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Faith Spotlight: Wendy Cujas

By JONNA RUBIN (Contact)

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Life at Hope Lutheran: Wendy Cujas modestly says she "does what she can" at Hope Lutheran, but given that she’s a staff member who wears many hats, it can seem like a lot of work to an outsider. Not so, says Cujas, who heads up the Praise Team, called SHOL, short for Servants of Hope Lutheran, which leads the praise and contemporary service on Sunday mornings, teeing up the service for the pastor and getting congregants excited about the message. "I’ve gotten so much out of this church, for me to give back is so important."

In addition to her own involvement, which includes leading the call to worship and working with a team to lead the service until the sermon, Cujas’s family is actively involved in the church, as the band consists of Cujas and her husband Dave, another church couple, and hopefully, if Cujas has her way, one of her four sons, "I’d love for him to be involved as a guitar player," she says. "They’re in the junior Praise Band now."

Cujas is also working with the team to initiate a Saturday night contemporary service with an unstructured, casual service that includes music, a message and a meal and hopes to begin those services on April 14.

The path: Cujas was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran growing up, with her mother as a constant reminder of the value of the church in one’s life. Though she strayed as an adult, she eventually returned, and was rewarded in the most unexpected of ways when a lawnmower accident left her incapacitated and with a broken back. Unable to work at her lawn business, Cujas was unsure of her future as a single mom of young boys.

"And then one day, the prayer minister showed up one day with $2,000," said Cujas. "I couldn’t believe it. I’d never asked or even considered such a thing, but it was enough to get us through, and I’m so, so grateful."

She’s quick to point out that her return to the church had the added bonus of pleasing her mother. "She’s thrilled," said Cujas. "This is what she always wanted!"

Biggest challenge: "I want to make everyone happy," said Cujas. "And sometimes, that’s not possible."

Greatest joy: Cujas loves working with the Praise Band, and cites learning new music as a favorite activity. "It’s so beyond thrilling to see it all come together," said Cujas. "It’s just joyful and fun and I just love doing it."