Well traveled

After Pastor Andrada left Trinity Lutheran Church in February, the congregation began its search for a new officiant.

In the meantime, an interim pastor who has served around the United States and Canada will serve the church until a full-time leader can be found.

Kristian Bjornstad arrived at Trinity Lutheran almost two weeks ago, and is enjoying it so far. “The first service was pretty amazing because of the congregation,” he says. “Everyone was very nice to me and made me feel comfortable.”

Bjornstad was born in Minneapolis, but spent most of his childhood in South India. “My parents were missionary teachers there,” he explains. “When we came back to the US, my father got into church work.”

That work saw him and his family move between Michigan and Wisconsin. After graduation from Concordia College in St. Paul, he spent four years in the Lutheran seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. “The first congregation I served was in western Ontario on the north shore of Lake Superior,” he says.

Bjornstad has been a pastor since 1994, serving in Canada for 10 years and in a Pennsylvania church for 18 years.

As with many other denominations, the seminary picks a place for its pastors to serve. “When your congregation is chosen, you are ordained and installed in that church,” he elaborates. “When you go to a different congregation, then you get installed into that congregation.”

Although a replacement for the head pastor may have been found Friday, March 3, there is still a vacancy in the associate pastor position. “I am temporary for now,” Bjornstad shares. “But I might be helping out a little longer. It is up to the church what they ask of me.”

Until then, he is settling in nicely.

His favorite things about the church are studying the Bible, being part of God’s plan, and serving the people of the congregation. “I’m part of God’s plan and salvation in a special way as a pastor,” Bjornstad shares. “Having those relationships with people and sharing His love is another great thing about being a pastor.”

He also loves the variety of roles one can fill as a pastor. “I could get up in the morning and help preach a chorus, lead a Bible study, visit with congregants, or go to someone’s basketball game. I could even be helping someone change the toilets. It’s all really good.”

His favorite memories as a pastor involve seeing people he’s baptized come back to his church and ask if he remembers them. “They thank me for being a part of their life a long time ago and telling them about Jesus,” he says. “That’s definitely my most favorite thing about being a pastor.”

What drives him is sharing the love of God. “Being a pastor means sharing that love and His work for all. I am a child of God, and I want others to be in that same way.”

And that’s what he will do in Janesville for as long as he is needed. “I am blessed to be in a community like Janesville,” Bjornstad concludes. “This church has quite the operation here. Everything runs quite smoothly.”