Ode to Walberg Ministries

In 1956 my father-in-law, Dr. C.T. Walberg (known to everyone as Kelly), began a week day radio ministry in the Los Angeles area.  He continued that ministry until shortly before his death in 1995.  During the last few years of his life I shared the 15 minute broadcast and after his death I continued alone for a few years.  Then his wife, Anina, took over the broadcast until 2002 when it became exclusively a literature ministry because of soaring radio costs. Anina continued sending out a monthly mailing to people scattered throughout the world until today.

Today, gathered around the 126 year old table that has served as the gathering place of family, friends and uncounted missionaries, Anina and her volunteer crew stuffed more than 200 envelopes for the last mailing from Walberg Ministries.   At 96 Anina reached the decision that she couldn’t do it each month, so it was time to close down.  My wife, Sharon, drove to the Post Office where one last time she handed over the plastic trays with their cardboard sleeves.

It was a sobering reminder that while Jesus promised to build his church he didn’t promise that any particular church or ministry would continue in perpetuity.  Churches and ministries have shelf lives.  Some are around for centuries, some for decades but eventually every church and ministry ceases to be.  Some cease because of scandal or mismanagement, some cease because no one comes any more, some cease simply because their particular role in proclaiming the gospel has been completed.

Kelly and Anina never set out to build an empire.  They set out to be faithful. They accomplished that.  Over the decades Walberg Ministry has taught, encouraged and challenged thousands of followers of Jesus. The ministry has been used by God to proclaim the gospel throughout the world as those who listened to the broadcasts or received the mailings shared with others what they had received.  Beginning today that ministry will be carried on by other ministries already in existence and by some that as yet do not exist. 

One thing we know for sure, even as we are saddened by the passing of Walberg Ministries, Jesus will build his church and even if he needs to use stones, God will not leave himself without a witness.