Carol Stream, IL. 6
Victoria Kueker
To begin, my name is Victoria Kueker, (key-ker), please say it correctly (it makes me crazy when you don’t, and I’ll also know that you don’t know me). I’m one of two pastors at The Gathering For Christ (TG4C). As you can tell from the website, TG4C is a different kind of church where being yourself is expected, and growing in your relationship with the Lord is paramount. I’ve been pastoring there since 2015 and have an accumulation of lifetime experiences that have merged together to help me preach, teach and lead.
For example, I’m an Army Veteran who understands discipline, but, I find it difficult to practice. (Ironic, isn’t it?) I was a medic, but decided I didn’t want to be responsible for other people’s lives, and now, I’m a pastor. Bigger life to protect, and I still have to sometimes stop the bleeding. I didn’t really get very far from my original job description, did I?
Never one to be content to stay in a job or career for very long, I worked in retail, office administration, was a Children’s Librarian, a buyer, a police/fire dispatcher, and a college instructor. My husband worked at his job for 37 years and his Rolodex, yes, Rolodex, had a card for every job where I worked. So, 10 + cards for my 37 years and one for him. I attained my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees while working and raising two sons with my husband of 40 years. Now we have two grandchildren that we watch 3 days a week, who keep us young and tired and often find their way into my sermons.
I grew up in a home where church wasn’t mentioned but I eventually found my way there as an adult. While studying for my Bachelor’s degree at Judson University, I experienced young adults living out a relationship with Jesus Christ. I didn’t know what that was until then, and I was astounded that there was more to this God thing than just going to church. At 40, this was quite an eye-opener. At my commencement, I said, “I came to Judson to get a degree, but I left with Jesus in my heart!” More than that, I left with Jesus in my heart and my life.
From that point on, I was never the same. To say God changed my life would be an understatement. A confessed sinner, I gave myself to the Lord, and was baptized while at seminary. As I grew more in my faith, I realized that God had been with me, protecting me since I was a child. I believe that everything we do in the church should be relational, experiential, and conversational, like being in relationship with friends. It should be a living, organic, invested connection with Jesus that continues to develop over time.
Being a person of faith means that we walk with Jesus, and walking with a friend, mentor, leader, and King isn’t something we do from afar, we do it next to each other, listening to each other, loving and trusting each other. We then follow that example in how we live our lives in community here on earth, fellowshipping, holding each other accountable, being real, and loving our neighbor.
Always admitting that being a sinner is a way of life for us as Christians, as humans, I strive to show that the forgiveness of the Lord, a gift we receive from Him, is available to all. If God could save a sinner like me, then He can save a sinner like you.
Feel free to engage with me via email (use the form at the bottom of this page) or comment on any of my individual blog posts. Conversation is good. God is good. We can agree or disagree, but we have to do it nicely.
