The Judson University’s Annual Community Prayer Breakfast held May 11 brought together nearly 180 people to Herrick Chapel and the Reed Room in Lindner Tower, two locations on Judson’s Elgin campus, to celebrate community volunteers and consider the theme of “Devotion.”
Community members, local dignitaries, civic leaders and church leaders came together to enjoy Christian fellowship, pray together, honor peers and hear from the morning’s guest speaker, Rev. Huron Claus. Rev. Claus is president of CHIEF, Inc., an organization that has a vision of having an effective Christian witness for every Native American First Nations tribe in this generation. He said that while there are 9.7 million Native Americans throughout the U.S. and another 2 million Native Americans in Canada, many times native peoples don’t see that Christianity is for them.
As a fifth generation Christian, Rev. Claus’ own life is testament that Christianity is for native people as well. He told the crowd that Paul’s description of himself in Philippians 3 as someone who follows the traditions of his people and who is a member of the tribe of Benjamin uses language that resonates with and demonstrates that Christianity is for native people. Claus said that Paul’s story of letting go of all his worldly knowledge and affiliations for the love of Christ and the relationship with God is like an elder sharing the greatest wisdom with us.
“What does it look like to know Christ? As I study this [story of Paul], I think of devotion and intimacy. When is the last time you have been intimate with the Almighty God,” Rev. Claus asked. He encouraged attendees to seek out that devotion and intimacy with God.
During the event, Judson honored two individuals for their Community Service. This year’s D. Ray Wilson Volunteer Service Award recipient was Tom Roeser, president of OTTO Engineering, a Carpentersville company that has grown to employ 500 workers and earn revenue of more than $95 million. Roeser has given back to the Carpentersville and East Dundee communities with this vision, leadership, and financial support. He has invested in the neighborhoods and business districts near OTTO Engineering by purchasing foreclosed homes, renovating them, and reselling the homes with no profit. “Homes by OTTO” has bought and rehabbed more than 150 entry-level homes. Over the years and during times of economic downturns, Roeser has invested in the historic downtown of East Dundee by purchasing struggling businesses, renovating historic sites, and contributing to the goal of making the downtown area a dining destination.
Roeser has given generously of his time and resources to the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township, Elgin Community College, the Business/Education Partnership at Dundee Crown High School and with Elgin Symphony Orchestra. He has been a corporate sponsor of Judson’s World Leaders Forum, has hosted Constitution Day speakers to help Judson students better understand the U.S. Constitution, and has supported Judson’s Roeser Scholars Program in which students focus on three important pillars in their four-year leadership curriculum: their faith identity, how to thrive in a democratic republic and “capitalism for the greater good” concept.
When accepting the award, Tom Roeser stated that he considers himself a capitalist and was once asked by a Roeser scholar if capitalism was moral. He explained that capitalism is all based on a promise that you will pay your employees for their labor or pay for services of a vendor after their work. “If I break my promise once, it all falls apart,” he said.
Judson’s Bea Wilson Youth Volunteer Service Award recognizes high school-aged youth in the Fox Valley who give back to their community. This year’s recipient was Anayeli Flores, a senior at Larkin High School. Flores has been on the honor roll and been a member of the Tri-M Honor Society and the National Honor Society. She also has run for the Larkin Cross-Country Team.
Flores has served the community by volunteering at the Gail Borden Library since 2018 and at her community church. She has given more than 100 hours in community service by helping people in need. While at Larkin, Flores has been a leader and role model in the Little Royal Preschool program and has taken leadership roles with the Gail Borden Library’s Summer Reading program.
Original source can be found here.
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