New Pastor Brings Small-Town Perspective

One year ago, things were different at Huntley’s Trinity Lutheran Church. A pastor of five years departed for a new congregation in Michigan. Pastor Glen Borhart, a Huntley native, left his recent retirement from Zion Lutheran Church in Marengo to serve as interim pastor. In February of this year, the call committee decided to follow his advice and approach Concordia Seminary near St. Louis about a new pastor.

“You’ll likely have someone in April or soon after,” said Borhart. “Be open-minded, because not all seminarians are young. Your pastor may well be starting a second career. His maturity will be a gift to Trinity.”

Fast forward to May 15, 2020. A pandemic engulfed the world. A class of seminarians graduated in a virtual ceremony. Church members watched as Andrew B. Hatesohl (pronounced HAT eh sawl) was named the 12th pastor of Trinity Lutheran. On July 5, he was ordained and installed. In December, he will be 30.

In striking contrast, Trinity will celebrate its 150th year in downtown Huntley in March 2021. As plans to honor its heritage get underway, members are finding that their young pastor complements a history-rich congregation.

Andrew Hatesohl was born and raised in Clay Center, Kansas. He is the second of three sons of a family physician and homemaker. When studies came easily, he thought he’d practice medicine or teach college science. In high school, however, something “just didn’t feel right.”

Hatesohl entered Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska and by sophomore year had fallen in love… with Greek. There, he also met education major Alexa who would later earn a master’s degree in biblical exegesis from Wheaton College, IL.

“I wouldn’t say that lightning struck right away, but by graduation I was leaning toward the seminary and not looking back. Alexa and I were married in 2017. We’re expecting a baby girl very soon. So a lot in our lives is new.”

“I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, but enjoy the Midwest and its seasons,” said Alexa. “We also like our proximity to all Chicago has to offer. Now that we’re about to welcome a daughter, we’re blessed to be in a congregation that cares for each other like family.”

Clay Center has about 4,000 residents, as did Huntley in 1999, just before Sun City arrived. While Huntley’s population is now nearly 30,000, many want to uphold its description as “the friendly village with country charm.” Among them are the more than one third of Trinity’s families who have worshipped in the heart of downtown for up to five generations.

Long-time member Phyllis Koppen said, “My mother, Mabel Sanwald, joined the church in the early 1940s. Soon after my confirmation, I began teaching Sunday school. My late husband, Duane, was baptized at Trinity, where we were also married and saw our four children baptized and confirmed. We held Duane's funeral here in 2010. Family farming and a shared church home kept us here.”

Ken Ladage, a Sun City resident and church member since 2014, serves on its seven-member Board of Ministry Directors. “Having previously worked with pastoral call committees, I knew last fall that uncertainty and delays may hamper our search. We approached the seminary with prayer and trust in the Lord. Today we are blessed to have Pastor Hatesohl’s youthful enthusiasm and fresh spiritual direction as we embark upon Trinity’s next 150 years,” he said.

On July 12, a week after his arrival, Pastor Hatesohl preached from the altar in the newly renovated Trinity sanctuary. He selected the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 13, in which Jesus tells the story of sowing seeds. Hatesohl said, “Anybody who has farmed or seen perfect rows of corn around Huntley would be shocked by Jesus’ technique. His zeal for casting seeds is downright wasteful. His Word is for all—regardless of who they are, what they look like or where they’ve come from.”

The message fittingly aligns Trinity’s historic role in Huntley with its mission to serve newcomers as well. As a young man from rural Kansas with deep faith, Hatesohl knows how to serve. When asked what it takes to be a good pastor, he said, “always listening, learning and looking for ways to bring God’s Word to life.”

Trinity Lutheran Church welcomes all visitors at 11008 N. Church Street in downtown Huntley. Regular services are on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Trinity Lutheran Preschool offers a traditional Christian education with a safe half-day program for ages 3-5.

Visit www.trinityhuntley.org or www.facebook.com/TLCHuntley/ or call 847/669-5780 (Church) or 847/669-5781 (School) for further information.