Our Pastors

I want to extend a warm welcome to you as you surf through our web page. Being new to the congregation, I’m just getting around to updating the website and we hope to have current information available going forward. So, in a sense, our web page is a ‘construction zone’ – and I invite you to come back often to see what is new, what is happening, and what’s up with this ‘faith’ thing that we Christians keep talking about.

At the same time, I’d like to invite you to come and check us out – Sunday worship, mid-week activities – you’ll find that there is something for everyone and you are more than welcome to tie into the many opportunities for mission, growth, and outreach that the Holy Spirit is doing in our midst. Like the Apostle Philip said to Nathaniel when introducing him to Jesus, I want to invite you to “Come and see” (Jn 1:46) – both to get to know us, but most importantly, to get to know Jesus as He is presented and taught in the Scriptures – so that we can tie into the wondrous and radical gift of God’s love and forgiveness for our lives today – and yes, also stretching into eternity. After all, our lives are ‘construction zones’ too – but our Triune God is a master builder and He invites you to come and see and learn and grow up in that gift of love and salvation that He has put on offer in His Word and in the Sacraments.

Faith involves community – and we invite you to be a part of a family of God which the Holy Spirit has been gathering here at Saint James!

Blessings!

Pastor Richard A. Beinert

Born and raised in the Gambella province of Ethiopia, Pastor Oboya Ochalla emigrated to Canada in the early 2000s following political unrest within that region of Africa.  Having spent several years in a refugee camp in Kenya, he understands the challenges that many newcomers experience when trying to get established within a new land with a new language and new customs.

Pastor Oboya trained for pastoral ministry here in Canada through the pastors-with-alternate-training program of Lutheran Church-Canada.  He was ordained and called to serve as assistant pastor at Saint James Lutheran Church in Winnipeg in 2019 where he coordinates outreach and ministry to the local (and Canadian) Anyuak and Amharic communities.  He is also taking ASL classes as a part of his ongoing training and education.  Married and the father of six children, we are pleased to have him as a part of our pastoral team.