Redeemer Lutheran Church About Reverend Dr. Gary A. Petersen
Redeemer’s Pastor since 1989 is the Reverend Dr. Gary A. Petersen. Pastor Gary received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from San Fernando Valley State College, Northridge, California. He later received his Masters of Divinity from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA. While serving Calvary Lutheran Church in Eureka, CA for 7 years, he earned a Masters degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from the University of San Francisco. Later he enjoyed “pastoring” for 7 years in the Mojave Desert at Grace Lutheran Church in Ridgecrest, CA during a dynamic time of building and growth.
Leaving that position as Senior Pastor, he and his family were commissioned as Missionaries to Lima, Peru. This three year urban ministry gave him face to face experiences with some of the world’s poor who struggle for life, while clinging to hope and expressing their faith. This shared journey of faith brought the Book of Job to life as people struggled to understand the inequalities of life, God’s will for them, and their mission as a Christian community of faith.
Since
coming to Redeemer, Pastor Gary has involved the congregation in a
number of
mission trips, from Maryland to Mexico. As a Board member of Tacoma / Pierce County
Habitat for Humanity and former Chair, he
has involved the congregation in volunteering and
financially supporting this work of Habitat. He has now led
two Habitat
builds to Guatemala and is grateful for the partnership between the
church and this international housing ministry. Between 1995
and 1998 he involved the congregation in a Preaching Project as he
earned a
Doctor of Ministry from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
Presently he serves on the Advisory Board for Bridges, a ministry for grieving children and their families, and has a passion for those who struggle with the “unfairness” of life, the “brokenness” of our world, and the need of people to experience healing, forgiveness, hope and wholeness.