Pastor Jim Demke – Visitation Pastor

605-370-2206
Email Pastor Jim here >>>
 
After 35 years serving congregations in Minot ND, Rock Valley IA, and Cottonwood MN, I felt led to move to Carver and explore life and ministry options in “retirement.” I’m excited to be living in this beautiful location and getting to know many wonderful people!

Originally from North Dakota, I graduated from Bismarck High School and then Mary College (Bismarck) with a degree in history/secondary education. After a year of fulltime employment at Scheels, I attended Luther Seminary (St. Paul) and was ordained in 1981. I see ministry as the healing of relationships. We’ve all been broken in our relationships with God, family, others, and even ourselves. Through Christ and the Spirit God is at work to bring us into a full and rich life together. In Christian fellowship, including person-to-person encounters, we discover “the life that really is life.” [1 Tim. 6:19 NRSV]

My wife, Denise Nelsen, and I were married in 2013. Our first life-partners, Brian Nelsen and Candy Demke, each went to their full life with God two years before. Together, Brian and Denise raised Mark and Chad, and Candy and I raised Sarah and Amy. The boys are currently in South Dakota and Colorado, and the girls are in Minnesota. Three of them are married. We continue to thank God for comforting us in grief and blessing us with the new life we have in each other. To enhance body and soul (and have fun, too) I hope to engage more in archery, biking (self-powered), kayaking, ice skating, x/c skiing, snowshoeing, arts & entertainment, and visiting people!