Meet Zion's new Associate Pastor, Vicky Lovell

Meet Zion Lutheran's New Associate Pastor Vicky

On a recent sunny Sunday morning, Zion Lutheran church members unanimously voted to call Pastor Victoria Lovell, to be their Associate Pastor.

Pastor Vicky believes in taking the ‘gospel-on-the-go’. Before being called, Vicky was a pastoral intern at Zion. Vicky went on a mission trip to Haiti with Living Hope Ministries where she served the children of a school for a week by sharing the love of Jesus. She went to Kampala, Uganda where she led a large Women’s Conference at Stawa University and preached in the tiny villages in the slums to groups of people who are often forgotten. She was invited as a guest author to a school in Columbus, Ohio where she was able to present her children's book, My Guy in the Sky, and remind the students and teachers that there is always hope in the midst of life’s challenges. Locally, Vicky reaches outside the walls of the church as often as possible to share God’s love to those who would never enter a church building. She enjoys partnering with other churches and organizations to have the most impact on serving God’s creation.

As soon as Pastor Vicky arrived at Zion, she was intentional about building relationships with individuals who were experiencing homelessness in the Ann Arbor area. It was not unusual for Vicky to walk up to a group of strangers in Liberty Square to strike up a conversation then leave as friends. As she formed friendships, Pastor Vicky began transporting her new friends back to Zion Lutheran Church, every Wednesday at 11:30 AM to participate in a short chapel service and mid-week lunch provided by members of Zion. Several of
the people who participate found this to be transforming. Many of the Wednesday guests now attend Zion regularly on Sunday mornings, have become members of the church, and have a place where they are loved
and welcomed.

Upon Pastor Vicky’s return from her Uganda trip, one of her new friends asked Vicky about her trip. When the pastor explained that the average woman in Kampala lives on five dollars a day, the gentleman
was appalled and said, “I couldn’t do that! We can do something to help.” After lunch that day a group of ten people, all who were experiencing homelessness and poverty, came up with the 40/40 Project. They decided to raise enough money to purchase 40 pigs in the 40 days of Lent at $40 a piece to start a pig farm in Uganda to generate funds for the women with whom Vicky worked. And they did it. They ran a bake sale, they asked for donations, they made flyers, and they prayed about it. This group of motivated people from the DeLonis
Center started a pig farm on the other side of the world!

Pastor Vicky is a woman who is full of passion and can often be found smiling, laughing loudly, hugging people and chatting with anyone within earshot. She is a ball of energy and believes it is important
to have fun while doing the critical work of the Lord. She is ready to take on her new role as the Associate Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church. God is up to something at Zion and Pastor Vicky is excited to be a part of it. Pastor Vicky will be installed as Zion's new Associate Pastor on Sunday, June 18, at 1:30 pm. The public is
welcome to attend!