(Plainview News) FOSTER — Terry Makelin has made his arrival to the area as the new pastor for Trinity Lutheran Church in Foster, as well as Golgotha Lutheran Church in Wausa.
Fifteen years ago, Makelin was invested in one of his many careers prior to ministry. He had worked at a steel mill, dabbled in insurance, and was even involved in the safety of hazardous waste security at a hospital in Norfolk.
All of those jobs were held by him prior to 2010, when he decided to make a major switch and head into the life of ministry.
“It kind of chose me,” Makelin said. “I got a hunger for the word of God. I went to seminary to try to satisfy that hunger because they taught biblical Greek and biblical Hebrew, but while I was at seminary, I pursued becoming a pastor.”
Although he hasn’t always been a pastor, Makelin’s hunger for the word of God is nothing new, and stems from as far back as he can remember.
“Looking back,” he said, “I suppose it’s always been there. I kind of grew into spirituality from a young age.”
Throughout his 14 years as a pastor, Makelin has spent most of his time in the northeast and north central Nebraska regions, which makes him familiar to the area as well as the people who inhabit it.
Before he was assigned to Foster and Wausa, Makelin was involved in small towns such as Chambers, Bartlett, Pilger, and Freeman, S.D.
By sticking around smaller, tightlyknit communities, Makelin has found that what he really enjoys most about his calling is getting to witness God’s work up-close.
“It’s a privilege to be a pastor,” he stated. “You get a real up-close intimate relationship with people, and you get to see God work through and with them.”
Despite being on his 14th year as a pastor, Makelin is still amazed at what he has the privilege of doing on a daily basis.
“Being a pastor,” he said. “You’re studying God’s word. It’s fascinating that God talks to us through His word. I’m still so humbled and amazed by it.”
As he begins his new chapter of life in preaching to the citizens of the area, Makelin makes sure to always remember how blessed he is to be in his current situation.
“I’ve been blessed that God would use this broken pot and put me together enough to pour out His blessings,” Makelin said.
Makelin can be seen preaching at Golgotha Lutheran Church in Wausa Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and Trinity Lutheran Church in Foster at 10 a.m.
