MLC interviews: (2) Lay Preacher Friedrich Brunzema

Since January 2017, four members of the Martin Luther Church congregation are being trained as lay preachers: Katja Brittain, Tanya Zielke, Iris Schweiger and Friedrich Brunzema, whose interview follows below.

1) How long have you been coming to the MLC?

Friedrich:  For about a year – my son’s confirmation was at the Martin Luther Church– although I am a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church downtown.

2) What do you like best about the MLC?

Friedrich: Some of the members of the congregation…

3) What prompted you to become a lay preacher and how long did it take to make up your mind?

Friedrich: It was a very spontaneous decision; I felt a calling to do it.

4) What was the biggest challenge (what was most difficult to cope with) during the training seminar?

Friedrich: The seminar was OK. The biggest challenge was the schedule planning – one needs plenty of time to prepare sermons.

5) Ten years ago, could you have imagined yourself today standing in front of a congregation as a lay preacher?

Friedrich: Sure, absolutely!

6) What was the hardest part of your first sermon?

Friedrich: To put something down on paper, that was distinctly better than the sermons you find on the Internet.

7) What abilities do you value most in your three colleagues.

Friedrich: Their energy, their dedication to church-related matters, and their candor.

8) What is your favourite Bible verse and why?

Friedrich: Isaiah 41:13 – my confirmation-verse, which has led me through life: For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” (NRSV)

9) What is your greatest wish for the MLC community in this 500th anniversary year of the Reformation?

Friedrich: That our congregation would make a greater effort to reach out to, and integrate, the people from our surrounding community in our Church…

To read about Iris Schweiger, in part one of the series ( MLC interviews: (1) Lay Preacher Iris Schweiger)  click here. 

To read about Katja Brittain, in part three of the series (MLC interview: (3) Lay Preacher Katja Brittain) click here.