July 15, 2009

CHICAGO – The Rev. Charles A. Axness doesn't know who his new liver came from, but he's grateful.

"I don't know if that person was male or female; black, white or bronze," he wrote in a recent newsletter to his congregation, First Lutheran Church, Fremont, Neb. "Someone made a conscious decision to give life to another human being."

Axness was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder in 2007. The deficiency attacks either the lungs or liver. In Axness' case, his liver was damaged to the point that he needed a transplant to survive.

"They were more or less keeping me alive on medications," Axness said.

After about a month of waiting, Axness received a new liver on March 29. To him, it was a second chance at life.

He is learning how to take care of himself better. When Axness returned to work on July 5, it was full-time with a few modifications. He works until noon and then takes a two-hour rest before returning to work.

"It really reminded me of the need to take care of our bodies," he said.

Tammy Devine, wellness manager of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Board of Pensions said that professional church leaders have a tendency to "give at (their) own expense."

Devine is a registered nurse and an ELCA diaconal minister.

The ELCA Board of Pensions started researching the health of church leaders in 2000 under the initiative "Health Leaders Enhance Lives." Part of Devine's ministry is to "educate, support and inspire leaders to live well."

"We're seeing our average number of risk factors has dropped" because of the work Healthy Leaders Enhance Lives has done, Devine said.

Four of five medical risks have decreased, and five of six lifestyle risks have decreased since the program's start, she said.

"Our leaders are feeling more inclined to make a change in their health," Devine said.

She added that it is important for church leaders to be stewards of good health and that being in better health themselves is helping professional church leaders heard their flocks in a healthier direction.

Axness' health issues have helped his congregation take steps to learn about different kinds of transplants while he was in the hospital recovering. The church also runs a section on health news in its monthly newsletter.

Axness plans to lead by example by starting a new weekly service on July 22 about the miracles of medicine and his experiences.

"Fortunately, I have a second opportunity," he said, "and not a lot of people get that."

First Lutheran Church can be found at http://www.flc-ne.org/, on the Web. Information about the ELCA Board of Pensions Wellness program can be found at https://www.ELCAbop.org/livewell.aspx, on the Web.

ELCA News Service
Carrie L. Draeger is a senior communication major with a concentration in journalism at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash. This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.