Hello, Salem!
Posted on Apr 23, 2025 by Shari Van Baale
Hello, Salem! It will be my privilege to walk with you for a time in worship and supply work on April 27 and May 4.
Since we’re going to be walking together, it would be good for you to know a little bit about me.
My name is Pastor Merle Brockhoff. (I go by Pastor Merle; as shorthand I am sometimes just called “PM.”)
I’ve been a Lutheran pastor for 40 years, serving in rural settings, small city settings, and larger metropolitan areas (Beatrice and Lincoln, Nebraska; Fulton, New York; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; and Great Bend and Topeka, Kansas). I am acquainted with a variety of congregation sizes, from small rural experiences to suburban congregations. I have supervised staff, been a “mission developer” pastor, an associate pastor, and a solo pastor, and I did full-time transitional ministry work as an interim and consultant for more than a decade.
I am married to Elizabeth, a retired high school vocal music instructor. Elizabeth sings in the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, teaches private voice lessons from our home, and is on “grandma duty” as much as possible.
We have two children:
Our son Carl is married to Jennie and they have two children (Magnus and Bram). They live in the Parkville, Missouri, area. Carl is an HVAC control system designer
and engineer.
Our daughter Nyssa is a professional mechanical engineer. She lives in Springfield, Missouri, and works out of that office. She used to travel extensively with her job, scoping and refitting big-box stores. Now she has moved up in the ranks with her professional engineering stamp and works to manage and supervise a variety of different architectural and engineering projects here and in the Philippine office of her company. (No travel there yet, but it would not surprise me.)
I am looking forward to being with you!
Pastor Merle
Staff Trax will be taking a hiatus in the month of May. We will resume Thursday, June 5. Have a blessed May!