In the photo: Sheri Dittrich-Reinhart, Mary Kay Cosmetics; Pastor Rob Guenther, St. John’s Lutheran Church; Jessica Janni, Bank Midwest; Linda Neigebauer, Alliance Bank.

NEW ULM — The Willkommen Committee of the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Pastor Rob Guenther, new pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Pastor Guenther grew up in a suburb of Seattle and found his way to Minnesota to attend MLC College. After graduation he was called to a seminary in Wisconsin where he served several years. He then was called to Raleigh, NC where he served for 6 years, and then Alaska for 8 years. He said Alaska was a great place to raise his 4 boys, however, there was no Lutheran High School for them to attend. Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School was one of the things that made New Ulm attractive when he got the call to come back here. Pastor Guenther has been in New Ulm for 2 months and is working hard to meet all 1,000+ members of St. John’s Church.