Living For Others Church Honors Donald Kohlstaedt For Dedication, Service And Compassion

‘He’s a selfless individual,” said the Rev. Earl Houck, newly retired pastor of Central United Methodist Church, of Donald Kohlstaedt. “He lives his life for others. He exemplifies a real Christian character.”

Kohlstaedt, a 39-year member of Central, was recently presented with the United Methodist denomination’s Bishop’s Award, an honor that annually recognizes three Pacific Northwest residents.

Because of Kohlstaedt’s life-long dedication to his church, his devotion to service and his genuine compassion for needy people, Houck, who retired June 25, nominated him for the Bishop’s Award at the Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, held at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma last month.

“It makes me feel good,” said Kohlstaedt, 81. “It was totally unexpected. I’ve just been a regular church member for many, many years.”

Kohlstaedt, who worked at The Spokesman-Review between 1953 and 1976 as a copy holder, can hardly be called a “regular church member.”

“He seemed to do what a lot of the rest of us don’t have courage enough to do - open our homes to people in need,” Houck said.

And that’s exactly what Kohlstaedt did.

For many years, beside working with community programs like Meals on Wheels, he befriended the poor, the lonely, the hungry, former prisoners and emotionally sick people. He helped them out and opened his home to them.

“When I lived on the North Side, I had a number of friends, including some Native Americans,” said Kohlstaedt. “They got to know me, and I had their mothers and children over for dinner a few times.”

Kohlstaedt also took families grocery shopping, and often paid the entire bill himself.

“He was friends with people over the long haul,” said Houck. “People would be his friends for years. They would come back periodically, when they were hard-pressed, and he would help them out.”

Because of his constant compassion and unconditional love for disadvantaged people, Kohlstaedt changed many lives.

“He seemed to have this resilience of not giving up on people,” Houck said. “I saw some truth to that. People’s lives were turned around because of a little boost he gave them and the confidence he had in them.”

Kohlstaedt’s involvement with community charity organizations has decreased in recent years because he no longer drives.

“Since I’m 81, I’m not doing as many things as I used to.”

But that hasn’t stopped him from finding other ways to give to people.

“Through the mail, I contribute to the World Vision and Children’s Fund,” he said. “I’ve done a great deal of contributions in that way, though I am a low-income person.”

Kohlstaedt continues to attend church services every Sunday and takes part in adult classes at Central United Methodist Church.

Play at North Hill Christian Church

The Youth Fellowship at North Hill Christian Church, 4620 N. Post, will stage a play called “Living on the Edge” during Sunday’s worship service at 10 a.m.

The play discusses the challenges today’s young Christians face when they practice their beliefs in school and daily life.

Youth Ministry Honored

Spokane’s Whitworth Presbyterian Community Church will be presented with the Katherine Hawes Award for Effective Youth Ministry at the Presbyterian Church General Assembly in Cincinnati, on July 19.

This award is one of several Vision Awards given annually by the Presbyterian School of Christian Education, a committee based in Richmond, Va.

The Whitworth church was selected for its youth missions to Mexico, Los Angeles and North Idaho and “in-depth,” “thoughtprovoking” youth study programs.

Christapalooza

The 19th-annual Jesus Northwest Festival, a three-day Christian music festival, lands at Clark County Fairgrounds in Vancouver, Wash., Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Musical acts slated to appear include Steven Curtis Chapman, Carman, the group Petra, the Newsboys, A.C. Green, Point of Grace and many others.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster by calling (503) 224-4400. For more information call (503) 393-8811. After July 19, call (360) 576-1435.