Life can take many unexpected turns. Being married with three children and deeply involved in construction, becoming a pastor was nowhere on our radar. Yet, in a short span, doors opened for me to attend Southwestern Adventist College, while all my construction jobs simultaneously dried up—God’s perfect timing. We packed up our belongings and headed to an unfamiliar place, trusting that God would provide a home upon our arrival. His guidance in meeting our needs brought Him honor and glory.
Ministry Begins
The next three years were filled with blessings and growth as we prepared for a new career. I enjoyed engaging classes, exceptional teachers, and part-time construction work. During my senior year, a challenging interview with a ministerial director seemed to close the door on a pastoral future, pushing me back toward building homes. But God had a different plan. A year later, He opened the path to pastoral ministry in exactly the place He wanted us to be.
Our journey began in New Jersey—a location I had not even considered. This placement provided the perfect environment and leadership to shape my ministry, offering experiences in five years that many pastors encounter over a lifetime. We often found ourselves asking, “Why us, Lord?” But we were always quick to add, “Thank you, Lord.” Every story is unique, and God’s presence makes each one significant.
New Challenges and Growth
From New Jersey, we transitioned to the Minnesota Conference, pastoring two districts and accumulating invaluable experiences. This ultimately led us to the Texico Conference, where I served one church while also taking on the role of part-time Trust Services director. It was a season marked by both challenges and blessings. Living on Challenge Drive felt fitting, as we quickly outgrew our capacity, needing two services due to increased attendance. Trust work flourished beyond expectations, forcing me to choose between two roles I cherished—leading me to embrace trust work full-time.
Service in Kansas-Nebraska
In 2006, then-president Jim Hoehn invited me to serve as the Trust Services director for the Kansas-Nebraska Conference. We moved to Lincoln on July 1, 2006, and soon had the privilege of serving under the new president, Ron Carlson. Over the past 18 years, I have had the honor of serving the constituents of this conference.
Assisting members with estate planning, including wills, trusts, and Powers of Attorney, has been a joy and privilege. Even during the challenges of pandemic lockdowns, the work continued as usual, reflecting the enduring need for this ministry. My role as trust director allowed me to support the Lord’s work at every level—locally, throughout the conference, and even on the global stage through the General Conference.
A Privilege to Serve
My wife and I have had the privilege of preaching and providing special music in churches across the conference nearly every weekend. We have also served as interim pastors when needed and participated in countless camp meetings and rallies. The opportunity to fellowship with church members has been a source of endless blessings.
Looking Ahead
As of December 31, I will have retired after 40 years of serving the Lord—14 years as a pastor and 26 years as a trust director. From my partner in ministry, Jan, and myself, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your friendship, support, love and ministry to us.
As to what comes next, we are awaiting God’s direction. For all of us, the most important question remains: Where does God want us to be, and how can we best serve Him?
At the time of this writing Norman Zimmerman was Trust Services director for the Kansas-Nebraska Conference.
