While he had committed to serving God full-time after a challenge given him in his sophomore year in college, Al Wager said that he was certain that one path of service to the church wouldn’t be his future path.
“One thing I was for sure, I would never be a preacher!” Wager recalled with a smile.
He added, “God has a wonderful sense of humor!”
Huron Christian Church (HCC) will celebrate Wager’s 20th year of ministry with the church on Sunday during services.
Wager was baptized at 12 years old, but originally his dreams were to play football in college, followed by coaching and teaching after school was over. He worked at Minnesota Bible College in the admissions office, but he sought a ministry that didn’t require as much travel as his young family was beginning to grow.
Wager’s college roommate, Aaron Jones, was the Senior Pastor at HCC and encouraged his friend to apply for an open position as a Family Life Minister. When Jones moved in 2004, Wager took the role of Senior Pastor.
“I feel sorry for some of the sermons (the church) had to listen to back then,” Wager jokes. “But they stuck with me!”
In the time Wager has served with HCC, the church has seen tremendous growth, including building a new facility on 21st St SE. Wager sees that as a congregational push, not a top-driven push.
“I don’t think we do anything really fancy, but we are being faithful in our homes and in our workplaces and we continue to be intentional with our faith,” Wager states. “That is our message.”
He continues, “We have taken a few risks along the way, like building a new facility, and we have invested in strategic staffing, but I see that the vision of this church is what is continuing to move us forward. We have not settled.”
Asked what the next horizon for HCC may be, Wager set his eyes not just on Huron, but on the surrounding communities.
“We started making contacts this past summer with our Praise in the Park services and we hope to do more in these next few years,” he noted. “Our goal would be to have feet on the ground in these communities to serve them well.”
Wager hasn’t left behind his childhood dream of coaching, as he continues to coach as the head boys’ basketball coach at James Valley Christian School. He’s coached youth baseball, youth football, and basketball of all ages since moving to Huron.
He and his wife Linda have been married 29 years and have four children, Abby, Timothy (Khiree), Ryan (Gracelyn), and Landon. Timothy and his wife Khiree had a child, Cameron, on Aug. 30th, Al and Linda’s first grandchild. He is VERY clear that he has pictures of his grandson for anyone who would like to see!
Wager credits his family with his longevity at HCC.
“God has blessed me with a wonderful church family, leadership and staff over the years,” Wager commented. “Even more important, He has blessed me with a wonderful, loving wife and four awesome children who have served well with me. We are a team.”
He also says that this could just be getting going.
“I love God and I love people. I am a fellow struggler who is pretty transparent and not perfect. I do not have it all together and prove that every day,” Wager says. “I feel I am just coming to a place I can be most effective. I would love everyone to come and dig into God’s Word and grow with me at HCC.”
