Zion Lutheran Church welcomes new youth pastor

WORLAND – The Worland Zion Lutheran Church has added Paul Hefner into the fold as the new youth pastor.

The youth pastor works with the youth of the church in their walk with God. "My job is to facilitate the youth in having a relationship with Christ, disciplining them and making disciples for Christ. Also to be a help to the parents in training up their children in the way that they should go, as well as helping with the pastoral rolls in the church and in the services," Hefner said.

He is also there for the youth when they have issues that they need to talk to someone about but don't feel comfortable speaking to a parent. "You could almost say like a big brother figure. Not quite a parent but still an authority figure but not in a parental role but more like a big brother that they can talk to," he said.

Hefner grew up in southern Illinois, Mount Vernon area, and went to Murray State University in Kentucky to earn his bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry. After receiving his degrees he felt the call to ministry. "I felt the Lord calling me to go to seminary so I went to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla. where I earned my Master of Divinity with honors," Hefner said.

After finishing school he went to work at the First United Methodist Church in Altus, Okla. as their youth director for two years and plans to use what he learned there in his work here. "My experience was overwhelmingly good at the united Methodist Church, however, as with any experience you learn what to do and what not to do," he said.

Coming from a farm/ranch community in Illinois, Hefner was raised with respect for farming and ranching. "I really have a respect for the farm and ranch community. They are salt of the earth people, very common sense driven and very practical at how they look at things," he said. "That works well for ministry because a lot of times you can tell them what you think and feel and they respect that," he added.

Hefner moved here with his wife Dawn who plans on assisting him in his ministry. "Her plan is to help me in the ministry as much as she can, especially in the girl/woman side of the ministry," he said.

Wyoming has all the things that Hefner loves. "I fell in love with Wyoming as soon as I got here, as soon as I saw the mountains. I love camping, hiking, fishing and the outdoors," he said. "The people in Worland have been very welcoming. They are the give the shirt of their back kind of people," he added.

"We are looking forward to starting a new chapter of our lives here in Worland," Hefner said.