MY MINISTRY JOURNEY
Daniel Lee Kohn was born in quaint Deerbrook, Wisconsin on April 27, 1950 to Robert and Deloris Kohn. St Matthew's in Deebrook was the church of my Baptism and Confirmation. Subsequent to Confirmation I have been a part of Peace Campus Center, Stevens Point; Army chapels; Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshall Missouri; Peace Lutheran Church in Antigo twice; and, Peace Lutheran Church, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I have served in staff positions at Redeemer, Peace Lutheran, Eau Claire, and, St. Marks Lutheran Church in Wausau. As a vicar in the DELTO (Distance Education Leading To Ordination) program I have served at Greater Wausau Christian Services (Jail and Eldercare Ministry), Wausau; Trinity Lutheran Church, Wausau, Wisconsin; and, now at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Altoona, Wisconsin.
I have been blessed to be a part of the DELTO program. I have had the privilege of working full-time in ministry while I gained my seminary education over the Internet. I have had four years of active vicarage, rather than the traditional one year. This education/experience came after God had seasoned me through 30 years of counseling and teaching experiences. I was officially called to full-time ministry on my 60th birthday--April 27, 2010!
I have been officially called to serve at Bethlehem Lutheran in Altoona where I have been vicaring since September, 2009. It is a congregation of about 400 members in a suburb of Eau Claire. We are the only Lutheran church in this community of about 7,000 citizens. We hold both traditional and contemporary services each Sunday. We have recently changed our church theme to “Soaring To New Heights” as we look forward to an expansion of our ministry program-ming within, and outside the church. We are also implementing a discipleship program to foster deeper membership involvement in ministry.
I have an strong interest in writing. I love to find new ways to be expressive in creative ways. My most joy-filled experience is having five books published--two of which are tied to my passion in “discipleship.” My wife, Gloria, and I also do a lot of “dirt therapy” (i.e. gardening). With time and practice my hobbies of golfing and fishing will also be successful. Our two, adult children--Joshua and Leah are both married; and we are blessed, thus far, with two, spoilable grandchildren.
I’m one of those Deerbrook farm boys that finally found himself doing what God intended long ago--His work in ministry. This is where my passion lies…and where I desire to grow even more. I rejoice that I have a diverse ministry before me--parish, writing, jail, reconciliation and counseling. Yes, I have been seasoned by God to do His work. At the age of 60, this “third career” is just getting started!
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