By Rev. William Mueller
It has been a thorough and complete joy to be part of the ministry of Worship Anew (of course, formerly Worship for Shut-Ins).
The very first time I recorded a service my hands were so cold because I was so nervous. It was October 6, 2015, and I was recording for the Third Sunday in Lent the following spring.
Somehow, I stumbled through it, and every service since has been a gracious reminder of the power of God through His Word. When we, as pastors on the program, receive feedback and comments from viewers that give witness to the truth that they were comforted and encouraged in the grace of God, centered in Jesus Christ, this gives us great joy.
On the humorous side, when that very first service was aired, I was greeting members of the congregation I serve, Suburban Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., as they were coming into church. One particular dear man of God stopped before shaking my hand, looked at his watch, and then said, “You did it in 10 minutes on TV this morning.” This was a not-so-subtle statement that sermons in Sunday morning worship were rarely that short! I lovingly said, “What you saw on TV was the abridged version. You’re getting the full version in person!”
I remember the date of the first taping because that day was the 75th anniversary, to the day, of my father’s ordination and installation in his first parish. Dad’s first parish was in North Dakota, near where the Garrison Dam would one day be built on the Missouri River.
I remember driving away from that first taping reflecting on the changes our world had seen in the 75 years from 1940 to 2015. But one thing has not changed: God’s grace, mercy, and love centered in Jesus Christ.
Being part of the ministry of Worship Anew reminds me I am just one part of a much, much bigger picture. It’s the picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ comforting and encouraging sinners. It’s the picture of God forgiving our sins because of Jesus.
What a joy to be part of this ministry!
Our thanks to Pastor Mueller for 10 years ...
“We want to offer our congratulations and thanks to Pastor Bill Mueller for 10 years on ‘Worship Anew.’ During that time, he proclaimed and shared God’s Word with countless numbers of people across the nation. He is a very caring person who takes time to listen to the concerns and interests of others.”
~ Mary and Larry Zelt
“I enjoy listening to Pastor Bill Mueller’s preaching because he doesn’t preach over our heads. He uses everyday examples that we all can relate to and shares some of his own experiences as they relate to the sermon.”
~ Dolores Aman
“Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of you joining the ministry team at Worship Anew. Thank you so much for your dedication, selfless service, and passion for sharing the Gospel. Your leadership, wisdom, and compassion have been a blessing to so many! The love of Christ shines brightly through your words and service to the community.”
~ Jacki Greener
“Worship Anew is deeply grateful to Pastor Mueller as he marks 10 years of proclaiming God’s Word through this ministry. His clear and faithful presentation of the Gospel has brought comfort and hope to countless viewers. We hear regularly how his preaching touches hearts and points aging adults to the promises of Christ. May the Lord continue to strengthen Pastor Mueller in body and spirit as he serves his congregation and the many who receive the Word through ‘Worship Anew.’”
~ Matthew Leighty, Executive Director, Worship Anew
Watch a fun video with Pastor Mueller as he shares about his June 21 message, “Be a Tool.”