St. John's energized as it welcomes new minister

After a year of changes, an air of excitement and unity surrounds the congregation of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church as it prepares to welcome its new pastor.

The nearly unanimous vote for Rev. Timothy A. Bean’s call was the first time in Congregation President Brian Sutton’s memory that the congregation seemed to speak with one voice.

“A call to a minister is a covenant between the church and the people,” he said.

In Sutton’s mind, the vote was yet another sign of the new found enthusiasm in the congregation.

More people are stepping up to volunteer for the North Center Street church’s various ministries these days, he said.

“I’m overwhelmed by the excitement,” Bean said.

In addition to receiving an overwhelming nod from the congregation, the church council and the call committee individually gave a unanimous vote to hire Bean as the church’s next pastor.

The church’s unity could stem from the matters the congregation tackled together this past year.

They mourned the passing of the Rev. John Jones III and made the transition from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America denomination to North American Lutheran Church.

Church member Betty Jo Litaker said she’s seen more smiles on the faces of the congregation these days, and people are lingering to talk after the service is over.

“He looks like he is glad to be here,” Litaker said, about Bean. “His eyes twinkle.”

Bean said his goal with the new congregation is to be a good minister and help the congregation be Christ’s disciples in the world.

He loves to serve God, and loves to meet people, he said. In particular, he loves hearing people’s stories and sharing his as well.

Bean didn’t always want to be a pastor. He was a fireman, a licensed paramedic for an Emergency Medical Service and owned a construction company at one point.

When he was younger, around the time of his confirmation, he left the church. It wasn’t until years later at the suggestion of his wife, Rhonda, that Bean went back to church.

Shortly afterward, he said God started to lead him toward the ministry.

“I was completely happy in my construction business,” Bean said.

He compared himself to Moses, and said he kept on telling God that he had the wrong guy.

Bean, a native of southern Illinois, said he finally decided to talk to his wife about it. But before he was able to approach the subject, she said something that stunned him.

“God has plans for you other than what you are going right now,” he recalled her telling him. “Please pick a seminary close to home.”

He graduated from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C., with a Masters in Divinity and did his internship at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Hickory.

Before coming to St. John’s, he was the pastor at First Evangelical Lutheran Church and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Southern Illinois and Philadelphia Lutheran Church in Granite Falls. Most recently, he served as Interim Pastor at Cross of Christ Christian Lutheran Church in Concord.

Since Bean is a second-career pastor, Sutton believes he has the ability to identify with the average person in the congregation.

In addition to his diplomas, Bean’s new office at St. John’s has a North Carolina Guardian ad Litem certificate and a picture of his wife and himself on their Harley Davidson motorcycle.

The couple has four adult children and two grandchildren. Bean said he is expecting two more grandchildren later this year.

Bean said his various careers have taught him compassion, empathy and how to successfully manage a church.

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church will hold an installation ceremony for its new pastor on Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. NALC General Secretary Rev. Mark C. Chavez will be in attendance.

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

740 North Center Street

Statesville (704) 873-0222