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Al Stoltzfus was born in Ephrata and spent his teenage years in Germany where his parents were missionaries. Now he's back home as pastor at First Baptist Church of Pequea in Gap, a church that supported his parents' mission work and one he remembers visiting as a child.
Stoltzfus (no relation to the reporter) grew up on a dairy farm before his family moved to Colorado so his father could study to become a missionary.
"It was a big change going from always being barefoot to having to always wear shoes," Stoltzfus said. He remembers the biggest change from leaving farmland for suburbia was all the traffic. "Suddenly we couldn't just run out of our driveway," he said. "We had to watch for cars all the time."
While Stoltzfus remembers wanting to run a dairy farm as a boy, he said God directed him into the pastorate. He was a youth pastor and spent seven years at South Hills Bible Chapel in McMurray, near Pittsburgh, before becoming pastor at First Baptist Church of Pequea.
The journey that brought him back to where it all started also included graduation from an English-speaking high school in Kandern, Germany.
"I think it's pretty unique for someone like me who has deep family roots in southeastern Pennsylvania," Stoltzfus said. "And now I live here in Lancaster County. That still surprises me."
Age: 47.
Residence: Gap.
Family: Wife, Kim; sons, Kyle, 18, and Nathan, 16; daughters, Alicia, 13, and Elena, 11.
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Bible from Philadelphia Biblical University; Master of Arts degree in Christian education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Someone I admire: My father. He is the most influential person in my life. I am amazed at how God can call a young Amish boy to him. In my father, God took a Pennsylvania Dutch dairy farmer who was married with four young children from the farm to Denver, Colo., to get his college degree and then lead him to Germany as a church-planter, pastor and missionary. That's a miracle. That's something only God could do.
Biggest misconception about being a pastor: Some people think pastors only work on Sundays. Some people might also think being a pastor is boring. To be a pastor is the most exciting, challenging, diverse occupation.
Greatest joy in being a pastor: The opportunity to point people of all ages and walks of life to Jesus Christ is the greatest. Second to that is walking with people through life's significant challenges, tragedies, joys and changes: marriage, illness, unemployment, weddings, funerals, etc.
Favorite quote: "Even if I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today." — Martin Luther.
To relax I: Go for a long run and talk to God.
If I could have anyone over for dinner: The Most Rev. Desmond Tutu or Nelson Mandela. What they achieved through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa is remarkable.
My inspiration: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German theologian and pastor 1906-1945).
Favorite books: The Bible; "The Cross of Christ," by John R.W. Stott; "The Hobbit," by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Foods you can always find at my house: Carrots in the refrigerator and ice cream in the freezer.
Favorite place to vacation: Stone Harbor, N.J. My wife and I vacationed there before our children were born and every year since in our 23 years of marriage.
If I could travel anywhere: Leipzig, Germany. This is the city of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was the center of political dissent that led to the peaceful revolution, collapse of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany.
My favorite place in the world: At home with my wife and family.
On my days off I like to: Take my wife out to lunch.
Favorite thing to do with my family: Eat at Fuddruckers in Lancaster.
Verse to live by: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10).
Mandy Stoltzfus is a Sunday News staff writer. E-mail her at mstoltzfus@lnpnews.com.
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