Neighboring Congregations Can Work Together
Learning Outcomes: I can encourage neighboring ministries and look for opportunities to cooperate.
The WELS or ELS church across town is not the competition. Satan is. Though there are certainly challenges in getting members of two neighboring congregations to view each other as allies instead of competitors, God’s Word shows us that we are better and stronger together. Members of St. John’s and St. Paul’s in New Ulm, Minnesota have been working together towards collaboration and cooperation in ministry. Pastors Nate Scharf and Rob Guenther will share what their members have been doing with “John and Paul Ministries,” cross-promotion, a shared school, and shared resources because of our shared Savior. Bring your ideas and collaborate with us.
Pastor Rob Guenther was born and raised in a suburb of Seattle, WA. He attended Calvary Lutheran School from preschool through 8th grade, then Evergreen Lutheran High School, Martin Luther College, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Guenther was assigned to Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC in 2004, accepted a Call to Grace Lutheran Church and School in Kenai, AK in 2010, and another Call to St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN in 2018, where he currently serves with his associate Pastor Jeff Bovee and alongside Pastors Scharf, Smith, and Oelhafen at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Together they have been working toward a spirit of greater collaboration instead of competition and have been working together under the banner “”John and Paul Ministries.””
Pastor Nate Scharf grew up in West Allis, WI in a big family at a big congregation. His vicar year was spent at a mission congregation in Thornton, CO, and his senior vicar work was at a country church/bedroom community in Newburg, WI. Scharf’s first assignment was to Luther Prep in Watertown, WI where he served as a dorm supervisor/teacher/coach and then as Recruitment Director. He has been in New Ulm, MN serving at St. Paul’s Lutheran for the past 9 years. Scharf relishes the opportunity to work together with fellow Christians in reaching the lost with the good news of our Savior from sin, Jesus Christ. He loves to work together with fellow congregations as brothers and sisters – the body of Christ in action! Nate is married to Hannah Scharf, Admissions Counselor at Martin Luther College, and they have five children ages 8-16.