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

On Saturday, June 13 at 1 p.m., Pastor Lester Hoffmann will mark an extraordinary milestone — 70 years of ordained ministry — with a special presentation and worship service at the Vi at Silverstone retirement community in North Scottsdale.

The event will take place at 7501 E. Thompson Peak Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, and will include Hoffmann’s presentation, “70 Years of Ministry: Called and Sent!”, followed by a reception with light refreshments.

Ordained on June 10, 1956, at his home congregation, Messiah Lutheran Church in Chicago, Pastor Hoffmann has spent seven decades answering God’s call to ministry. During the June 13 gathering, he will reflect on a lifetime of service, sharing stories from mission experiences and key moments from across 70 years of ministry.

Hoffmann served five congregations in the Southwest and also served as a Mission Director in the former ELCA from 1978–1988, helping guide and support the church’s mission during a pivotal period in Lutheran ministry.

For Lutherans, vocation is rooted in God’s ongoing call to serve neighbor and proclaim the gospel. Pastor Hoffmann’s ministry stands as a remarkable witness to faithful service across generations, communities, and seasons of change.

We give thanks for Pastor Hoffmann’s seven decades of ministry and celebrate this milestone of enduring faithfulness.

Directions: The Vi at Silverstone is accessible via Loop 101 North, exiting at Scottsdale Road and continuing to Thompson Peak Parkway.