One of our newest members is an excellent example of the winding road some of us take to Christ, of how the twists and turns of life combine to create a beautiful spiritual path.
Lloyd Siegendorf of Lakeland was baptized on May 12 with the Rev. Dr. John Fullerton, FPC Senior Pastor, officiating the baptism. Baptisms are not uncommon in our church or in churches around the world. What made this baptism different is that Siegendorf is 73 and comes from a Jewish background.
Siegendorf says that as a child he lived in a community in Miami Beach that was then and is now “very Jewish.”
“The culture, traditions, my friends, we all went to the synagogue,” he says. “The ceremony was spiritual because it was all in Hebrew, but I didn’t understand one word of what I was reading.”
He recalls answering Fullerton’s question about why he had not been previously baptized by saying, “I had a bar mitzvah at 13, though I wasn’t tied to the synagogue or my religion. I went on the high holidays, but I wasn’t tied to it spiritually or emotionally, maybe culturally.”
“I’ve always believed in God, praying every day,” he says. “I’d never given any thought to becoming Christian or being baptized or even becoming a Messianic Jew.”
“Lloyd has been a delight from the first day he worshipped with us,” says Fullerton. “He is positive, full of faith, and loves being here. We love having him as part of this church family.”
The Early Years
Siegendorf left Miami Beach after high school to attend school at Florida State University in Tallahassee from 1968 until 1972.
“It was one of the most radical schools in the South at that time,” he recalls. “There was an anti-war sentiment and demonstrations. I got a solid education (social studies) and went on to teach school for many years.”
A decade later, he attended the University of Florida to earn a master’s degree in horticulture. Degree in hand, he moved to Utah and spent the better part of 25 years in Salt Lake City, teaching biology and horticulture and coaching boys and girls soccer.
Introduction to Jesus
“As it turns out, one of my three sisters is very, very religious and very tied to Jesus,” he continues. “She wanted me to go to church with her and soak in the experience.”
He says he went with his sister a number of times and enjoyed it, despite the shock of a rock band with guitars and drums leading the worship music. “They never did that in temple.”
“I liked the message,” he continues. “I decided to accept Jesus as my Savior, but it was done with little knowledge. It was all faith but little knowledge. Little did I know that was the start of a journey.”
He says part of what we believe as Presbyterians – and Christians in general – is that we believe in the Old Testament. He says through that, we all have a Jewish background.
Siegendorf says part of his spiritual evolution is to perform as many mitzvahs daily. “The literal meaning of the Hebrew word ‘mitzvah’ is a commandment, but the generally accepted sense is that of a good deed,” according to the PJ Library website. “The emphasis is on deeds – not on positive thoughts or wishes, but on conscious acts of empathy and kindness.”
“It’s one of the commandments that dates back to Jewish tradition, Siegendorf says. “It’s what we do when we volunteer or help people. Do something nice for someone or the community every day. You don’t have to save the world. They can be little things.”
He continues by saying, “Jesus was all about love and justice. I like those two words. If I can bring some love and justice to my family but also to my community where I live and my community in general, that’s part of my evolution, part of God’s work, and I feel good about it. I’d like to hope I set an example so the people around me, I help them become better like they help me become better. Love and justice are important in my mindset.”
Family
While in Salt Lake City, Siegendorf married, and the couple had two children. Today, he, his ex-wife, and both children (and their families) live in Lakeland. “One of my major goals was to be around my grandkids,” he says. “And God answered my prayers. We are all here {in Lakeland} now, and I get a chance to be around my grandkids.”
“I only knew my maternal grandparent,” he says. “I never had any grandfathers in my life. I inherently felt intuitively, spiritually, that I wanted to be close to my grandkids. I wanted them to know who their grandfather was. I’ve been affectionately dubbed Papa.”
“It’s about giving them love and sharing experiences with them,” he continues. “It’s what we should be doing as families.”
A cancer survivor, Siegendorf says, “I believe God has been very good to me and has answered my prayers. I have more time with my family. I know one day he will take me, and I will have another family. For now, I get the opportunity to love my family here and share with them.”
FPC
After moving to Lakeland, Siegendorf looked for a church home. “I always wanted to know more about what it meant to be Jewish and Christian. I did a lot of reading, studying, and going to church. I can’t soak in as much as I’d like in a whole day.”
Of Fullerton, he says, “I love the pastor. He is a special individual who knows me by my first name.”
Church membership, Siegendorf says, means some responsibility. “I bring a check every Sunday. It’s not required, but I do it. I want to be involved in the community, and I can do that through this church. Jesus wants us to be part of his family. It’s part of my evolution.”
He says communion and baptism are important traditions when speaking of his 2024 baptism. “It was a beautiful ceremony,” he says. “I was the first one there and last one out that Sunday. Wonderful people came up to me. It was very personal for them, as it was for me. It was very touching.”
“It was a warm feeling that I had taken another step closer to Jesus and understanding what it means to be a believer and a follower,” he says. “It will be a lifelong experience. This is an everyday experience.”