Ishimara joins Waseca church

Pastor Eric Ishimara was installed at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Waseca in a special service on Sunday, May 21. Ishimara hails from the San Francisco area and has served churches in Colorado, Iowa, and California. Prior to being installed in Waseca, he was a pastor in Sacramento for 11 years. He is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California and has 31 years of experience in the ministry.

Before he became pastor, Ishimara worked as a teacher. His first steps into church work were being an accompanist and music director at various churches. Ishimara described himself as having been a “professional musician” during that time.

As he became more involved at church, Ishimara began to consider becoming a pastor; thanks to encouragement from others, he eventually accepted his “divine call.” 

Ishimara has been living in Waseca for almost three months prior to this installation and was joined at the service by his wife, Beverly. 

As he had a “comfortable life” in California, Ishimara said that many people have asked him why he moved to a rural community in Minnesota. “God called me,” he replies.

Ishimara felt that he had concluded his work at his previous congregation and after Christ the King called him to be their new pastor, both he and Beverly became convinced that taking this call was the right decision. 

Ishimara described pastoral work as a “tremendously rewarding opportunity” because he is able to connect God’s word with people’s lives.

 “A pastor, in various ways, is a communicator; the medium of our work is the word,” said Ishimara.

Ishimara said he is excited to get to know the Waseca community, meet his new congregants, and help guide them through “what kind of future God perceives for them.”