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As my first newsletter article,  I thought it might be nice to share a bit more about myself and give you more topics of conversation when you come to see me! Let me start by saying my slight accent still haunts me as I am a native North Dakotan. I grew up in Fargo. I loved that city but had to get away from the extreme 4 seasons and move to a more mild temperate location.


So, after I got married, my spouse and I moved to live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We loved the mountains and the climate. Camping and hiking soon took over the joy of working. When I moved to Colorado, I worked at McDonalds as a manager. I actually left college in North Dakota studying to be a school teacher, to work full time as a manager at McDonalds and they were paying me more than a first-year school teacher and providing me with free management courses too! After working with McDonalds for 8 years I decided to run my own business and purchased Mountain Pine Carpet Cleaners where my spouse and I turned a little business into a corporate contracting business that restored apartment and rental homes between renters by providing the
cleaning, maintenance, painting and flooring needs for each unit to prepare for a new renter. It was during this time in my life that I began to experience more of what I would call “the calling” from God to serve the church in a more serious manner than serving on the church council of my congregation. I will share more about my call story as you get to know me!

I have always been a Lutheran and love the church. I began working with Youth Ministry and fell in love with
the greater church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and felt the call to attend seminary to become a full-time minister for Christ. First,  I needed to return to school to complete my undergraduate degree. So, while running a business, going to school full time, and helping to raise two little children, I eventually graduated from Colorado Christian University in 1996 with a bachelors degree in Organizational Management and Human Resources. I then attended seminary and graduated from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa in 2000, and earned my Masters in Divinity.


In the summer of 2000, I was called to Southern Illinois and accepted a call to be Pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon. In July of 2000, I was ordained through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to serve as a pastor of Word and Sacrament in Mount Vernon, Illinois. After serving in Illinois for 3 years I was extended a new call in October of 2003 to First Lutheran Church, in Redlands, California, where I served as the Associate Pastor specializing in Youth and Family ministry. Four years later in September 2007, I accepted the call as Head of Staff and Senior Pastor to St Olaf Lutheran Church and Preschool in Garden Grove, California. I served St. Olaf for 11 years.

It was then that my spouse and I began to experience the “empty nest syndrome” and decided to make a change. We got the opportunity to move to Arizona! Pace of life was much slower! I accepted a call to Spirit of Hope Lutheran Church in Mesa in January of 2019 and served there as Pastor through 2023. After 24 years of ministry without a real personal break, I decided in 2024to take an unpaid sabbatical and take care of myself f or a period. It has been wonderful!

I also serve the church as an accredited active ELCA coach with an ACC accreditation through the ICF Coaching Federation. Through my coaching experiences, I help others see their purpose in the ministries and that they are enabled to be a disciple of Christ. Want to know more about what God is calling you to in life, come see me and I will walk with you through the journey of finding out!

I was married to Carol Scheer for 34 years before she unexpectedly died a few years ago in 2022. Together we have two grown daughters, Kirstin and Kari, and two grandchildren, Grayson and Sofia. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, camping, and off-road driving. I am crazy about chocolate and love to visit with people especially when there is food involved.

As an extrovert, I am a people lover and have been described by others as both a bounding St. Bernard and a Koala Bear. My personality is one of openness and authentic care for others. My parishioners of the past have found that I am not picky about being addressed as Pastor or what name you call me by, and some have lovingly called me PT.

As a parent and grandparent, I know how important it is to set an example. I try not to make others stumble in their faith even though I have a knack for challenging one;s piety. I am willing to learn about all belief systems and even though I may not agree with another's theology, I still act and live Christ-like and accept all God's people.

Peace,

Pastor Tony Scheer