We believe congregations are centers of health and human care ministries. Seeding is a necessary element for the church. Congregations are a seedbed for new and creative ways to serve ones neighbor. Wheat Ridge wants to say “yes” to creative new ideas by helping to support new ministry efforts on the front end. Our hope is that these new efforts become impactful and sustainable ministries.

We think that it is vital to the health of the church that people be encouraged to start new things. However, it’s tough to get encouragement, resources, financial and otherwise, at that early stage. Often, you have to prove yourself before foundations and donors will jump in and give you support. Wheat Ridge has fallen into this niche of encouraging people in the early stages of new ministry development.

HH: Could you give an example of a ministry you’ve seeded recently?

RH: I just met with a young man, Phil Zielke, whose new organization is receiving seed support from Wheat Ridge. Phil is a cancer survivor. He battled through two bouts of cancer six years ago just as he was about to graduate from college. Most folks, including Phil, thought he was going to die. Out of that experience, Phil decided his calling in life was to develop a way to encourage other cancer patients and their families. He started “Phil’s Friends.” It’s still a young organization, but they have a significant number of volunteers who are visiting people in hospitals, providing care packages, praying for folks in that particular circumstance and bringing the Gospel message. We provided a seed grant, but we are also trying to be a resource with advice and connections for “Phil’s Friends” on everything from how he structures his board of directors properly, how they put financial information together that meets law and regulations, how they work with volunteers. The list goes on and on. If we don’t know something ourselves, we put the right person in touch with Phil. We want to see “Phil’s Friends” going strong 10 years from now.

At Wheat Ridge, we help to provide conditions that nurture the seeds of new ideas people have. I draw inspiration from the people we do seeding with – grassroots leaders who are out in their community, who are a part of a congregation or a not-for-profit organization or agency. I am always inspired by the dedication and selflessness of these folks who are “on fire” to make someone else’s life better.

HH: Could you give a brief history of Wheat Ridge?

RH: Wheat Ridge was founded in 1905 as the Evangelical Lutheran Sanitarium in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Our mission was to minister to Lutherans suffering from tuberculosis. Support for the sanitarium came largely from the fundraising efforts of Lutheran young adults throughout the country. By 1960, new outpatient options for treating TB were available and the sanitarium was sold and became the Lutheran Medical Center. The proceeds from the sale were used to create an endowment for the Wheat Ridge Foundation.

Our history set us up culturally as an organization interested in new, cutting edge things related to health and viewed from a Christian perspective. When the hospital was sold, Wheat Ridge Foundation’s work became trying to identify “the next tuberculosis.” What is the next thing out there that the Christian community can get involved in and help with? We evolved into an organization whose real interest is involvement at the front end of new health and human care ministry efforts … the imagery of “seeding new ministries.” In 1991, our name was changed again to Wheat Ridge Ministries. We desire to engage Lutherans with other people of faith in developing new ministries that bring health, hope and healing to people in our neighborhoods and communities.

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