Pastor Steven Rye

Pastor Steven Rye Steven Rye is a Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. My father was a Lutheran pastor, and I attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Here’s a brief overview of my life and ministry journey:

I grew up in a East-Central Iowa town: Grundy Center. Throughout my high school, college, and a year after college, I spent eight summers at Bible camps. I then pursued my theological studies at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. While at Wartburg, I married Suzanne, an occupational therapist. She’s the daughter of a Swedish Lu

theran pastor (Augustana Synod). We met in college outside the door of the intern pastor, not a place known for finding a girlfriend. We got married during our seminary years, and she accompanied me to my internship in campus ministry at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. I was ordained in April 1994. My ministry career began with serving as the associate pastor in International Falls, Minnesota. Later, I moved to Strawberry Point, Iowa, where I served as a parish pastor in a small rural town. (The entire county had no stoplights.) My campus ministry connections led me to Purdue University, where I served as a campus pastor for 12 years. As my time in campus ministry came to an end, I began to consider the family cabin near two harbors in Minnesota. I felt a strong call to ministry in the Northeastern Minnesota synod. I served as Senior Pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church congregation of 800 active members for 10 years, and then as an Interim Lead Pastor at American Lutheran Church in Windom, MN. I’m currently working on our house in anticipation of selling it for our next move. Along the way, my wife and I have raised two children: a daughter, Rebecca lives with us and works for Conductor Power in Baxter and a son, Kristofer, who works as a computer programmer for EPIC, a medical records company in Madison.

Light a Candle
05/15/2026

Light a Candle

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Enjoyed my time with the folks of Tri-United Lutheran Parish - ELCA a couple weeks ago: Bethel Lutheran Church in Warba...
05/12/2026

Enjoyed my time with the folks of Tri-United Lutheran Parish - ELCA a couple weeks ago: Bethel Lutheran Church in Warba; and Carmel Lutheran in Jacobson.

UntitledThis week’s message explored a simple but powerful truth: Sometimes God is closer than we realize. Using a story...
05/10/2026

Untitled

This week’s message explored a simple but powerful truth: Sometimes God is closer than we realize. Using a story about a child wandering into the woods while a watchful father quietly follows behind, we reflected on the ways we move through fear, uncertainty, curiosity, and even rebellion — only to discover that God has not abandoned us. Even in the moments when we feel alone, lost, or unsure of the path ahead, Christ walks nearer than we know. “Surely the Lord is in this place — and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16)

This week’s message explored a simple but powerful truth: Sometimes God is closer than we realize. Using a story about a child wandering into the woods while a watchful father quietly follows behin…

Sermon for May 3rd, 2026 – Bethel LC, BrainerdAs we continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter, today’s gospel inclu...
05/03/2026

Sermon for May 3rd, 2026 – Bethel LC, Brainerd

As we continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter, today’s gospel includes Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place for his followers in his Father’s house. Our baptism commissions us to share Jesus’ mission in the world. As 1 Peter reminds us, we are a holy people, called to proclaim the one who called us out of darkness into light. In words and deeds we bear witness to the risen Christ—our way, our truth, our life.

As we continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter, today’s gospel includes Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place for his followers in his Father’s house. Our baptism commissions us to s…

https://stevenjrye.com/2026/05/01/lent3/
05/02/2026

https://stevenjrye.com/2026/05/01/lent3/

In this final message of the Repairing What’s Broken series, we hear that God doesn’t just restore us—God sends us. Drawing on Second Epistle to the Corinthians 5:17–18, this sermon explores how ou…

https://stevenjrye.com/2026/03/14/lent2/
05/02/2026

https://stevenjrye.com/2026/03/14/lent2/

Week Two: Letting the Master Work In the second message of the series, the focus turns to what happens after we acknowledge the broken places in our lives. Drawing on Jeremiah’s image of the potter…

https://stevenjrye.com/2026/03/05/lent1/
05/02/2026

https://stevenjrye.com/2026/03/05/lent1/

Week One: Admitting the Crack The first message in the series introduces the theme of honest self-examination. Drawing on Psalm 139:23–24, the sermon reflects on the courage it takes to invite God …

05/02/2026

Upcoming Preaching Dates:
- Bethel LC, Brainerd - May 3rd, 10th, & 31st

Address

13400 Meredith Drive
Baxter, MN
56425

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