“I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3
I was trying to find a brief passage of scripture that would serve as an introduction to my first newsletter article as the interim pastor at Virden First Baptist Church, and these words from the apostle Paul provide me with sound guidance as I prayerfully seek to serve our Lord and His congregation at VFBC in the coming months.
I am no stranger to the North Mac communities, having grown up in Girard and graduating with the 1972 Class of Virden Community High School – and if you do the math, you can figure out my age! As far as my faith journey, I was baptized as an infant at the Girard Methodist Church (my mother’s church) and then confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church (my father’s church). After a few years away from church, I realized my need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and received Him as my Lord and Savior in 1975. A year later, I moved to Minneapolis, where I attended North Central Bible College and received a B.S. in Pastoral Studies (1980) before beginning my ministry as youth pastor and minister of music at First Assembly of God in Virden. Returning to Minnesota, I served several congregations in various capacities before pastoring Christ’s Chapel in Park Forest, Illinois. Then, in 1993, I returned closer to home, serving on the pastoral care staff at St. John’s Hospital until my retirement in 2019. During that time, I returned to school, receiving the M.A. in Ministry from Lincoln Christian Seminary (2002). I also served as interim pastor at First Christian Church in Girard (2014-2018).
On a more personal level, I have been married to my wife, Barb, for the past 45 years – and counting! We have two grown children (Amanda and Kyle) as well as four grandchildren (Malaki,
Serenity, Ellie, and Ezra).
Now I’m wondering if I’ve given you “TMI”, as they say, but I wanted you to have some idea of the circuitous route that has led me back to ministry in Virden after all these years. Honestly, I wasn’t looking for another congregation to serve as a pastor, but I made a commitment to the Lord that, if an opportunity presented itself, I wouldn’t say “No” without good reason. So here I am, and here I will remain for as long as it pleases God and this congregation.
Recalling those words of Paul, I will seek to serve you with humility, gentleness, patience, and, most of all, with love in the days to come.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Marty Nagel