70 Years of Ministry: Pastor Lester Hoffmann Reflects on a Lifetime of Calling

On June 10, Pastor Lester Hoffmann marks an extraordinary milestone: 70 years of ordained ministry, having been ordained on June 10, 1956, at his home congregation, Messiah Lutheran Church in Chicago.

To celebrate this remarkable anniversary, Pastor Hoffmann will speak on Saturday, June 13, at a Christian church fellowship gathering within the Vi retirement community in North Scottsdale. During the presentation, Hoffmann will reflect on seven decades of ministry, sharing stories and excerpts from mission experiences throughout his years of service and offering reflections under the theme, “70 Years of Ministry: Called and Sent!”

Pastor Hoffmann’s ministry has spanned generations and geography. Over the course of his vocation, he served five congregations in the Southwest and also served as a Mission Director in the former ELCA from 1978 to 1988, helping shape and support the church’s mission during a significant period of Lutheran ministry.

As Lutherans, we understand ministry as a response to God’s call—one that unfolds across changing seasons, communities, and needs. Pastor Hoffmann’s 70 years of ordained service stand as a witness to faithful leadership, accompaniment, and proclamation across decades of change in both church and world.

We give thanks for Pastor Hoffmann’s enduring ministry and the many lives touched through his service. Additional details about the June 13 gathering, including time and location information, will be shared as available.