The life of Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872) represents the triumph of faith over circumstances. After completing his ministerial studies, he expected to receive an appointment to a church in the city where he had been educated. Instead, he was assigned to pastor a small church in an obscure farming village called Neuendettelsau (it even sounds out-of-the-way), a place where he initially said he would not want his dog buried. He stayed thirty-six years! William’s wife died at twenty-four, leaving him to raise four young children alone. He was concerned about the underprivileged status of single women and widows in his community, so he established a center to serve as headquarters for their social and educational activities.
He read an account of the spiritual needs of German Lutherans on the American frontier and the plight of Native Americans. His conscience would not let him rest until he did something to meet the need. He organized a training institute to prepare pastors for mission service in the American midwest and founded two schools in the states (now Wartburg College and Concordia Seminary). He sent missionaries to Brazil, New Guinea, Australia and the Ukraine.
On his tombstone are etched the words, “I believe in the communion of the saints.” From an unlikely place, Loehe brought much needed renewal to the local church and mission to the wider world. He had a fond appreciation for liturgy and numerous prayers like the one that follows here usher us into God’s presence: