Honoring Pastors for their Faithful Service to our Lord

May 2023

This year’s LCMS Northern Illinois District’s General Pastoral Conference (GPC), held May 1-3, 2023 in Delevan, Wisconsin, included a banquet where ministry achievements were recognized and encouraged.

During Tuesday evening’s banquet, Rev. Kris Whitby, Assistant to the President, Mission and Ministry, honored pastors for their faithful service to our Lord.

Photo: (L-R) Rev. John Shumate, Rev. Dr. Patrick Bayens, Rev. John Prohl, Rev. Ron Weidler, Rev. Timothy Frick, Rev. Dr. John Mueller, Rev. Robert Weinhold, Rev. Martin Balzer, (front row) President Buss and Rev. Robert Rub, Jr.

Pastors who have served for more than 40 years were honored at the banquet. The NID is grateful for these pastors who have touched may lives, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Savior is at work for us and in us!

Photo: (L-R) President Buss; Rev. Alex Merlo, Iglesia Ev. Luterana San Pablo; Rev. Paul Pfotenhauer, Bethel Lutheran Church, Westmont; Rev. Bob Geaschel, Trinity Lutheran Church, Burr Ridge; Rev. David Andermann, Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Dixon

Four pastors were also honored at the GPC for their service and blessing to the one congregation and community they serve. Each pastor has served for more than 20 years at their current call and have themselves been blessed by serving the congregation and the community. These pastors are an encouragement to others who haven’t served as long yet, and are examples of the blessings of serving one congregation for a number of years.

We give thanks for all of the church workers serving in the LCMS Northern Illinois District. As St. Paul writes of the Body of Christ in I Corinthians 12:26, “if one part is honored, every part is honored.”

The conference had a dual focus.

The theme of the conference was “Who’s Listening? Preaching Christ in Our Times.” Rev. Dr. Dean Nadasdy and Rev. Dr. Peter Nafzger presented together in plenary sessions. There were also breakout sessions with three Northern Illinois District pastors (Rev. Dr. Patrick Bayens, Rev. Joel Hess, and Rev. Bill Yonker) who each brought a unique style to the art of preaching.

The second focus of the conference was on fellowship. Lake Lawn Resort was chosen to encourage all participants to spend time with their brothers in ministry. A social gathering was held the evening of Monday with refreshments provided by LCEF. Tuesday was a full day with sessions, business, and a worship service at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Delavan. Following the worship service, a banquet was held where there were additional opportunities to relax and enjoy fellowship and where ministry achievements were recognized. Sessions were continued Wednesday.

The GPC Conferences, held annually, offer an opportunity to connect with mutual concern and support for one another, sharing ideas of how we can partner and encourage each other.

Our church workers are encouraged to support each other which helps to strengthen the collective community of believers. We partner and encourage each other in our life together. We are stronger together!

We are truly blessed by God for those serving our congregations.