Augsburg Calls Associate Pastor, Joseph Yucha

Augsburg Lutheran Church is thrilled to announce that we have called the Reverend Joe Yucha to serve as our next Associate Pastor. Pastor Yucha (pronounced Yoo-hah) was unanimously approved by a congregational vote on Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022. He will begin his call on August 15.
Pastor Joe was born and grew up in Richmond, VA, then migrated south to attend college at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. A psychology major with a minor in philosophy, he took a year off from school and worked in a Christian counseling office before feeling called to seminary. He attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, graduating in 2016 with a Masters in Divinity with a concentration in pastoral care.
After meeting Christine at seminary, they were married in June of 2015. That fall, he started his internship year at Faith Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. After a brief period of discernment following that intern year, he returned to Faith where he has served for the past five years in the role of Associate Pastor. He and Christine have one son, Harrison, who was born in February of 2020 and a Shepherd-mix, Luna, who just celebrated her sixth birthday.
Pastor Joe is passionate about all aspects of ministry, but absolutely loves working with youth and doing pastoral care visits. Building relationships and trust are what he considers to be the key to a successful ministry. His pastoral identity is formed around creating environments where everyone feels a sense of community and God’s presence.
Pastor Joe writes,

“I am thrilled to begin this new chapter in ministry with the people of Augsburg and our neighbors in Winston-Salem, whom we have yet to meet. This is an exciting time to be the church, especially at Augsburg as y’all undergo renewal and rejuvenation in so many ways. I look forward to learning more about and being part of what God is already doing at Augsburg and what the Spirit has in store for our shared future!”

Pastor Joe’s gifts in preaching, pastoral care, building a sense of community, and innovation/creativity were all important factors in the Call Committee’s selection. However, what drew the committee to recommend him the most was the overall balance of energy, patience, and encouragement that is needed in this role.
Pastor Joe looks forward to meeting you! Augsburg will host a number of events this fall to introduce him to the congregation and the community.