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Hope Lutheran is in the Call process for a permanent pastor.  Pastor Wendell Brown is our interim pastor and he is very much appreciated by all of the congregation.  Pastor Carl Billings was the Hope pastor for many years and in April, 2010 he accepted a call to Discover Church in MN.  Our intern Pastor Amy Beveridge filled in until Pastor Brown came on board.  Amy is now the Pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Templeton, CA.

 

 

Pastor Brown
  
Paige
Interim Pastor Wendell Brown
  
Office Administrator: Paige Rutherford

                          Pastor's office hours: Wed, Thur, Fri 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

 

 
Jean Wilt
  
 
Accompanist: Jean Wilt
  

 

 

A profile of Pastor Brown from the Luther Seminary website: 

 

Wendell J. Brown, ’66

 

When Brown accepted the call to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Salinas, Calif., in 1973, worship attendance was declining and the community around the church was experiencing troubled times. Despite the obstacle in front of him, Brown looked to the future of the church and its surroundings, which he felt included ministry to a growing Hispanic population in the Salinas area.“A pastor faces many difficult times in ministry—this was just one of them,” said Bill Tibbetts, a former member of Good Shepherd. “And Pastor Brown rose to the challenge.”

Though it wasn’t always easy, Brown has spent the last 34 years not only developing a Lutheran Hispanic presence in east Salinas, but also planting a Hispanic mission church in north Salinas. “Pastor Brown is one of those special people who sees the glass as half full,” Tibbetts said. “His positive outlook and demeanor inspires and rubs off on others, making them better people.”
Brown’s willingness to adapt to new ideas and put his service to God first has also led to a strong core of dedicated members throughout both churches.

“His love for the Lord is contagious,” said Rev. Steven G. Blair, who nominated Brown for the award and also entered the ministry 10 years ago thanks to Brown’s encouragement. And, even in the midst of another trying time for his church, Brown has continued his and the church’s commitment to receiving everyone at Good Shepherd. “He preaches love and tolerance,” Tibbetts said. “Good Shepherd’s mission statement begins, ‘Lutheran Church of Good Shepherd is a diverse congregation where all are welcome.’”

 

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In early February, 2011 Pastor Brown traveled to the Mid-Winter Convocation at Luther Seminary in Minneapolis. He is one of three pastors chosen to receive the 2011 award recognizing faithful servants of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Established in 1991 by the Luther ‘Seminary Alumni/ae Council, the Council presents three awards to individuals nominated by their peers who graduated within the past 10 years, the past 25 years, and more than 25 years.