After several years of a pulpit filled by interim pastors, Faith Lutheran Church in Becker has welcomed a new pastor, the Rev. Julie A.K. Anderson.

 

Anderson, 56, preached at Faith Lutheran for the first time last weekend, this after the congregation call committee offered the position of senior pastor to Anderson.

 

“I have excitement over people in this church wanting to do ministry,” Anderson said. “They are friendly people and very open to trying new things.”

 

This is Anderson’s first opportunity as senior pastor, though she has been an interim lead pastor and associate pastor in the past.

 

She grew up in Alexandria, MN., went to Jefferson High School and North Dakota State University.

 

Anderson and her family — husband Gene (also a pastor), daughter Charlene (30) and son, Trent (27) — have led a rather nomadic life, moving from city-to-city and state-to-state for many years as the kids grew up. They’ve found homes in Fargo, the Twin Cities, the Quad City area (Iowa), Dubuque, Jasper, MN, Hunter, ND, Sherwood ND and even in the great state of Texas.

 

The final place they lived prior to moving to Becker was Lake Benton in the southwest corner of the state of Minnesota.

 

Anderson recalls her son telling her when he was in high school, “I’ve been in 10 different schools.”

 

Anderson’s husband, Gene started out his life as a paint chemist and eventually converted to ministry when the kids were in preschool and first grade. From there, they moved from town to town and as the kids aged, Julie felt the pull towards ministry herself.

 

“It took me eight years to get my seminary degree from Luther Seminary,” said Julie. “Back then, I was part of the early beginnings of on-line schooling and did half my work on-line and half in short installments at the seminary.”

 

Anderson was eventually ordained in May of 2007 at the Winds of Prairie Church near Lake Benton.

 

Julie describes herself as a thinker who trusts her gut when making decisions. She says she feels she is very social, she loves having conversations with people, is curious about things and loves to be active and involved.

 

“One of my deepest passions is helping people find their calling,” she says. “I like to work with people in their relationship with God and help them utilize the gifts God has given them.”

 

Julie’s new office at Faith Lutheran is cluttered — totally expected for a person moving to a new town and starting a new job. She proudly displays her seminary, ordination and doctorate certificates on the walls above the unpacked boxes and appears to be an avid reader of books. Her boxes and bookshelves also overflowed with colorful stuffed animals, a necessity in her line of work.

 

“I like to have the stuffed animals and toys onhand for the kids,” she says. “It’s a nice icebreaker and puts the kids at ease when meeting them.”

 

Anderson says she enjoys music and is gifted enough to play the trombone. She also enjoys going for walks, golfing and considers herself “artsy-craftsy”.

 

In one of Anderson’s previous positions, she was associated with three-to-four churches at the same time, requiring her to move hourly and daily to complete her tasks. In Becker, she is thrilled to be part of one church, one congregation and one community.

 

“Being with one church will give me the opportunity to focus on my smaller, yet bigger role,” she said. “I’ll be able to be more involved with more people and the less driving thing is also very exciting.”

Even though she has only been in the community for three short weeks, she is beginning to settle in and feels like the community and church is in full acceptance.

 

“Everyone here in this community is open and friendly and very receptive to me being here,” she said. “They’ve made it very comfortable for me and continue to give me space and are very patient.”

 

“It feels like a big family here,” she said.

 

She said she looks forward to getting more involved in the community once she establishes herself and her family in Becker. She also hopes to visit and get to know more of the local pastors, though she already has sat down with Pastor Rob Olsen of Becker Baptist, just across the street.

 

“He’s delightful and I so look forward to making acquaintances with others in Becker.”

 

Anderson replaced Interim Pastor Marlene Elmstrom, who served Faith Lutheran since August of 2015. Elmstrom came onboard when Lead Pastor Richard Wehrs left in 2015 for a church in Peoria, IL after serving a year-and-a-half. Interim Pastor Amy Chalupnik left the church in 2015. Prior to Wehrs, Faith Lutheran was led by Brad Bahr.

 

The Faith Lutheran call committee interviewed many potential candidates for the lead pastor position and eventually chose Anderson and her qualifications. Anderson says she has been most influenced by Dr. Mark Yachel-Juleen, a director at Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Center for Theology and Land in Dubuque, IA. She also credits Professor Alvin Luedke of Luther Seminary for her development in ministry through the years.

 

“I’ve been blessed to be around some fine mentors through the years and these guys have taught me a lot,” she said. “They’ve taught me to be comfortable in my own skin and remember to lead by being the sheep dog, not the shepherd.”

 

Faith Lutheran is located at 11755 Sherburne Ave. and they celebrate Sunday service at 9:30 a.m.