CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Conrad M. Thompson, 84, speaker for Lutheran Vespers from 1970 to 1982, died July 18. Lutheran Vespers is the radio ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The funeral will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, Minn., on July 22 at 4 p.m.
"Lutheran Vespers is still reaping the fruits that Connie planted during his time as speaker," said Susan V. Greeley, director and producer of Lutheran Vespers, ELCA Department for Communication. "It is very common for staff to hear comments such as, 'I've been listening ever since Connie Thompson was on the air,'" she said. Lutheran Vespers has been on the air since 1947. "To this day we receive wills and bequests from people who were touched by Connie's ministry, both over the radio and in person. His is a legacy that continues to thrive," Greeley said. "Connie Thompson took a growing ministry and expanded it even further. Even though no one on the current staff of Lutheran Vespers had the opportunity to work with Connie, we feel as though we know him through our mutual love for listeners and this broadcast. We are grateful for the wonderful legacy Connie left us and thankful to God for his ministry," she said. Thompson was born on a farm near Valders, Wis., April 2, 1917. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in music at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., in 1939, and taught music at Pomeroy High School, Pomeroy, Iowa, from 1939 to 1942. Thompson earned a master of divinity degree at Luther Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary), St. Paul, Minn., in 1945. He served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Paul, Minn., from 1944 to 1949, and at Grace Lutheran Church, Watertown, S.D., from 1949 to 1951. He served as director for evangelism in the former Evangelical Lutheran Church and American Lutheran Church from 1951 to 1970. Thompson developed the United States Congress on Evangelism held in Minneapolis in 1969, and served as a delegate to International Congresses on World Evangelization in Berlin, Germany, and Lausanne, Switzerland. He was a member of the Commission on Evangelism and Stewardship of the Lutheran World Federation, a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition founded in 1947. Thompson is the author of several articles and booklets on marriage, spiritual healing and family. A tribute to Thompson will be featured in the August 2001 issue of the "Good Newsletter," a bi-monthly publication of Lutheran Vespers. The tribute features a note written by Thompson last month with thoughts about his ministry with Lutheran Vespers. He wrote: "What helped to make our radio listeners so close to us were not only the warm letters of response, but what was called our 'coffee cup ministry.' When I retired, Lutheran Vespers asked if my wife and I would spend two years visiting as many Lutheran Vespers listeners as possible. How thrilling it was to meet people of every denomination, both the elderly and many young people. And how blessed we were as we heard about their own stories and their prayers for Lutheran Vespers, and especially to hear their fervent confession of faith." Thompson is survived by his wife, Swanhild (Swanee), a daughter, three sons, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
