Rev. Dr. Jonathan Blanke, Senior Pastor
Pastor’s Corner for June 28-July 4, 2026
The Gift of Hospitality
(Matthew 10:40-42)
Jesus sent His disciples out not with wealth or education or worldly wisdom but with one tunic and the instructions to wait for the welcome of others (Matt. 10:9-11). Over the years I have found myself—richly blessed though I already am—too often wanting to complain to God about NOT having one thing or another. But I’ve learned a lot about the mission of God that originated with Jesus’ apostles and extends to those the church still sends into the world today…a “sending” that includes every one of us. One thing I’ve learned is this: when those Jesus sends ask for help, approach the world with an attitude of humility and quiet assurance of God’s care, and when they are honest about something they need…perhaps as simple as a drink of water on a hot day or along a dusty road…God provides a welcome. God lends a helping hand. And the HELPER is blessed, in the process!
If you’re like me you’ve been on both sides of that exchange of grace, though our stories are each a little different. As a Christian English teacher in Japan back in the early 80s, I’ll never forget being received by the artist Sadao Watanabe and his family into their home and studio not long after arriving in the country. Neither I nor my other co-workers at that time fully appreciated the status of the artist. His prints, many of which depict events from the life of Jesus, are beloved today by people the world over. Lowly, inexperienced foreign missionaries though we were, we were treated like royalty by Mr. Watanabe and his wife Harue. In the years since, Juli and I have had the privilege of welcoming the “sent” people of God into our home, too. The hospitality industry in the United States has supplanted some of the need to care for others. It can never take the place of the personal warm welcome that comes from caring for another person in that place we call home. And even if we can’t host people for a visit in the places where we live, we can encourage them in their ministry, hold their needs in our hearts through prayer, and serve them, as God allows.
Jesus, the One who went away to Calvary’s cross to prepare a place for us and welcome us to our Father’s house, tells His first disciples and all of us: “Whoever receives you, receives me.” Jesus promised the Twelve they would need rest and encouragement along the way of a life lived in ministry to others. We need the same. So isn’t it a privilege not only to have the chance to assist one another along life’s way…we even have the privilege of standing in for Christ as those who are to be welcomed and cared for?
God’s blessing to each one of us on the journey!
Peace and joy,
Pastor Jonathan
Pastor Jonathan Blanke grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He received his Bachelor's degree from College of William and Mary in Virginia and attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biblical Studies, Book of John. He served as a Vicar at Messiah Lutheran Church in Richardson, Texas.
The Blanke family lived in Japan while he served as pastor and missionary to Okinawa Lutheran Church and taught Biblical Studies at Japan Lutheran College in Tokyo.
Pastor Jonathan lived in southern Maryland from January 2014 to November 2019 and was thankful to have served as the Sole Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington Park, Maryland.
He and his wife, Juli, have two grown children. In his free time, Jonathan likes to travel, "play around" on the piano, and enjoy the outdoors.
Click HERE to view a brief video from Pastor Jonathan.