Meet the Pastor

Meet the Pastor

While growing up, home for Pastor Darst was a town in southern Oregon - Central Point, by name. Upon graduation from high school, Pastor Darst moved to Nevada where he earned a degree in Health Science. During that period of his life, he worked in various capacities at the largest hospital in Reno, functioning at different times as an assistant, a critical care technician, and an emergency department technician.

Pastor Darst developed a passion for working closely with people during his years in the health field. It was during this time that he also found two homes for faith formation. He connected with fellow students during Sunday evening bible studies at the mainline protestant Campus Christian Association at the University of Nevada, Reno. He also found a worship home at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, where he encountered a great community and a vibrant worship life.

When it became clear that pastoral ministry was in his future, Pastor Darst entered Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. During his year of internship, he served Lord of Life Lutheran Church, an active congregation in Chagrin Falls, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland). It was during his years of seminary that he met his wife, Tiffany. They were joyfully married just days before his graduation.

Pastor Darst served his first call in Davenport, Iowa at St. Paul Lutheran Church, the site of a unique Pastoral Residency Program for young pastors. Funded by the Lilly Endowment, this program provides a stimulating environment for gifted new pastors as they sharpen pastoral skills, habits, and practices.

Pastor Darst says, "Grace Lutheran Church is obviously a place where God's love is celebrated. But the celebration is not private. The people of Grace take their joy into the world in exciting ways. Tiffany and I are excited that we are a part of that!"