Pastor Daryn Bahn Leaving Christ Lutheran Church

Marshfield (OnFocus) – Pastor Daryn Bahn will preach his final sermon at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshfield on August 30, having accepted a divine Call to a new posting at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beatrice, Nebraska.

Bahn’s career began at Bethlehem Lutheran in Sylvan Grove, Kansas, after graduating from Concordia St. Louis Seminary. He then served as a pastor for a joint parish in Laona & Crandon, WI. Bahn joined Christ Lutheran in 1999 as Associate Pastor and became Senior Pastor in 2013 after the retirement of Pastor Mark Krueger.

After 21 years, Bahn is saying “goodbye” to the church that has been home to many memories, including growing with many families through baptisms, confirmations, and weddings.

“The people are my favorite part,” said Bahn. “It’s very special to be a pastor of people. It’s a privilege and it’s an honor and it’s something that, every morning you wake up and every night you go to bed you are concerned and care for and love the people that you serve.”

With a passion for running, hiking, photography, and music, and a knack for technology and IT, Bahn’s friendly demeanor and his many talents will be greatly missed by the congregation.

“I’ll miss a lot of the Wisconsin things, but it’s the people I’ll miss,” said Bahn. “If there’s any person I couldn’t have done it without, it would be my wife, Karen. Also, our DCE (Director of Christian Education) Tammy – we go way back. She’s always been such an encouragement. To get a DCE like Tammy is really special.”

Bahn was active in both the church and the community, teaching confirmation classes, participating in youth and music ministries, traveling to National Youth Gatherings, serving as Marshfield’s police and fire chaplain, giving the prayer at the annual Paws For Brittany memorial walk and other events, and speaking at Rotary, Kiwanis, and other groups.

“After being here for 21 years, we are so close here and it’s such a part of our lives,” said Bahn. “Almost half my life has been here. It’s hard to even think of being anywhere else.”

When Bahn first moved to Marshfield, his youngest son was just a baby. Now, his children – Andrew, Clarissa, and Joel – are grown. Bahn said officiating his daughter’s wedding is one of his favorite church memories, along with ministries including a mission trip to Guatemala and a pilgrimage to Germany to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Though he will cherish the many good memories, he is looking forward to serving where God has led him next.

“God’s leading became clear, and it was up to me to finally accept God’s will and God’s leading,” Bahn told the congregation last week. “When God clears a path, it’s a good idea to follow, always, even when it causes sadness and heartache. At the same time, there really is nothing greater than serving God, not for one’s own gain, but to grow Jesus’ church on earth.”

In Bahn’s absence, Christ Lutheran will be led by current Associate Pastor Andrew Belt. Bahn’s wife, Karen, is the current Principal at Immanuel Lutheran School in Marshfield, and plans to remain in town during this upcoming semester before joining Daryn and son, Andrew, in Nebraska.

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