Pastor Jeff Friesen and His Wife, Wendy

Welcome to the first of our Zion Featured Friends. . . our first spotlight is on Interim Pastor Jeff Friesen and his wife Wendy.
​
They met in a college group in Lincoln and were married on May 23, 1992.  They have four children: Ethan, 26; Caryn, 24, who is married (these 2 live in Lincoln); Cienna, 20 a junior at Univ. of NE - Kearney; and Isaac, 18, who'll graduate from Thayer Central on May 16. 
Pastor Jeff grew up in the Loup City area and Wendy in Lincoln (her maiden name was Southwick.) Both of them still have their parents living.  He attended seminary in Indiana and started his ministry in Lincoln in October 1995. In 2001 he started driving to Hebron where he led a Men's Bible Study in Matt Richardson's Body Shop.  In 2003 they moved to Hebron and the Hebron Bible Church began.
They both enjoy reading - he likes anything: C.S. Lewis, Tim Keller, David McCullough, J.RR. Tolkien.  Wendy works part-time at Priefert's Pharmacy in Hebron and also in the library and enjoys non-fiction and the Mitford Series by Jan Karon.  They enjoy camping, nature, and traveling and have visited many places in the U.S. and Canada. They'd love to travel outside the U.S. - perhaps to visit missionary friends in Italy or England; or serve as house parents at the Black Forest Academy in Germany; or visit the Holy Land.
As soon to be empty-nesters, they are hoping for the patience for their kids to find their own spiritual path.  One of his biggest challenges being a preacher is the ability to say no. Wendy shared in his early years he once triple booked his schedule!  Their ministry is based on cultivating relationships which is time consuming and they are both saved by grace.
He hopes the people of Zion can begin to see the needs that exist around them and serve those needs thru authentic relationships.  We all need to ask ourselves - What is God doing with me now and where is He leading me?
Personally, I am glad the Lord brought Pastor Jeff to Zion.  His teaching and music ministry are a blessing, and if you've not taken the time to visit with him one on one, I encourage you to schedule a time to meet with him.  Hope you've enjoyed this snapshot into the Friesen's life - who will be next? Stay tuned. . . . . Phyllis Kriesel, Public Relations