Glen Weber

Glen Weber, pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, GCI’s congregation in Eagle Rock, California was active in 4-H during his high school years. “One of my areas of focus was raising, showing and judging poultry. During my senior year I was the Wyoming State champion poultry judge. I guess that taught me the importance of being aware of details!”

Glen grew up in southeast Wyoming, “where we raised Hereford cattle and wheat with our family, my grandparents and my father’s sister and her family. It was a wonderful, Christ-created foundation upon which to build my life.” Glen’s parents began studying the Radio Church of God’s Bible Correspondence Course in 1955. “They were baptized on a baptizing tour in 1958 in the Laramie River when I was seven years old. I remember that day clearly.”

Glen said that the solid foundation of his his parents’ marriage has proven to be a blessing to the entire family. “Just before my father died recently, my parents passed their 63^rd wedding anniversary. They had known each other since first grade. They raised six children who have been married 38, 38, 37, 35, 24 and 13 years, respectively. When including the grandchildren who are married, and when we have all passed our anniversaries in 2013, we will have 343 years of marriage and one grandson joining in marriage this year—with no divorces! A testimony to what Christ can do in a family!”

After graduating from high school, Glen went to England to attend Ambassador College in Bricket Wood. “I spent four years as a student and one year as an intern in the ministry in England—and loved it. Upon completion of my one year of ministry internship (we called them Ministerial Trainees back then), I was hired into the ministry in Canada.”

Shortly after moving to Canada, Glen married his wife of 38 years, Connie. “Our families were both founding members of the Denver GCI congregation in 1959. We were married after I moved to Canada. While in Canada we added two sons to our family, Dennis and Paul. Dennis and Carolyn have one daughter, Sophie, who is 16 months old, and Paul and Katie have two children, Mollie (5), and Anderson (3) and a baby due this month. This will be my parents’ 24^th great grandchild.”

Pastoring is a dream come true for Glen. “From the age of about ten or twelve I felt called to ministry, even though I didn’t really understand what that meant. This June will be my 40^th anniversary of serving in ministry. Upon beginning ministry I was blessed to serve with four wonderful pastors in Northern England; Glasgow, Scotland; Belfast, N. Ireland and Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. After Kelowna, I was sent to plant a church in Castlegar, British Columbia as my first pastorate.” Glen and Connie spent 21 years pastoring in Canada before moving to the Spokane, Washington area where they pastored for 11 years. They then “moved to the Portland, Oregon area and three years later were invited to pastor New Hope Christian Fellowship in Pasadena (meeting in Eagle Rock), California.”

Connie is an integral part of Glen’s ministry. “I’m not sure I would have had a ministry for forty years without Connie’s support. Perhaps it is “prophetic” that I was hired for a start date on June 10, 1973, Connie’s 20^th birthday—even though we had not seen each other since we were in elementary school. In the years up to our sons’ leaving high school, Connie was full-time in ministry with me on visits and most church work. When our younger son graduated, we moved to the US and she went to work full-time out of the home to help us recoup financially, send sons to university and careers and save for retirement. She continues to be a vital part of my ministry and is loved by the members for her wonderful spirit. She also continues a card ministry to literally hundreds of people every year for birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas and more.”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Glen said, “I enjoy preaching and explaining the Word of God ‘so a farm boy can understand it.’ Close behind preaching would be counseling young couples and performing marriages. However, I enjoy the wide variety of service within pastoral ministry. I could count on one hand the days I have wondered why I was a pastor.” This ties right in with Glen’s passion, which is, “Serving God’s people—especially those in my immediate family.” A highlight of Glen’s was when he was able to perform his son’s wedding ceremonies.

Glen feels thankful to be part of GCI. “Our growth in spiritual understanding has been amazing! I have found it a tremendous challenge and joy to read, study, teach and practice all that we have learned through the years. I also enjoy serving alongside our denominational leadership who are humble, serving men and women who are friends and ‘helpers of our joy.’”

Glen is currently working on his Master’s Degree at Grace Communion Seminary and he hopes to graduate this summer. After that, he may start playing horn again. “One day I plan to pick up the trumpet again. It’s in the closet; all I need is the time!”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Glen replied, “I am deeply moved by contemplative worship and prayer in corporate situations with pastors or congregations. Those are the times when I really hear the Holy Spirit speaking through the Scriptures and through other believers, and then as the Holy Spirit expresses the heart of God directly to my heart.”