Pastor's Page

ABOUT OUR PASTOR

Greetings in Jesus’ name! Permit me to introduce myself. I am Rev. Randal W. Schoemann. I have been called to serve as Vacancy Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church and School here in Sherman Center ( Random Lake ). I officially began my duties on Monday, August 1st. I will be assuming a full time work schedule as your shepherd under Christ until the voting assembly calls a full time Pastor some time in the future.

For the past 15 months I have been awaiting a Call as a Pastor since completing the LCMS Colloquy program in St. Louis , Missouri in May of 2010. I spent the previous 27 years serving in the WELS at three different congregations in Wisconsin . I am very happy to be serving God’s holy people in this area and in the South Wisconsin District of our Synod. We are blessed at St. John with very dedicated and capable leadership in the persons of our Circuit Counselor, Rev. Christopher Seifferlein from Adell and President Rev. John Wille at the district office in Milwaukee . These men will be instrumental in guiding us in the months ahead as we serve Christ and ask His blessings on the man He will choose to serve us as our next full time Pastor. Please keep me and these servants in your thoughts and prayers as we now begin to move forward in the paths that our Lord would have us take as a congregation.

It is my greatest hope and prayer that God will use me, along with you, the flock at St. John’s , to faithfully carry out our callings as soldiers of the Cross of Jesus. I strongly believe that “a people-going Pastor makes for a church-going people!” I want to get to know each of you. I hope you will invite me to visit you at a convenient time, either at your home, here in my office, or wherever you choose. We will need to love and respect one another in order to “make His kingdom come” among us. I am here, sent by Christ, to serve you. I have promised, in a “Letter of Understanding” composed by the Call Committee, to fulfill the calling of Pastor here. You have, as a congregation, agreed to assist me and care for the needs of my wife, Donna and I.

I will be working closely with Chairman Jason Vorpahl and the leaders of the congregation to make our time together productive and meaningful. I will also be working in a close relationship of trust and support with our school’s teaching staff, as well as Sunday School teachers, etc. to instill a love for Christian Education here at St. John . It is very important that we move forward as the redeemed children of God. We must build on the foundation of those who served before us with the goal of reaching souls for Christ. Only with a genuine spirit of cooperation and a forgiving heart will we be able to prove a blessing to one another and to the precious souls out there who so desperately need to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

To achieve these high goals we must and will give God all the glory. We, each and every one of us, are His servants. We live and move and breathe to share the sweetness of the Gospel. Remember, one person plants, one waters, and one harvests the crop. I ask you therefore to put yourself second and God’s work first, in your church life and in your personal life.

My door is always open to talk. Let’s build, and plant, and grow. Anything that is negative or counterproductive will not help us achieve our God-given purpose.

If you really want to see St. John aspire to great things—here is the secret—recommit yourself to regular worship, study of Holy Scripture, and being present at the Lord’s Table. If we do this together nothing and no one can stop us. Bills will get paid, delinquent members will become active, our school and Sunday School will grow and thrive.

I certainly do not have all the answers. I do know and trust in Him who does however! I will rely on letting others serve in their own capacities of experience and expertise. I will support and defend those God has chosen to serve. I will ask for your prayers and love as Donna and I work with all we have to bless you and watch over your precious souls.

Now may the God of al peace fill you with love and grace as you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Then He will give you all good things as well.

In service to you and our Triune God.

One of the King’s men,

Pastor Randal W. Schoemann

Vacancy Pastor

St. John Lutheran Church

Random Lake, WI