'A great match:' Pfanstiel has served at Good Shepherd for 17 years

The Rev. Barry L. Pfanstiel has served a Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel, 1904 W. Cape Rock Drive, for 17 years. Pfanstiel said he was a junior in high school when began thinking seriously about the pastoral ministry. "My mother and godmother both had been praying for that to happen, so I guess I didn't have a chance to say no," he said. Now though, Pfanstiel said he can't imagine doing anything else.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel is working on the development of its deaf ministry and ministry for the blind and visually impaired. Pfanstiel says both ministries have potential and have come a long way. The church is also looking to reach out to other groups. "It remains to be seen how well we can accomplish this but we are hopeful," Pfanstiel said.

Question: What led you to this church in particular?

Answer: It is truly a story of when God closes doors, he opens windows. And the window that he opened for me has certainly been a wonderful breath of air. My ministry here at Good Shepherd has been a great match of pastor and people.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: My relationships with the people of my congregation. This is where ministry happens.

Q: How do you hope to help people in your role at the church?

A: That we may grow in grace; grace to accept and forgive ourselves, grace to accept and forgive one another and grace to reach out to a hurting shattered world with a new way of "being." Of course, it all stems from God's grace that we have come to know in Christ.

Q: What would you say has been your greatest achievement since taking this position?

A: I guess from a visibility point on view it would be the two building programs that we have had. But I would hope that from people's more personal point of view it would be that I have somehow been used by God to give them assurance, hope, comfort and strength as well as a freedom from the tyranny of God's impossible demands and then to know his love in Christ. Hopefully I have been a model for that.

Q: What do you hope people take away from a visit to your church?

A: A sense of having been with loving and caring people whose lives have been touched by the love of Jesus.

Q: What is special about Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel?

A: In addition to all the above, we love to eat.

Q: What is your favorite thing about this church?

A: The people and their willingness to try new things to touch others in new ways. I have been more than mildly surprised to see the willingness of members willing to try a new approach in our midweek Lenten worship. I think we have a high level of trust.

Q: What else would you like people to know about Good Lutheran Shepherd Chapel?

A: Our hope and prayer is that you will come to know the joy and freedom that Christ gives in his forgiveness on the cross and his victory in the Resurrection.