Ministry can be difficult, but you are not alone.
Prevention Care
Pursuing relationships with pastors, wives, and their families while supporting them in their call, encouraging healthy boundaries, and walking with them through life.
Pursuing relationships within congregations, supporting them in their calling to care for their pastor and to share in the ministry of their church.
Intervention Care
Supporting pastors, wives, and their families who are experiencing an immediate need or crisis emotionally, spiritually, physically, or relationally.
Supporting congregations who are experiencing an immediate need or crisis emotionally, spiritually, physically, or relationally.
Recovery Care
Coming alongside pastors, wives, and their families encouraging health, healing, and stability after experiencing a hurt, hardship, or failure in life or ministry.
Coming alongside congregations and ministry leaders encouraging health, healing, and stability after experiencing a hurt, hardship, or failure.
Wayne & Jane Smith
Retired from full-time off farm careers with SD Farm Bureau (Wayne) and office management (Jane), but still working at farming. Our mantra now is how to MFE... Make Farming Easier.
We have four married children and six grandchildren, all living within two hours of us.
We aim to be champions for marriage - in seminars, small groups, mentoring, and encouragement. We want to help people avoid the pain of a broken marriage, which we have both experienced. Our church involvement at Christ the King Lutheran in Pipestone, MN includes leadership roles in spiritual development and worship/music.
In our spare time we enjoy traveling, woodworking, landscaping, gardening, reading and entertaining - and especially visits with grandchildren.
Tom & Linda Mathre
The Mathres have lived in Newark, IL since being married in 1981. They were blessed to have a son who at an early age developed Hydrocephalus which caused some disabilities. Their son, along with Tom and his brother are actively involved in the family's farming operation. In 2003, Tom and Linda's middle daughter passed away in a car accident. Throughout these trials and tribulations God has been with the Mathres. In addition to being involved with church ministry they've run the GriefShare ministry for the last 15 years. In their spare time they enjoy spending time with their four children and six grandchildren who keep them young!
Roger & Lindsay Benson
Roger and Lindsay Benson are parents to 4 children ranging from 16 to 5 years. Roger has a background in church leadership and training in conflict resolution through Peacemaker Ministries. Lindsay is a mental health therapist and psychological consultant.
Together they volunteer on a CISM team for first responders and as Dare to Be Different marriage coaches.
They have a heart for marriage, speaking honestly about the struggles in life and seeing God's hand of providence and comfort in whatever challenge comes.
Marlin & Joyce Harris
Pastor Marlin and Joyce Harris have been married for over 49 years and have served our Lord in various ways in ministry for 40 yrs. Marlin has served as a pastor and chaplain to those in the parish, military, hospice, police and fire departments, and in jail. Joyce has also served our Lord alongside of Marlin. Both have been trained and served in Stephen Ministry. They have a special heart for those in recovery from Drugs & Alcohol. Joyce loves doing Bible Study with women. While serving in the Air Force Chaplaincy, Marlin earned the reputation for being a “Disaster Pastor,” having ministered to many during numerous disasters… airplanes, hurricanes, Federal Buildings and churches. Notable responses included the Oklahoma City Bombing and Hurricane’s Elaina, Hugo and Katrina. For the last eleven years, Pastor Marlin and Joyce have served True Vine Lutheran Church in Mora, MN. He has also served for the past 7 years AFLC Director of Institutional Chaplaincy.
Joyce and Marlin have two grown children with four grandchildren. They look forward to spending more time with them. Now, after transitioning from the parish, they are looking forward to a little more “R&R” on the water fishing, traveling, & seeing how God uses them through PACCT!
Steven & Angie Lombardo
Pastor Steve and Angie have been married for over 50 years and have served in gospel ministry for that same time as well. They have five children and nine grandchildren. One of their daughters has lived with an inoperable brain tumor for over 20 years and has some handicaps as a result. Another daughter is limited due to a brain infection from West Nile disease that almost took her life. The family is very thankful for the grace of God!
Steve and Angie have served as a team throughout their ministry. They have a heart for serving congregations and sharing the good news of Jesus in preaching, teaching, worshiping and praying. Steve is presently Preaching Pastor at Helmar Lutheran Church in Illinois. In their free time, they enjoy reading, walking, and watching their grandchildren in their sports and music events.
The PACCT team has assembled a Pastoral Call Process Toolkit for AFLC congregations. Three key pieces of the toolkit (the introduction, PACCT congregational survey, and customizable pastoral survey) are available for download below. The rest of the toolkit is (as explained in the introductory document below) available to congregations upon request. Please reach out to the AFLC President's Office or the PACCT to discuss ways that this toolkit might be helpful as your congregation seeks to call a pastor.