My name is Gary Stratman.  I am a native Missourian and have been a Presbyterian pastor for 35 years.  Although we don’t know each other, I would guess that we have some thoughts and experiences in common.  This may include change, some of it anticipated and planned for, but much of it unexpected.  Perhaps you had a clear blueprint for your education or career, then the lines got a little blurry.  Maybe an illness, yours or that of someone close to you, caused a bumpy detour.  Unexpected change can also happen in the church with initial responses of distrust or even anger.  More often there are thoughts of a more vague anxiety about the future.  It has been my experience that God has a way of leading us through change that opens us up to unexpected spiritual growth.

After over 15 years as pastor of First and Calvary Presbyterian Church in Springfield, MO my wife and I believed that we would remain there until retirement.  God had other plans.  With some surprise and anxiety, Deb and I found ourselves going through Interim Ministry training.  Then we were on the road with interim pastorates in Austin Texas, Hollywood California and Boulder Colorado.  We would not trade the experience of the last eight years.  Now we have moved back to Springfield.  In retirement we look forward to part-time ministries as God leads us.  I hope to serve your congregation for the next two months until a longer Interim Pastor will be in place.

For now, I am thankful to the living Christ for bringing us together in worship and service.

Faithfully,

Gary