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SERVICE SCENE
Putting for Pastor Steve—The loss of their beloved pastor prompted a community to act.
 The Rev. Steve Cox, pastor of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Louisville, Colorado, led his congregation like he lived his life: with a strong, quiet and confident faith.
“Everything Steve did in his life was in response to God’s love,” says Christ the Servant member Valorie Sundby.
So when Steve died suddenly of a stroke in November 2005, his congregation and loved ones wanted to do something that would honor his memory and help to support his wife, Margot Wright, and two young children, Dylan, 13, and Sophie, 9.
Sundby, along with other members of Christ the Servant, organized the Steve Cox Memorial Golf Tournament, with the proceeds going into a children’s education fund managed by Thrivent Financial for Dylan and Sophie.
“It really took on a life of its own,” says Sundby. “When we first started, we were hoping for nine hole sponsors—we ended up with 19. It became bigger than just one little church that lost its pastor. The whole community wanted to be a part of it.”
With 88 golfers, including Steve’s three brothers, his father and Dylan, several corporate sponsors and nearly 300 volunteer hours, the golf tournament was a huge success. Altogether, after supplemental funds from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans programs—Care Abounds in Communities® and Care in Regions® — the event raised more than $20,000 for Dylan and Sophie. But more than just the money, the children got to see firsthand how many people love and care for them.
“To have all those people together on one day and for my kids to know that this was for them and because people really loved their dad, just meant tons to them,” says Margot Wright.
—Sarah Asp
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