GAWLER’S Geoff Havelberg can still recall the church service that set him on the path to becoming a pastor, more than 35 years ago.

While he went into the role with no expectations, he finds himself now retiring after spreading the word of God to thousands of people, including in Gawler where he has been a pastor of the Lutheran congregation for 21 years.

“I went to church with my wife and something happened… it was like a little light bulb moment, and I thought well let’s give it a go,” he said.

Having grown up on the Eyre Peninsula, Pastor Havelberg’s work saw him spend time in Perth and Geraldton, Western Australia, and Wangaratta, Victoria before he was invited to come to Gawler, first as an associate pastor for the Zion congregation.

“It just felt this is where God was calling us to be,” he said.

“I never expected to stay 21 years, but I think there is a real benefit in that you get to know people, and get an understanding of how, not just the church, but the town, ticks.

“There is a stability and I just think having been here 21 years you feel a part of the whole thing rather than a visitor who is going to move on again one day.

“The church has gone through heaps of changes in those 21 years and I think being part of that change has been a good thing.”

One of the most significant was the coming together of the Zion and Immanuel congregations in 2016 to become the Gawler Lutheran Church.

“Since the two congregations came together it’s sort of at the point now where it’s really ready to branch out and do bigger and better things,” he said.

“I think part of my decision to retire is I figure it’s probably time to let someone else take it through that.”

In retirement Pastor Havelberg is looking forward to spending more time with fellow-members of the Longriders Christian Motorcycle Club, and traveling around Australia, including Cape York in the short-term with wife Veronica.

His retirement service is being held at Immanuel Lutheran School Gawler, at 9.30am, this Sunday, January 17.