Pastor Bill Bendert wasn’t looking for a call.
The longtime pastor at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Marysville, near Port Huron, Bendert felt a connection to King of Kings Lutheran Church in Orion Township.
‘I just felt that God said it was time to move on and do something new,? Bendert said.
His first Sunday at King of Kings was Jan. 15, and Bendert admits he is still getting his feet on the floor.
‘I’m coming from a church that I was at for 14 years,? he said.
Everything is new for Bendert and it hasn’t been like that for him in a long time.
‘I’m not even unpacked yet,? he added.
King of Kings is his fourth congregation since graduating from seminary in 1984.
Because he is commuting some 70-80 miles right now, and spending multiple nights a week away from home, Bendert, his wife Terri and their daughter Rachel are look forward to relocating to the area.
‘We’re excited about moving into the Lake Orion area as soon as our house can sell,? he said.
‘The fact that it’s a growing area is very exciting.?
Bendert said he has already seen a great deal of positives in his short time at King of Kings.
These are some of the same things that drew him to the church in the first place.
‘The amount of involvement is phenomenal,? he said, citing Kim Gibson and the youth & children’s ministries as just one example.
He also said that both the contemporary and traditional Sunday services that the church offers are ‘very uplifting.?
Bendert spent most of his childhood in the Detroit area, but has spent time in the Carolinas and Tennessee, in school and as a pastor.
His call to King of Kings marks the end of a long period the church has been without a call pastor.
The church’s last call pastor, Pastor Luther Wright, was diagnosed with cancer in 2002. He passed away in 2004.
The church has had a series of interim pastors since then.
‘If (Luther) didn’t recover, we always said that God would know who our next pastor would be,? said board of trustees member, and former president, Cindy Thompson.
‘Pastor Bill being here is literally the culmination of many years of prayer,? she said.
Thompson said that those prayers, plus the project to add on to the church, held the congregation together in the transitional period.
As the new call pastor, Bendert said his time at King of Kings is open-ended.
‘We’re here for as long as that marriage works,? he said.
Bendert’s installation by the Bishop took place in the middle of February.
‘That’s a pretty big day,? he said. ‘It makes it official.?
King of Kings Lutheran Church holds its contemporary worship at 8:30 a.m., and the education hour begins at 9:45 a.m.
Traditional worship service starts at 11 a.m. every Sunday morning. Youth education is held on Wednesday evenings.
For more information about the church call 693-1676.