The blessing of service

interview by Jill Pearson

I sat down recently for a Fireside Room chat with a woman who has devoted her life to service and, as a result, has been a “shower of blessing” to the poor, the vulnerable, to children near and far, and to the elderly.

Char Derksen was born third of thirteen children in Munich, North Dakota.  All thirteen siblings are still living and married to their original spouses, and they remain close, meeting monthly over Zoom and renting out a Bible camp every other year for giant family reunions of 100+.  Char said her mother beautifully modeled hospitality, inviting visitors over most Sundays after church and opening their home to whomever needed it.  Saturdays were baking days.  Her mother and siblings would bake 12 dozen rolls and multiple cakes to feed the family and guests for the week.  

Char grew up in a singing church and discovered early on that she loved to sing and share music with others.  By age 7, she was in a choir, and by age 13, she was singing 4-part harmony with a traveling choir.  Blessing others with music has been a theme of her life.  Currently, she presents musical programs to the elderly at nursing homes throughout Rochester on a monthly basis, sharing their favorite oldies and hymns with a new theme each month.  “I’ve grown to love serving seniors,” she told me with sparkling brown eyes.

The summer after she graduated high school in 1968, she went to northern Minnesota to serve poor, unchurched children by leading VBS groups all by herself, visiting their homes, and playing the pump organ to accompany their songs.  While attending Grace Bible Institute, God led her to explore missionary nursing.  While gaining experience as a nurse’s aid before her mission, she and a Korean friend started a singing ministry to the hospital patients.

At the end of Char’s first date with Allen, he drove her back to her student nurses’ dorm and asked to pray for her and to be prayer partners.  “How many relationships start that way?” she said with a grin. A few years later, she served in Haiti for six months, praying for guidance to know if foreign missions was to be her calling.  It soon became clear that instead of foreign missions, God could use her willing spirit to serve wherever she was.  She married Allen in 1976, and they are about to celebrate their 48th anniversary.  

Throughout her years of raising three sons, she served wherever her kids were…children’s ministry, school room “mom,” PTA, and many committees. She started a Moms in Prayer group 28 years ago and still participates today, now praying for her 6 grandchildren!  She organized trips with the class to visit the elderly in nursing homes and had them“Adopt a Grandparent.” She had a deep concern about what schools were teaching and served on the committee that helped form Washington Choice School, focused on core curriculum.  To help pay for her sons’ college tuitions, she started substitute teaching in Rochester schools and continued that for 16 years.  God gave her many opportunities to share her faith with staff and students over that time.

After retiring from subbing, she engaged her “gift of frugality.”  She started buying items at thrift stores, fixing them up, and then reselling them at consignment stores.  With the profits, she funds her current ministry work.  She packs over 200 boxes a year for Operation Christmas Child and gathers supplies to send to Children’s Vision International, a ministry to impoverished children in Bogota, Columbia.  

Char prioritizes service at Calvary, as well.  She and Allen have a vibrant intercessory prayer ministry, she helps with Wednesday night meal prep, serves on the funeral committee and used to help with the hospitality committee with Compassion Counseling. She encourages women at Renovaré and sings in the choir, and she and Allen also open their home to Mayo Clinic patients who need housing.

Clearly, the dust never settles under Char’s feet.  I was inspired by her dedication to service and moved each time her eyes teared up with memories of God’s goodness and the miracles she witnessed over her life. 

Richard Foster once wrote, “As the cross is a sign of submission, so the towel is the sign of service.”  Christ is the archetype of service, bending to wash his disciple’s feet, and all of us are to embrace that kind of humility and concern for others as we conform our lives to His.