It was May when my seminary classmates and I received the good news: all of us would have vicar assignments waiting for us on call day. On May 11^th, call day, I was assigned to Heritage Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minnesota for my one-year vicarage.

But on call day I learned that my vicarage would be a unique vicarage. I was going to Heritage to receive, as in all vicarages, a well-rounded practical pastoral education. But, in addition, I was also going to Heritage under the direction of the Board for Home Missions and with pastor of Heritage as my bishop to explore the possibility of starting a mission church in the neighboring city of Farmington. My assignment was to explore the city and report to the Board at the end of October whether the city appears to be a good place to start a mission, and if so, what kind of ministry strategy would fit well with the community.

To give the Board the answers they needed to make wise decisions meant that I had to know as much of the city as possible: where are most people living and moving to, what types of people are living there, what is the spiritual life of the community, what are the other churches like in Farmington, and how confessional are the other Lutheran churches. To get these answers meant that, besides working and learning as much as I could at Heritage, I would also spend as much time as possible in Farmington interviewing as many people as possible and visiting as many of its churches as possible. Once this information is gathered and analyzed, an educated and prayerful recommendation can be given to the Board so that they can better determine whether or not to begin mission work in the city.

I believe that the opportunity to have home mission and exploratory work as part of my vicar call has been a great challenge, but the blessings in working for the Lord in this way have made it also an edifying and very enjoyable experience. I found a new appreciation for our Lord’s promises to be with us and strengthen us through His holy Word and Sacraments. I am being reminded again and again just how powerful the Holy Spirit is in giving one strength, determination, and the necessary courage to bring the gospel to a community that is largely lacking the pure gospel.

Daniel Oberer serves as a Vicar at Heritage Lutheran Church