Siblings in Christ,
I give thanks to God for your faithfulness in serving God through this community, and I thank you for calling me to join you in this journey. It is a deep honor to be called to be your pastor.
For those of you I have yet to meet, I am Pastor Chris Heller. I claim many vocations in my life, including that of pastor. Some of those vocations include husband to my wife, Elissa, to whom I have been blessed to share over fourteen years of partnership with, father to three amazing children, and brother and son to other family members. You might be getting a hint that family is an important part of who I am, and you would be right. Almost any moment I’m not actively serving in ministry, I’m probably doing something to support my family (most likely ferrying a child to and from school or after school activities).
Graduating from Wartburg Theological Seminary in 2009, I’ve served in ordained ministry for fourteen years, serving about five years in the Northern Illinois Synod, where I called home prior to being called to ministry. I was then called to serve Messiah Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I served for about three years prior to spending time assisting Lutheran Campus Ministries of the University of New Mexico until I was called to serve as Associate Pastor at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Phoenix (Ahwatukee). I have spent the past six and a half blessed years at Mountain View, and now I am blessed to find a new home and ministry among you.
Because of the close connection between Mountain View and Esperanza, I’ve already met many of you in passing. I’m thankful for the ways that Mountain View and Esperanza have partnered over the years, and I’m hopeful that those things will continue and potentially grow in the future. In the meantime, I am looking forward to getting to know the many gifts and ministries that Esperanza offers the community.
Aside from parish ministry and family life, I’m active in a few other roles of our Grand Canyon Synod. I currently serve as Fiesta Conference representative to the Synodical Church Council, and also serve as Vice-Chair of Lutheran Campformation. I’m hopeful to be able to continue to serve God in these capacities, as well as find other ways to draw a deeper connection between Esperanza and the other congregations of the Grand Canyon Synod. I truly believe that each church’s unique gifts are magnified when used in partnership with one another.
While church and family doesn’t offer very much free time, when I do manage to escape the daily grind, I enjoy cheering on my favorite Chicago sports teams, exploring new wineries and the occasional brewery with family and friends, and getting outdoors.
Now that I’ve shared a little bit about me, I look forward to getting to know more about you! I’m excited to hear what makes you passionate about Esperanza, and how God is using you to share the good news of the gospel. Thank you for the opportunity to serve alongside you. I look forward to the journey ahead.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Chris Heller