Pastor Marty
Dear members and friends of Zion Lutheran Church,
In the book of Acts when church leaders described how God prompted and guided them in making decisions they used this remarkable phrase, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”
So I am excited to share with you that in my conversations with your Call Committee I sensed the Holy Spirit leading us and guiding us. I was inspired by their faithfulness and their God-given joy in serving. I loved hearing stories about why they have chosen to worship and serve here at Zion. I was encouraged to see their passion for the mission Christ has given us:
● to build up the community of faith through our commitment to prayer, growing in God’s Word, regularly gathering to worship the Lord, sharing our gifts, and ministering to one another in times of need
● and to reach out beyond Sunday morning as we grow in discipleship; walking with the Lord in our families and friendships, in our schools and daily work, in our acts of service, and in all the ways we live out what it means to have Christ living within us.
I am excited to be called to serve a congregation with such a strong heart for mission. There is nothing like a community of believers who are unified in knowing that they are forgiven and beloved children of God, saved by grace, and filled with the desire to serve God faithfully with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Together, God has called us to serve. With God we can do far more than we can even imagine.
In the weeks to come, I look forward to getting to know you and hearing your stories. Stop by when you have the chance or let’s meet for coffee. My commitment to you as your pastor is:
● to preach and teach God’s Word and administer the sacraments faithfully
● to walk with you as a close companion in the way of the cross and God’s amazing grace
● to equip you for serving with your God-given gifts
● and to be available for prayer, counsel, and encouragement.
Serving together with you in Christ,
Pastor Marty Jacobson (feel free to call me “Pastor Marty”)
A little about me…
I was born in Colombia, South America where my parents served as missionaries. I graduated from Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) with majors in English and Religion. After college I served on a traveling youth ministry team with Lutheran Youth Encounter traveling through Ohio and other Great Lakes states. I also led a bike tour ministry through Indiana and Ohio. In 1993 I graduated from Luther Seminary and have served congregations in Minnesota, Iowa, and California.
I love being married to Marin, dad to Kari and Kristofer, and serving as a pastor. Seeing people connect to the life-giving hope of knowing Christ is a true joy. This summer we welcomed Alex Aakre into our family when he married Kari. Alex is serving as an intern pastor in the ELCA in southeastern Minnesota. Kari is student-teaching in Rochester, Minnesota. Kristofer is living and working in California and enjoying his new apartment, chess, and time with friends.
Marin and I enjoy hiking and kayaking in the beauty of God’s creation. We have visited many of our National Parks and look forward to visiting Cuyahoga Valley, Arcadia, Shenandoah, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Marin serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Malone University.
On my day off you might find me playing tennis, exploring a local park, watching a movie or attending a concert with Marin, reading a good book, or catching up on projects around the house. I also enjoy following my favorite football and baseball teams, spending time with friends, and good food (preferably topped off with ice cream, anything chocolate, or pie à la Mode).
My passions in ministry include:
● building up the body of Christ through our strong identity as God’s beloved and forgiven sons and daughters
● leading and equipping the saints (all of you) for serving in mission with your God-given gifts
● Christ-centered worship and evangelism, youth and family ministry, and community outreach
I love God’s story of salvation woven through Scripture culminating in life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, and the church proclaiming the Gospel and its power to change lives. I believe the local church is where the power of the Christ is made visible and where we can, as a community of believers, live out Jesus’ teachings and experience God personally.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, a ministry need, or would just like to get better acquainted. pastormarty@zionlutheran-wooster.org