Will you still need me, when I’m sixty-four?

Will you still need me, when I’m sixty-four?
If the first half of 2025 is any indication, the answer is yes. On June 1 I celebrate my 64th trip around the sun and give thanks for great opportunities, interesting stories and meaningful video production work in the faith-based, non-profit business space.

My colleague Stacey Adams and I recorded interviews with social justice and civil rights activists Jane Ramsey and Betty Mangnuss with Chicago Theological Seminary’s Jackson Oral History Project. We also produced a Clergy Wellness Gathering video in Westmont, Illinois.

Hephzibah Children’s Association asked us to produce the 2025 Heart of Gold video with a story about Amy Lutz, a woman who was served by Hephzibah as a child, went to work for Hephzibah as an adult and now has her children enrolled in their after school program.

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and local churches team up to care for seniors at LSSI’s Spring Ridge Senior Adult Living facility in Rockford. We also supported LSSI’s Good Shepherd Sunday efforts with video messaging from LSSI President and CEO Mark Stutrud.

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is reshaping theological education with Project Starling, an online learning platform designed to make theological education accessible to all through resources, certificate programs, workshops, and training opportunities. We also recorded the LSTC 2025 Baccalaureate at Augustana Lutheran Church in Chicago.

The Rural Community Assistance Partnership asked us to help develop training tools for technical assistance providers in rural Indiana. We also produced stories about their work in rural Puerto Rico as communities there face infrastructure challenges following hurricanes Maria and Finona.

The Chicago Rehab Network’s Community Empowerment Series was live streamed to remote audiences and then students jumped on a bus to tour two Chicago affordable housing projects currently under development.

We helped keep people safe during hospital stays with a series of Patient Family Education Videos.

Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America asked us to visit eight Chicago area congregations and ministries and tell their unique stories. It was a refreshing and encouraging look at life in the local church.

Metro Chicago also asked us to produce a fun cooking segment/synod assembly report with Bishop Yaheil Curry titled, Good Stew at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Villa Park.

And the Christian Fellowship Community recalled us to Burton, Texas to cover their annual Reeter Ranch Retreat. We will also be recording their annual Milwaukee gathering this July.

The Law Center for Better Housing asked us to produce and livestream their 2025 Town Hall gathering at the Chicago Community Trust on State Street in front of a live audience.

The University of St. Mary of the Lake’s 2025 Commencement speaker was a no-show due to his presence in Rome for the Papal Conclave and election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV Our livestream went ahead without Cardinal Blase Cupich and was a delightful celebration. I’m thrilled to still be needed, even at the age of 64!