God’s calling places local man at pulpit of his own church

RANDOLPH — Dwight Brummels will find himself behind the pulpit giving his first Easter sermon this weekend.

He’s not a pastor but the Randolph man is comfortable in front of a congregation and at home at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Randolph where he’s been a member for 45 years.

Brummels has been working as the parish minister associate for St. John’s for the last six months as the church undergoes the process of putting out a call for a new pastor. Pastor Trudy Powell, who had been St. John’s pastor for three years, returned to her native Minnesota last October.

She left the church in Brummels’ capable hands who completed 36 credit hours to become a certified parish minister associate (PMA). He was assigned by the Nebraska synod to serve at St. John’s.

Since October, Brummels not only preaches on a weekly basis but also performs other pastoral duties such as leading worship at Colonial Manor nursing home, and visiting those members or non-members who can’t attend service in person.

“People as they become older, many feel abandoned by God or the church. It’s really important to make people feel connected to church even though they no longer can attend,” Brummels said.

He calls it his second career as he’s a retired manager of Tyson Foods.

“I heard God speaking to me for quite some time. I resisted that, thinking surely there’s someone better than me but God prevails,” he said.

His PMA duties have taken him to different churches to help out, including a three-month stint at Plainview and Creighton last summer.

His duties at St. John’s may extend to two years or more as the process to call a new pastor to serve is a lengthy one.

The first step is for the church to put together a profile committee to assess the current needs of the church. This is the step that St. John’s is currently in, Brummels said.

After that, the synod will present a list of potential prospects that fit those needs. A call committee will assess the candidates and then put out a call for their choice.

It can also take some time for a prospective pastor to accept a call, Brummels said.

“It could take longer is all . . . churches are short on clergy right now,” he said. “There’s a big need everywhere for people that will lead in the churches.”

Although Brummels is serving out front at St. John’s, he relies on the church secretary, Ruthie Timm, and the many volunteers who help make the church and its ministries run smoothly.

“We have a lot of people that are very involved in my aspects - music, teaching and all those things,” Brummels said. “Church is about people. It’s not a building. It’s people.”