Come and See-Faith Lutheran Church welcomes New Pastor

Faith Lutheran Church Welcomes New Pastor

Radcliff, KY – Faith Lutheran Church is pleased to welcome Pastor Jacob Schmidt, his wife, Morgan and their son Issac into their church family. Pastor Schmidt was ordained and installed in a ceremony at the Radcliff church on July 28, 2024.
Pastor Schmidt comes from a deep-rooted heritage of faith, and a family tradition of religious service. Born in Menominee, Wisconsin, he is the third of Daniel and Elizabeth Schmidt’s six children. The calling to ministry runs strong in the family, with Jacob’s father, his uncle David, and his older brother, Daniel Jr., all serving as pastors.
The women in the Schmidt family are equally committed to the Lutheran faith. Jacob’s mother, one of his sisters, and his wife have all pursued careers as educators for church-affiliated schools.
Reflecting on his early years, Pastor Jacob shares: “My Grandma used to tell the story that, when I was very little, when my dad would stand up, when he would hold his hands behind his back in front of the church, I would mirror his actions from the back [of the church].”
As a young adult, he chose to study religion at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree, his theological education continued at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. His experience there included a year spent in South Carolina; known as the “Vicar Year,” it is akin to an internship, and pivotal to earning the Master of Divinity degree.
He explained that the national church body to which Faith Lutheran belongs, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), has an extensive process for assigning a first-time pastor to a congregation. Beginning in their third year of schooling at Martin Luther College, prospective pastors begin receiving a personality profile, which includes their inherent strengths and weaknesses. These observations and assessments are frequently reviewed and updated throughout their seminary career.
Once seminary school is complete, a board composed of senior pastors of the Synod gathers to discuss and evaluate each candidate’s profile. The board assigns candidates to an available opportunity--such was the process which led Jacob Schmidt to Hardin County, Kentucky.
Pastor Schmidt has spent most of his life in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and apart from the year spent in South Carolina, Kentucky is furthest south he has ever claimed residence. The new pastor is pleased with the idea of serving the Faith Lutheran Church community, as well as the broader Radcliff area.
“For Morgan, Isaac, and I, this is now ‘Home’,” he says.
“I’m still new here, and it [meeting people] will be a process, but I’m looking forward to sharing the good news of Christ crucified, and what that means while also addressing the needs of the community”.
With Pastor Jacob’s compassion for helping others, it is not surprising to learn that one of his favorite Bible verses is found in the Book of Romans Chapter 5, Verse 8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
For Faith Lutheran’s new pastor, that verse captures the essence of the Savior’s work and mission. “They are not just words – they are the announcement of God’s commitment to save sinners through Christ. They motivate us to show that kind of love to others.”
Pastor Schmidt invites you to learn more about the power and warmth of God’s Kingdom.
Bible Study takes place every Sunday at 9:30 a.m., and Church Services begin at 10:30 a.m.
Faith Lutheran Church is located at 377 E. Lincoln Trail Blvd. in Radcliff, Kentucky.

Category: Community | Religion & Spirituality