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Ministry can be difficult, but you are not alone.

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PACCT exists to nurture healthy pastors, wives, and congregations; coming alongside to provide a listening ear, a caring heart, and a supporting hand as you serve Christ together.


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Prevention Care

Pursuing relationships with pastors, wives, and their families while supporting them in their call, encouraging healthy boundaries, and walking with them through life.
Pursuing relationships within congregations, supporting them in their calling to care for their pastor and to share in the ministry of their church.
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Intervention Care

Supporting pastors, wives, and their families who are experiencing an immediate need or crisis emotionally, spiritually, physically, or relationally.

Supporting congregations who are experiencing an immediate need or crisis emotionally, spiritually, physically, or relationally.
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Recovery Care

Coming alongside pastors, wives, and their families encouraging health, healing, and stability after experiencing a hurt, hardship, or failure in life or ministry.
Coming alongside congregations and ministry leaders encouraging health, healing, and stability after experiencing a hurt, hardship, or failure.

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Jerry & Kristi Nelson

Pastor Jerry and Kristi Nelson are retired licensed therapists and have been married for over 45 years.
They have been involved in marriage counseling for over 30 years through seminars, retreats and counseling.
Jerry is Pastor of Marriage and Family Ministries at Christ is Lord Free Lutheran Church, Onalaska WI. Kristi is director of New Image Women's Ministry.
The Nelsons have 6 grown children, thirteen grandchildren and enjoy spending their free time together and with their family, especially on the water!

Roger & Lindsay Benson

Roger and Lindsay Benson are parents to 4 children ranging from 16 to 5 years. Roger has a background in church leadership and training in conflict resolution through Peacemaker Ministries. Lindsay is a mental health therapist and psychological consultant.
Together they volunteer on a CISM team for first responders and as Dare to Be Different marriage coaches.
They have a heart for marriage, speaking honestly about the struggles in life and seeing God's hand of providence and comfort in whatever challenge comes.

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Tom & Linda Mathre

The Mathres have lived in Newark, IL since being married in 1981. They were blessed to have a son who at an early age developed Hydrocephalus which caused some disabilities. Their son, along with Tom and his brother are actively involved in the family's farming operation.  In 2003, Tom and Linda's middle daughter passed away in a car accident.  Throughout these trials and tribulations God has been with the Mathres. In addition to being involved with church ministry they've run the GriefShare ministry for the last 15 years. In their spare time they enjoy spending time with their four children and six grandchildren who keep them young!

Wayne & Jane Smith

Retired from full-time off-farm careers with SD Farm Bureau (Wayne) and office management (Jane), but still working at farming. Our mantra now is how to MFE...Make Farming Easier.
We have four married children and six grandchildren, all living within two hours of us.
We aim to be champions for marriage - in seminars, small groups, mentoring, and encouragement. We want to help people avoid the pain of a broken marriage, which we have both experienced. Our church involvement at Christ the King Free Lutheran in Pipestone, MN includes leadership roles in spiritual development and worship/music.
In our spare time we enjoy traveling, woodworking, landscaping, gardening, reading, and entertaining - and especially visits with grandchildren.

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Marlin & Joyce Harris

Pastor Marlin and Joyce Harris have been married for over 49 years and have served our Lord in various ways in ministry for 40 yrs. Marlin has served as a pastor and chaplain to those in the parish, military, hospice, police and fire departments, and in jail.  Joyce has also served our Lord along-side of Marlin.  Both have been trained and served in Stephen Ministry.  They have a special heart for those in recovery from Drugs & Alcohol.  Joyce loves doing Bible Study with women. While serving in the Air Force Chaplaincy, Marlin earned the reputation for being a “Disaster Pastor”, having ministered to many during numerous disasters… airplanes, hurricanes, Federal Buildings and churches.   Notable responses included the Oklahoma City Bombing and Hurricane’s Elaina, Hugo and Katrina. For the last eleven years, Pastor Marlin and Joyce have served True Vine Lutheran Church in Mora, MN. He has also served  for the past 7 years  AFLC Director of Institutional Chaplaincy.
Joyce and Marlin have two grown children with four grandchildren.  After the pandemic is over, they look forward to spending more time with them. Now, after transitioning from the parish in June, they are looking forward to a little more “R&R” on the water fishing, traveling, & seeing how God uses them through PACCT!

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The PACCT team has assembled a Pastoral Call Process Toolkit for AFLC congregations. Three key pieces of the toolkit (the introduction, PACCT congregational survey, and customizable pastoral survey) are available for download below. The rest of the toolkit is (as explained in the introductory document below) available to congregations upon request. Please reach out to the AFLC President's Office or the PACCT to discuss ways that this toolkit might be helpful as your congregation seeks to call a pastor. 

Pastoral Call Toolkit Introduction PDF - Open HERE

PACCT Survey PDF (Exhibit C) - Open HERE

Pastoral Information Form PDF (Exhibit G) - Open HERE


Donate to PACCT

Pastoral and Congregational Care Team

Phone   (608) 780-6685