We recently had the immense pleasure of officially welcoming Pastor Joel A. C. Dieterich into Zion’s family. As we embark on this new chapter together, many of us are eager to learn more about the man who will be guiding our spiritual journey. A member of our congregation had the wonderful initiative to send an email with some “get to know you” questions to Pastor Dieterich, and we’re thrilled to share his insightful and inspiring responses with you all.
It was a truly enriching exchange that offered us a glimpse into Pastor Dieterich’s faith, his vision for Zion Mascoutah, and the experiences that have shaped his ministry. His genuine warmth and thoughtful answers left a lasting impression, reaffirming the wonderful addition he is to our community.
Questions Answered by Pastor Dieterich
Here’s a summary of the questions posed to Pastor Dieterich:
- Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a Lutheran pastor and what inspired you to pursue this calling?
- What are some unique challenges and opportunities you see for our church?
- How does your faith influence your approach to community service and outreach?
- How do you plan to engage with members of different age groups and backgrounds within our congregation?
- Can you share a memorable experience or story that has shaped your ministry?
- In what ways do you see the church evolving to meet the spiritual needs of today’s society?
We are so grateful for Pastor Dieterich’s openness and willingness to share his story with us. His responses painted a vibrant picture of his dedication to faith and his eagerness to serve our congregation. You can also learn more about Pastor Dieterich and his family in his biography here.
A Moving Response from Pastor Dieterich
To conclude, here is a word-for-word copy of Pastor Dieterich’s incredibly moving response that truly touched our hearts:
As long as I can remember I have wanted to be a Pastor. I shared this often with my parents who were delighted by this desire but never pushed me to become a Pastor. It would mean that I would follow in my Dad’s footsteps. My Dad was LCMS Pastor until the Lord called him home to Paradise on October 31, 2017. What a fitting day for a Pastor to be called home… on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. My Father was definitely an inspiration to become a Pastor and was certainly used by God to develop my desire as He called me into this servant role.
Every congregation has talents and struggles and faces challenges and opportunities. Coming out of Covid there is a definite need in the community for more opportunities to have fellowship; to have community with one another. This is certainly something we can offer. There is the challenge and opportunity coming out of a long and faithful Pastorate. It is a time to look within the congregation and outside of the congregation. What needs do we as a congregation have? What needs does the community have? Could we start a “mentorship” program between College kids and High Schoolers… High Schoolers and Junior High, etc. Can we have trips designed for fun and interaction between these groups? Could we host more dinners and events open to the community? Oktoberfest? Reformation Festival? Concerts? Art festivals? These are opportunities we have to open our doors, show people our love, show people the beautiful Church we have, and share Christ.
A living active faith is what God has bestowed upon each of us. That faith needs to be exercised to keep it strong. Attending Church, Bible Studies, Dinners, Fellowship events, as well as going out into the community are part of a living active faith.
Something that gave credence to my ministry years after it occurred was an event that started in High School. I graduated High School in 1996. It was in 1995 that I was able to reach out to the world via the newest thing called the “Internet”. I got my AOL CD, installed it on my computer, hooked up the phone line, listened to the sound of connecting, and off I went. Yes, I was hooked on speaking to new people on chat sites. There was one girl that I hit it off with. She was in High School as well outside of Detroit, Michigan. We never met. We never even talked on the phone. We chatted in a chat room. She was a non-practicing Lutheran. I had plans to go to Concordia to become a Pastor. We talked many nights. I felt the urge to reach out more. I got her address and sent her a Bible and cross necklace. Her mom didn’t trust what was going on and cut her off from contact. Considering I am a father now… I can’t blame her mistrust. I thought I would never hear from this girl again. After graduating from the Seminary I receive an email from an unfamiliar person. I almost scrolled past it and deleted that email. But for some unknown reason I opened it. It was the girl I chatted with so many years before. She shared with me that the gifts I sent her were so meaningful that she started going back to Church. She read her Bible. It changed her life. She later decided to go into youth ministry. God be praised.
This is a story I will always remember. It is a reminder that we should always strive to share God’s love whether we see the affects His love has on others or not. It is a reminder that God is at work when we cannot see it. Is it a reminder of how God can do great things through us even when we don’t know these wonderful things are taking place. It is also a reminder that every once in a while God allows us to see the great things He has used us to accomplish.
In a world and society that are constantly changing we have a God that does not change. And that’s great news. That means His love for us DOES NOT CHANGE. His promise of life and salvation DO NOT CHANGE. His gifts for us DO NOT CHANGE. And we get to share these unchanging truths to a world that so desperately needs it.
I thank God for each of you and that the Lord has called me to be your Pastor.
Blessings, Pastor Dietrich
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