Separately my wife and I have lived in a number of places. I was born in Phoenix, Arizona, moved to Clovis, New Mexico and Las Vegas, Nevada before settling in Utah. My wife was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to Mesa, Arizona when she was young. We met when we both attended California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. I attended seminary at Luther Seminary in St. Paul and from there my family and I have lived in a number of places. We lived in Southern California for internship and in our first call. Our oldest son, William, was born there. We moved to Ault, Colorado and did ministry there for five years. Our middle son, Matthew, and our youngest, Lynne, were both born there. And, for the last five years, we lived and worked in Columbus, Montana.
Though my mother remembers me telling her, "I wanna do that someday..." pointing to the priest up front when I was younger (and Catholic at the time... which was quite a scare for her!), my first memory of wanting to be a pastor came in Vacation Bible School when a young pastor came to teach us. Later, one of my Confirmation pastors, affirmed that call personally and with my mother. And throughout my years of going to camp (and counseling at camp) God affirmed in word and deed my call to ministry. By the time I graduated from high school, I knew the direction God was calling me. Throughout the years since then, God has defined and redefined that calling, showing me how my gifts in preaching and teaching can be used to ignite a passion in others for Jesus Christ.
St. Paul has so much potential to reach out in new and exciting ways to the community. You are blessed with abundant resources and a gorgeous campus (as well as the technological savvy that brings learning and worship into the 21st century!). You have some of the brightest and best read council members that I have ever met! And there is an energy and purpose at St. Paul that I am overjoyed and thrilled to be a part of. With two very different services, there is such a variety of opportunities to bring Christ alive! And with two sharp, smart, and faithful staff members already, I am humbled and honored to become a part of your ministry together.
<2011-08-10 mfc>
