A SPIRITUALITY OF SERVICE:
Reflections on a life-long journey of faith and work
among the world’s poor
by Jerry Aaker
 FROM THE AUTHOR
Early in life my wife Judy and I both felt called to a life of service and missions. This brought us to a challenging career with Lutheran World Relief, Heifer International, Agros International and Church World Service. I responded to numerous humanitarian emergencies and helped establish sustainable development programs in many countries. In retirement I have had time to reflect on the meaning of this career and the faith that motivated it.
We now live in Montana; enjoy the great outdoors and volunteer with community and church organizations. We travel frequently to visit our three children and five grandchildren.
 THE AUTHOR’S INVITATION TO READERS
In these pages I explore out loud with you my life-long quest to understand and live out the rich and varied elements of my own spirituality of service. I try to present an honest account of how I employed spiritual practices and faith as integral to my work of service in many cultural contexts around the world.
I invite you to walk with me as I reflect on how my questions and explorations about spirituality have been tested and honed during this 40 year sojourn working with people living in conditions of injustice and poverty in many countries around the world.
My hope is that, as we walk together, you will find flashes of wisdom and insight that help you to understand your own spiritual journey with a new depth. My wish is that you will gain an increased appreciation for the mysteries that abound within the complexities of your own faith and that you will uncover practical applications for your daily life and work in service to others.
In the end the important question is, “What about you?” How have you worked out your own answers to the questions about life’s meaning, purpose and calling? In what ways do you continue to ask and answer, to discern and respond, as you craft your own understanding of how you are called to the dual challenges of spirituality and service—as you live out your life?
Blessings on your journey.
—Jerry Aaker
THE AUTHOR’S INVITATION TO CONVERSATION
Join the online community and converse with Jerry and other readers about perspectives on spirituality and service. Current author reflections and commentary from readers on the author’s blog: http://aakerja.blogspot.com
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