First let us introduce you to who we are as Lutherans, and then we will introduce our staff. We wish the term "Lutheran" explained everything, but it doesn't. The short, web-savvy answer to this big question is, "We represent the historic Christian faith as it is clearly expressed in the Book of Concord." If you're a Christian and somewhat familiar with church history, you might be able to make some headway with this answer. If not, read on.
While it is difficult to compress 2000 years into a couple of paragraphs, we're still going to try. As the centuries wore on, after the founding of Christianity, the church strayed further and further from the central message Jesus had given them to deliver to the world. By the time Martin Luther the monk arrived on the historical scene in Germany, it was really getting bad. The Roman Catholic Church had hired a "used car salesman" type monk named Tetzel who ran around banging a drum and convincing people they could buy forgiveness of sins. Rome did this, in part because they needed to raise money to build St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome.
St. Paul had been pretty clear in his letters about the nature of God's forgiveness. Forgiveness is a free gift of God earned for us by Christ Jesus substituting life, death and resurrection. The Church had, in the large, forgotten what he said. It was as if Luther had rediscovered the Gospel, the good news, when he read in the first part of Romans, "...for in the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed; a righteousness that is by faith from first to last. For just as it is written, 'the just shall live by faith.'" We Lutherans live in the shadow of Martin Luther's rediscovery. Jesus is our "righteousness that is by faith."
At faith Lutheran church, our staff includes Pastor Ron Hodel and Deaconess Patti Kristofic.
Pastor Ron Hodel
Pastor Ron Hodel was born in Denver, Colorado sometime around the middle of the last century. He is a graduate of Denver Lutheran High School (73), Valparaiso University (77) and Concordia Theological Seminary (81). He has served parishes in Richmond and Piedmont, California before coming to Faith, Capistrano Beach in the spring of 1991. Two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen in both liquid and solid states form the medium for the Hodel families extra-curricular activities; swimming, sailing, surfing and skiing. Pastor is married to Gail and they have 4 children, Christopher, Margaret, Karl and Andrew.
Pastor Jeremy Rhode
Pastor Jeremy Rhode was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and has lived in Idaho, Washington, and Colorado. He is a graduate of Longmont High School (99), the University of Colorado (03), and Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne (07). He previously served at Faith, Capistrano Beach as a vicar and now serves as a pastor. He is engaged to Julianna West and the two plan on being married after she completes her studies in the Physician Assistant program of St. Louis University. Pastor and Julianna enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and look forward to adding surfing and sailing to the mix.
Deaconess Patricia Kristofic
Deaconess Patricia Kristofic earned her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies with an emphasis in Biblical languages @ Concordia University, Irvine, CA. Deaconess Certification was accomplished through Concordia University, River Forest, IL, with a second emphasis in church music performance. She serves the congregation as organist, assists with teaching the faith, visitations to the sick and homebound, grief counseling, children's ministries, and special events. Her service is characterized by one on one spiritual care and works of mercy on behalf of the congregation.
St. Paul had been pretty clear in his letters about the nature of God's forgiveness. Forgiveness is a free gift of God earned for us by Christ Jesus substituting life, death and resurrection. The Church had, in the large, forgotten what he said. It was as if Luther had rediscovered the Gospel, the good news, when he read in the first part of Romans, "...for in the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed; a righteousness that is by faith from first to last. For just as it is written, 'the just shall live by faith.'" We Lutherans live in the shadow of Martin Luther's rediscovery. Jesus is our "righteousness that is by faith."
