Stories From the Pews of Faith
Members of Faith share personal experiences that highlight God's love, mercy and guidance.
Lois Evans
Many of the subjects of these stories think of themselves as ordinary Christians. You’ve probably noticed, though, that each person’s life also includes unique experiences and events that can be inspiring. Today, follow the path of a conversation with another one of Faith’s members, LOIS EVANS. This time around, see if you can find some answers to this question: How does ordinary eventually become extraordinary?
The interview begins like most—Lois wondering whether she has anything profound to offer. Whether her story is special in any way. When asked how she spends her time in a week, she responds, “I find myself doing what’s helpful for other people. At work, with neighbors, friends and family. Volunteering for non-profits, making a difference for people on the receiving end that I’ve never met. If I see or hear of a need that I can address, I do my best to help.” So far that’s the kind of answer that could be given by most Faith members, thoughts any of us might share. A generous and kind response.
Our conversation takes a thought-provoking turn when Lois recounts some examples. “Simple things like phoning people, doing child-care, babysitting, supplying food, offering a smile, providing transportation, collecting aluminum cans. They can all make a big difference.”
Then she offers this observation—one that hints at an answer to the earlier ordinary-to-extraordinary question: “These are little things. Sometimes all you have to give is something small.” During the rest of the interview, that one idea builds into an insight that might be overlooked by any of us: Over time, our seemingly small acts of kindness or caring merge and combine with each other. They develop into larger routines and habits. They coalesce into programs that motivate others. As the years pass, their effects add up!
(As an aside, Lois recounts a remembered sermon—about one of Jesus’ miracles—from one of Faith’s former pastors. “Pastor Honig said this over and over, 'Just fill the jars with water; the Holy Spirit does the rest.’” How simple. How profound.)
As we talk, Lois remembers how her mother, Dorothy—a nurse—showed a spirit of caring for other people. How Lois was a Candy Striper volunteer at the former McNeal Hospital in Berwyn. How her campus job at Augustana College was caring for a disabled student in her dorm. “She really needed people to get her through the day. I got to be one of those people.”
Lois’ post-college career took her into short-lived jobs in the church office at First Lutheran in Berwyn and at an insurance office in Glen Ellyn. Married, with three children and looking for a meaningful profession, she started doing child daycare in her home. “I spent 21 years doing that,” Lois remembers. “That was great fun, and I was good at it.”
During those years, she found a variety of opportunities for service at Faith, serving on the congregation’s Christian Action Committee. She was part of the Faith House program—providing housing and lifestyle coaching for formerly homeless families. She was involved in the program, “Plant an Extra Row,” that distributed produce gathered from the gardens of Faith members. PADS and Teen-Parent Connection benefited from Lois’ leadership. She was responding to needs in the community and recruiting other Faith members to join in the work. Seemingly ordinary programs excelled, pointing toward extraordinary.
When her mother-in-law came home to Chicago for rehabilitation after a severe accident—10 hospitals over eight months—Lois observed how the nurses cared for her mother-in-law. “I said to myself, ‘I could do that, maybe even better.’” With the encouragement of Sue Cheshire, Faith’s parish nurse at that time, Lois started nursing school at College of DuPage. She was 55 years old. After her graduation from COD in 2006, the new graduate started working as a rehab nurse at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton. After retiring from Marianjoy, Lois feels blessed to have a third “best job ever”—she’s a nurse at ESSE Adult Day Care Service at Faith.
(The conversation turns to two strong examples of Lois’ small-things way of thinking. Here the answers to this story’s initial question expanded remarkably.)
In February 1990, Lois started collecting and recycling aluminum cans as a way to supplement the congregation’s social ministry outreach. She called it “CAN-DO,” and gathered other members to work in this effort. Over the decades, the compassionate leader and her fellow volunteers have made 140 trips to recycling centers. Their work has netted more than $5,800 for a variety of “small things” at Faith, including the outside patio benches; support for ESSE and hats and mittens for Faith’s Mitten Tree. PADS, Glen Ellyn’s Walk-in Ministry, Family Shelter Services and Lutheran Outdoor Ministry have also received funds. Over the past 30-plus years, this accumulation of familiar tasks has grown into something big, even astounding. One small aluminum can at a time….
Beginning 21 years ago, Lois has been the primary leader in a food-rescue program at Trader Joe’s. Seven days a week, she and about a dozen volunteers collect meat, produce, dairy products, packaged foods and flowers that are approaching their “Best Use By” dates. During these years, Lois and the other drivers have helped this beautiful bounty find its way to People’s Resource Center, Milton Township, York Township, ESSE, Teen-Parent Connection and other organizations that distribute food.
On a few occasions, their efforts helped Trader Joe’s avoid dreadful outcomes. Lois and her team have rescued food when power outages threatened to ruin most of that market’s fresh and frozen goods. “One Thanksgiving,” she recounts, “we found places for 150 turkeys that would have otherwise been thrown away!”
Some math calculations might help you understand how these food rescue efforts add up in tangible ways. Extrapolating from Trader Joe’s data, this demonstrable statistic: In 2021, the work of Lois and her team resulted in more than $456,000 worth of food being distributed locally. Trader Joe’s estimates a similar total for 2022.
As you consider these efforts based on past experience and the total of these numbers over the decades, you realize one measurable effect of these weekly “small things.” The intangible results? They might be even greater: All the folks over all the years, whose lives have been enriched by this food rescue ministry. The spreading example of one national corporation’s work to benefit its local neighbors. An on-the-ground ministry in which many congregations around the country can engage.
Like other members of Faith, Lois prefers to operate under-the-radar. “I’m uncomfortable when people make a fuss over what I do,” she shares. “But I’m grateful when people who know about it ask me for help.” Although she’s not sure who might eventually come along to pick up this work, she knows down deep that it’s not about her. “I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring things together, “she says. “She has a great track record.”
Like other “small-things” members of Faith, Lois understands that her continuing efforts have, over time, yielded amazing outcomes. She knows that she has used her personal gifts—including those she might name as ordinary or small—to bring God’s extraordinary love and care to the world.
As you read about Lois Evans, think how your perhaps-ordinary life has also been a wonderful gift to this congregation and to the people God so dearly loves.
Perhaps like the Baby in a manger….?
Many of the subjects of these stories think of themselves as ordinary Christians. You’ve probably noticed, though, that each person’s life also includes unique experiences and events that can be inspiring. Today, follow the path of a conversation with another one of Faith’s members, LOIS EVANS. This time around, see if you can find some answers to this question: How does ordinary eventually become extraordinary?
The interview begins like most—Lois wondering whether she has anything profound to offer. Whether her story is special in any way. When asked how she spends her time in a week, she responds, “I find myself doing what’s helpful for other people. At work, with neighbors, friends and family. Volunteering for non-profits, making a difference for people on the receiving end that I’ve never met. If I see or hear of a need that I can address, I do my best to help.” So far that’s the kind of answer that could be given by most Faith members, thoughts any of us might share. A generous and kind response.
Our conversation takes a thought-provoking turn when Lois recounts some examples. “Simple things like phoning people, doing child-care, babysitting, supplying food, offering a smile, providing transportation, collecting aluminum cans. They can all make a big difference.”
Then she offers this observation—one that hints at an answer to the earlier ordinary-to-extraordinary question: “These are little things. Sometimes all you have to give is something small.” During the rest of the interview, that one idea builds into an insight that might be overlooked by any of us: Over time, our seemingly small acts of kindness or caring merge and combine with each other. They develop into larger routines and habits. They coalesce into programs that motivate others. As the years pass, their effects add up!
(As an aside, Lois recounts a remembered sermon—about one of Jesus’ miracles—from one of Faith’s former pastors. “Pastor Honig said this over and over, 'Just fill the jars with water; the Holy Spirit does the rest.’” How simple. How profound.)
As we talk, Lois remembers how her mother, Dorothy—a nurse—showed a spirit of caring for other people. How Lois was a Candy Striper volunteer at the former McNeal Hospital in Berwyn. How her campus job at Augustana College was caring for a disabled student in her dorm. “She really needed people to get her through the day. I got to be one of those people.”
Lois’ post-college career took her into short-lived jobs in the church office at First Lutheran in Berwyn and at an insurance office in Glen Ellyn. Married, with three children and looking for a meaningful profession, she started doing child daycare in her home. “I spent 21 years doing that,” Lois remembers. “That was great fun, and I was good at it.”
During those years, she found a variety of opportunities for service at Faith, serving on the congregation’s Christian Action Committee. She was part of the Faith House program—providing housing and lifestyle coaching for formerly homeless families. She was involved in the program, “Plant an Extra Row,” that distributed produce gathered from the gardens of Faith members. PADS and Teen-Parent Connection benefited from Lois’ leadership. She was responding to needs in the community and recruiting other Faith members to join in the work. Seemingly ordinary programs excelled, pointing toward extraordinary.
When her mother-in-law came home to Chicago for rehabilitation after a severe accident—10 hospitals over eight months—Lois observed how the nurses cared for her mother-in-law. “I said to myself, ‘I could do that, maybe even better.’” With the encouragement of Sue Cheshire, Faith’s parish nurse at that time, Lois started nursing school at College of DuPage. She was 55 years old. After her graduation from COD in 2006, the new graduate started working as a rehab nurse at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton. After retiring from Marianjoy, Lois feels blessed to have a third “best job ever”—she’s a nurse at ESSE Adult Day Care Service at Faith.
(The conversation turns to two strong examples of Lois’ small-things way of thinking. Here the answers to this story’s initial question expanded remarkably.)
In February 1990, Lois started collecting and recycling aluminum cans as a way to supplement the congregation’s social ministry outreach. She called it “CAN-DO,” and gathered other members to work in this effort. Over the decades, the compassionate leader and her fellow volunteers have made 140 trips to recycling centers. Their work has netted more than $5,800 for a variety of “small things” at Faith, including the outside patio benches; support for ESSE and hats and mittens for Faith’s Mitten Tree. PADS, Glen Ellyn’s Walk-in Ministry, Family Shelter Services and Lutheran Outdoor Ministry have also received funds. Over the past 30-plus years, this accumulation of familiar tasks has grown into something big, even astounding. One small aluminum can at a time….
Beginning 21 years ago, Lois has been the primary leader in a food-rescue program at Trader Joe’s. Seven days a week, she and about a dozen volunteers collect meat, produce, dairy products, packaged foods and flowers that are approaching their “Best Use By” dates. During these years, Lois and the other drivers have helped this beautiful bounty find its way to People’s Resource Center, Milton Township, York Township, ESSE, Teen-Parent Connection and other organizations that distribute food.
On a few occasions, their efforts helped Trader Joe’s avoid dreadful outcomes. Lois and her team have rescued food when power outages threatened to ruin most of that market’s fresh and frozen goods. “One Thanksgiving,” she recounts, “we found places for 150 turkeys that would have otherwise been thrown away!”
Some math calculations might help you understand how these food rescue efforts add up in tangible ways. Extrapolating from Trader Joe’s data, this demonstrable statistic: In 2021, the work of Lois and her team resulted in more than $456,000 worth of food being distributed locally. Trader Joe’s estimates a similar total for 2022.
As you consider these efforts based on past experience and the total of these numbers over the decades, you realize one measurable effect of these weekly “small things.” The intangible results? They might be even greater: All the folks over all the years, whose lives have been enriched by this food rescue ministry. The spreading example of one national corporation’s work to benefit its local neighbors. An on-the-ground ministry in which many congregations around the country can engage.
Like other members of Faith, Lois prefers to operate under-the-radar. “I’m uncomfortable when people make a fuss over what I do,” she shares. “But I’m grateful when people who know about it ask me for help.” Although she’s not sure who might eventually come along to pick up this work, she knows down deep that it’s not about her. “I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring things together, “she says. “She has a great track record.”
Like other “small-things” members of Faith, Lois understands that her continuing efforts have, over time, yielded amazing outcomes. She knows that she has used her personal gifts—including those she might name as ordinary or small—to bring God’s extraordinary love and care to the world.
As you read about Lois Evans, think how your perhaps-ordinary life has also been a wonderful gift to this congregation and to the people God so dearly loves.
Perhaps like the Baby in a manger….?
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Art Oberwetter
Beatrice Ndayisenga
Karen Finerty
Cole Swanstrom
Melanie Rohla
Kathy Dibadj
Bob and Sylvia Wulffen
Jason Loebach
Bob Hawkinson
Molly Hall Barrett
Grant and Mary Kelley
Retta Hennessy
Alan Foster
Pilvi Innola
Amy Kerman-Gutzmer and Patrick Gutzmer
Andrew Sells
Beth Nyland
Tom Wendorf
Cindy and Jeff Crosby
David Hooker
Leroy Boeckelman
Zach Pehta
Emil and Mary Petereit
Chris Bettin
Lee Boyden
Brent Ellerbee
Craig and Sue Warner
Jane Stroh
Michael Kozakis