Gary Wong | Pastor

Greetings! My name is Pastor Gary Wong.

My journey began in San Francisco, CA, where I was born and raised. I was not a Christian for the first 35 hears of my life. While attending USC Dental School, my roommate began sharing the gospel with me. Subsequently, his wife introduced me to Pastor Gerald Geiger who was the pastor at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Belmont, CA. One day, as I was reading my Bible, the Holy Spirit brought me to faith! Pastor Geiger baptized me and then confirmed me as soon as I finished the BIC class.

After I had become a member of the WELS, my pastor set me up on a blind date with the 1st Grade teacher at Apostles Lutheran School in San Jose, CA. A little over a year later, Maribeth (nee) Hahnke and I were married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN.

While we were living in San Jose, we adopted two boys, Matthew and Andrew. We then moved to New Ulm, MN, where I worked as a dentist at the New Ulm Dental Clinic. When I moved to Minnesota, my desire to serve as a pastor (which was fostered by my love for God's Word) grew by leaps and bounds. So, in 1995, I decided to train for the pastoral ministry. While enrolled at MLC, Maribeth and I were blessed with two biological sons. Nathan and Joshua.

In 1997, I graduated with my Seminary Certification and moved our family of six to Milwaukee where I began my studies at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

I vicared at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Green Bay (otherwise known as Lambeau Lutheran because of its proximity to the stadium). Upon my graduation from the Seminary in 2001, I was assigned to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in North Mankato, MN where I served as an Associate Pastor and Campus Pastor at the Beacon Lutheran Student Center on the campus of Minnesota State University - Mankato.

While in Mankato, we adopted our 3 daughters, Elizabeth, Rebekah, and Sarah. After seventeen years in the public ministry, I retired in 2018. Two months later, I received and accepted a Call to Courtland Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Church in Brighton Township (both are near New Ulm where I currently live). I served these two congregations for three years before I retired a second time in 2021.

Since my second retirement, my wife and I have spent some of our time visiting our children, two of whom had moved to South Dakota. In May of 2021,

I officiated at the wedding of my son, Joshua, and Betsy (nee) Hahm. They are teachers at Risen Savior Christian Academy in Pooler, Georgia. On July 10, 2022, I had the joy and privilege of ordaining and installing my son, Nathan, as pastor at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Lusby, MD. Nate, his wife, Kaitlyn (MLC 2020), and their son, Samuel, live in California, MD.

In addition to my wife, Maribeth, we have our daughter, Sarah, who is attending Martin Luther College online.The Lord has also seen fit to bring another member of my family to Pittsford: Andy, who is our second oldest son. Finally, there is our dog, Buddy.

When we are home in Minnesota, our family enjoys fishing, boating, water-skiing and swimming at our cabin on Lake Minnie Belle and attending activities at MLC, which is right across the street from our house.

Andrew Pedde | Staff Minister

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). Growing up, I always wanted to help people. I went through the phases that all kids go through, until, in high school, I decided that I was going to either be a psychologist or a teacher. While teaching a Psychology course in college, I experienced the “aha” moment when someone understood what I was explaining. I knew then that I wanted to be a teacher. To that end, I attended Wisconsin Lutheran College from 2005-2010, graduating with a dual degree in Education and Broad Field Social Studies. Upon graduation, my wife, Rachel Pedde, and I moved to Lexington, SC.

I have been a member of Hope Lutheran Church since 2005, and in that time, I have served as the Youth Discipleship Elder, Teen Sunday School teacher, and in various other capacities. Throughout these experiences, I came to realize that I loved to serve the members and community of Hope. In June of 2018, Hope Lutheran Church extended a call to me to serve as its staff minister. I have accepted that call and will be taking courses for the next 5 years at Martin Luther College in order to receive a certification in staff ministry in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. I look forward to serve the members of Hope, it's community, and most importantly God.

As an individual, I enjoy sports, spending time outdoors, reading, and time with my family. My wife and I have two children, Parker and Payton, whom we love to be with. The Lord has certainly blessed me. He has been with me every step of my journey, leading me on His path, where I can serve Him and His people.

If you would like to contact me directly, please email me at andrew@hopeofcolumbia.com