JCM consultant spends time cheering and volunteering at Special Olympics
A Special Olympics bocce ball tournament in Olivia, Minn., this weekend showcased the talents of many Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM) participants. And JCM consultant Julie Luetke was there to cheer them on from the sidelines, while volunteering. Julie lives in Olivia and serves JC M programs in Minnesota and North and South Dakota.
“I probably knew someone on every team,” Julie said.
Registration for the regional event hit 200, and volunteers were essential to assist with announcing, first aid, awards, scoring, refereeing, setup, takedown and serving lunch.
Julie helped construct all 14 rectangular bocce ball courts using PVC pipe the day before the tournament. On game day, she ran back and forth to the courts to pick up stats and bring them to the awards table where they could be recorded to determine placings.
“Since I was back and forth to the courts all the time and waiting for each game to be finished, I would often get to watch the last couple of turns. I really got to see a lot of play and that was fun,” Julie said.
While she has attended Special Olympics practices on occasion to encourage her JCM participants, this was Julie’s first time volunteering.
“It was really neat seeing participants there from Marshall, Redwood Falls and other places who I knew from Jesus Cares,” Julie said.
Julie’s work with JCM includes helping congregations develop and design a ministry program that will work for them. She supports current JCM programs, starts new JCM programs and trains volunteers.
She first got involved with JCM in Virginia in 1992, then moved to Minnesota in 1998 and started working as a JCM Consultant in 2006. She’s also director of JCM at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Olivia.
“Working with JCM is a wonderful, wonderful blessing,” Julie said.
Volunteers and participants got one big surprise during the bocce ball tournament — double lunch. An unexpected crew showed up to grill donated brats and burgers in addition to sandwiches and chips that had been planned.
“A lot of the people took home a box lunch for supper!” Julie said.