Newsletter (pdf)
Pastor Steven FerberHi, I’m Pastor Steve.
Welcome to Living Branch!
I was born in 1955, one of 5 kids in a house filled with Christian love but also many challenges. My parents divorced when I was 6. My brothers and sisters and I were raised by our mother, a woman who had (and still has) great faith in Christ and worked hard as a registered nurse to provide for us. In high school I enjoyed running track and cross country and playing trumpet in the band. In college I continued running and playing the trumpet (not at the same time!). I graduated with a degree in physical therapy and worked for seven years as a physical therapist and athletic trainer, working at two universities and in private clinics.
In 1982 I attended my brother Ken’s church in a Chicago suburb for a year. That was a life-changing time for me. I was struck by the warmth, Christian love, and commitment to Christ that I saw in the congregation. God’s Word was preached and taught in a powerful way. My faith matured and my vision of life changed. I began to ask, more and more, what the Lord’s will was for my life. Three years later, convinced that God was calling me to be a pastor, I enrolled in Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. What a change! And what a blessing. I graduated in 1989 and served a congregation in northern California for 8 years before coming to North Branch as a new church planter. I began knocking on doors on Labor Day weekend in 1997, looking for folks with no church home. Here it is, 11 years later! God has blessed our congregation, and me, in so many ways.
On a personal note, I met my wife on a Christian web site (that’s right - the internet!) in February 2002. God works in mysterious ways! After corresponding via the net and the phone for a few months, we met face-to-face in July 2002, got engaged on New Year’s Eve 2002, and married in July 2003. Donna is a wonderful woman of faith and an awesome life partner. She was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and vowed never to move any further north! But when love touches the heart, it moves us in strange ways. Love moved Donna all the way to the frozen tundra of Minnesota! She teaches A.P. American and world history at Cambridge-Isanti high school.
Donna and I are in the process of adopting two babies from Asia. We have been waiting nearly two years for our daughter Hannah from China, and 5 months for our daughter Maggie from Vietnam. By the grace of God, one day our home will be filled with little ones that we will love with all our hearts.
If you have no church home, you’re welcome to enjoy worshiping the Lord at Living Branch. Our early, 8 a.m. service is traditional, featuring hymns and using liturgy from the hymnal. Our 10:30 a.m. service is more contemporary, featuring a worship team playing modern songs with guitars and keyboard, and a worship flow that’s more relaxed and informal. Both services are Christ-centered, Bible-based, and designed to feed the soul with the Good News of God’s love in Jesus.
God’s peace to you,
Pastor Steve