New Calling, Same Mission
What a joy it has been to continue our work here at St. Martin’s! I’ve been blessed to begin serving at Allure Nursing Facility here in Mendota, establishing relationships with the police departments in and around town, and making friends with Abigail Women’s Center. The Lord has richly blessed me with opportunities to take the work of our mission outside of the parish and beyond the Sunday service!
That is not to say our Sunday services have not been fruitful... quite the opposite! We rejoice in recent membership inquiries, visitors, and the fellowship of our regular parishioners. God has afforded our work tremendous blessings, and we trust that He will continue to guide and bless this mission according to His gracious will. Finally, the online response to our work has been breathtaking, with hundreds, and sometimes thousands of engagements with our streams and recordings.
Beyond these wonderful opportunities here in town, I have also been entrusted with an immense task and an immense responsibility. I am currently transitioning into a new role within the Diocese as Dean of Seminary. In time, this will involve helping oversee the theological education and formation of men preparing for the Holy Ministry within our Diocese.
This transition will take considerable time and training, and I won’t properly exercise the office for quite some time. The next few years will therefore be a period of considerable learning and adjustment.
It is an honor that I cannot begin to express sufficiently in words: to be entrusted with helping shape, train, and mentor a new generation of ministers. While I feel wildly underqualified (I am!), I’m willing to learn, grow, and be formed into a man capable of carrying out this immense task faithfully.
As I mature and grow into this new role and calling, our mission work at St. Martin’s will continue! We will strive all the more fervently to bring the Word and Sacraments of Christ to those around us.
The only occasional “hiccup” we may encounter is that some diocesan commitments will (on very rare occasion) require me to serve at another church. Being as new as we are, we do not yet have a Deacon or second Pastor who can conduct services in my absence. On those occasions, our Divine Service will be rescheduled for another day during the week. Please make sure to keep an eye on our calendar for the most current service schedule.
Words fail to capture my excitement and hope for our future not only as a mission, a seminary, or a diocese, but as Christ’s Bride, His holy catholic Church. Please pray for us as we seek faithfully to do our part in her service.
God’s richest blessings to you, dear reader. We do hope to see you soon!
Rev. Adam Linder
