Welcome Pastor Magdiel Fajardo

Grace Lutheran Church in Ulysses and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lakin, recently welcomed a new pastor and his family to their congregations.

Pastor Magdiel Fajardo, his wife and their three children, recently moved to Ulysses from Pacifica, Calif., where he had been serving as Pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

"The Lord brought us from preaching in the Bay area, to western Kansas, and we are grateful for being here," Fajardo said. "It is a different environment, but God's creation is beautiful everywhere we look. I am amazed by the beautiful sun sets and farms that remind us of God's providence for us and the blessing of all those hands that work hard so that we can have food in our tables."

Fajardo has served as a pastor for the past eight years, all of which were in California.

"I served in California for eight years as Pastor of a couple of congregations," he said. "I served at Grace Lutheran Church and Preschool in Santa Maria, Calif., from 2015 to 2020 and, and at our Savior's Lutheran Church in Pacifica. Calif., from 2020 until 2023."

Fajardo's installation as Pastor of Grace and Immanuel took place August 19.

"Brother pastors from other Lutheran Congregations brought blessings and greeting from our other sister churches," Fajardo said of his installation..

Other than serving as pastor, Fajardo has volunteered and served on different boards within the church body, the LCMS, and with the Board of International Missions.

" I (also) helped with the VDMA project to translate theological documents from English to Spanish, for Lutheran Pastors in Latin America," Fajardo said.

He received his education at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., M.Div. 2015.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, visiting neighbors, kayaking and taking road trips.

He is eager to learn more about his new home.

"My family and I look forward to learning more about the communities here in Ulysses and Lakin," he said. "Mainly to get to know people, the culture here and serve in a loving way."

Serving is why Fajardo chose to go in to the ministry.

"It's a calling," he said. "God calls His people to serve in the Church, and I could not reject His calling. I had to trust He would lead me through green pastures, and He is faithful. He equips and guides his servants and it’s a joy."

The favorite part of his chosen field is teaching people about Jesus.

"To bring the good news of Jesus to people," Fajardo said. "And to see their lives blessed and changed by the comfort of hearing that Christ died and rose for them."

His goals going forward are centered around what he loves to do.

"To proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all, to support the mission of Grace Lutheran Church in Ulysses and Immanuel in Lakin, to tend to the spiritual needs of our neighbors by pointing them to Jesus, the one who suffered all, did it all, and conquered all, even death, sin and the devil," Fajardo said.

Prior to Fajardo arriving in Ulysses, the pastor vacancy at the church was filled by the church's Senior Pastor Reverend Michael Hageman.

"We welcome the Fajardo family to Grace Lutheran and to the TIG Ministry," a spokesperson for the church said.

Grace Lutheran meets for Bible study at 8 a.m., each Sunday, followed by worship at 9 a.m. Other weekday bible studies and fellowship opportunities include: