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Holiday and Special Letters of Support and Encouragement + + + + + Pastor Benke, I support you 100% in your attendance at the 9/11 memorial service. Michael D. Antonovich + + + + + Dear Pastor Benke, I attended Hales Corners Lutheran Church with my daughter on December 29th and enjoyed hearing your message. Ever since I heard of your suspension some time ago, I have felt it was totally unwarranted and was disappointed with the synod for their actions. I would like to share a situation that I experienced which seems to parallel the prayer session in New York on 90/23/01. My sister and brother-in-law died tragically in January 2000 when their Alaska Air flight crashed into the Pacific Ocean while headed to San Francisco from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. All 88 persons on board died in the crash. Those body parts that were recovered and were identifiable were returned to the families. All other unidentified body parts were pout in a common casket. At the one-year anniversary of the crash, a memorial service was held in California and the casket was buried. Because of the diverse religions of the victims, four clergymen were chosen to participate in the service (a Buddhist priest, a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi and a Protestant minister). Respectfully listening while those of another faith prayed and gave comfort to the families did not mean that I was worshipping another god. By the same token, when you prayed next to those of another faith, you weren't worshipping another god. I would respectfully ask the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod reconsider its suspension of you. Your participation at the prayer session was truly a Christian witness and not the breaking of any of the Ten Commandments. I will remember you in my prayers, Sincerely, Carol Harrison + + + + + Dear Pastor Benke, You are in very good company when your fellow LCMS clergy call you a heretic. Jesus was called the same by the religious leaders of his day. We at Christ the King know you were not alone at Yankee Stadium among all those people who were grieving when you offered that wonderful prayer of healing. Christ was with you. He was and still is. Your faith has shown us what it takes to be a Christian, and to walk in His footsteps. Dave, we want you to know we share that walk with you. In Christ's Name we join you. Elders of Christ the King Lutheran Church Twenty names appended + + + + + Dear Pastor Benke, I know that you are hurting, but try and see this as an opportunity. I bet someone was in Yankee Stadium when you prayed, saw how much trouble, and became a Christian. Maybe God is thinking, "Okay, maybe he is done being a pastor, maybe it is time for him to become a missionary." Look to the Lord and His strength; seek his face always, remember the wonders He has done, his miracles, and judgements he has pronounced Psalm 105:4-5. Always remember this Matthew 28:20b: And surely I will be with you to the very end of the age. So think about this. Maybe this will give you a chance to spread God's word to different countries. Good luck and God be with you, Sincerely, Kaitlyn Wong + + + + + Dear Pastor Benke, My wife, Lui, and I have been praying for you, your family and our church since we first heard the disturbing news that you were under personal attack for praying along with others at Yankee Stadium. We have read your prayer, and prayed the prayer, and we are thankful you were there when God called upon your heart to deliver the prayer. Your plight has been discussed at church, with others, and in our home, and you remain constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Perhaps the finer points of "syncretism" and the man-made rules of Synod elude us, but the plain words of Jesus do not: "Love one another ." "Have peace with one another" . "Let your light shine" "Preach the Gospel to every creature" "Wash one another's feet" .We read God's love letter to us and Jesus' teachings and find no fault you were "about your Father's business". You were given an opportunity to do something in Christ's name, and you did it. Our hearts, too, were heavy and hurting after 9/11 and in dire need of hope and repair. We were searching for understanding and comfort in the shock and mad confusion that followed. Men like you who rose up publicly and in pulpits and in prayer meetings everywhere fed us and directed us back to the only hope and the only solution Jesus. We were "hungry, thirsty, naked, sick and in a sense in prison," and men like you met our needs in Christ's name, and we are forever grateful. Prayers continue to rise up daily in our nation and in our world that our country will be healed and blessed and that all men will know the love of Jesus. We still believe his promise, that whatever we ask for in prayer and whomever we pray for (even our "enemies") and wherever we pray (Yankee Stadium or silently in our hearts), it will be heard and received by a loving and merciful God! As for your detractors, we pray for them also that brotherly love prevail, that eyes might be opened, that mercy and forgiveness spring up, and finally that a reconciliation and peace might be achieved soon. Should the accusers persist, we are reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 15:8-9 and Matthew 12:25 no good can come of it. A house divided against itself will surely fall. ("These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men." "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself cannot stand.") Again, Pastor Benke, our prayers and those of many other Christians are raised to Jesus and Almighty God in your behalf. We stand beside you and support you and thank you. If there is any other way we can help, you need only ask. In closing, allow a layman to bless you and your family as you so often bless us "The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen. In Jesus' Love, Bill and Liu Lundeck,
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