© Lyn & Lonna Sahr©
© © 34 Years of Marriage© © Four Grown Children© © A Ministry of Difference© ©
High School Sweethearts! It doesn’t happen often anymore where two people fall in love in high school and are still married after 34 years. Lyn has often said; “We were madly in love. More mad than in love!” They were married right out of high school and began a life together. Lyn went to a vocational school and graduated with a degree in Mechanical drafting. However, he became a part-time cookware salesman while in vocational school and never did get a job as a draftsman.
For the first years of their marriage Lyn continued as a salesperson and Lonna a homemaker and mother. The Sahrs have four daughters. The youngest is in her first year of college.
The Sahrs became excited about what God was doing, not only in their lives but also in the lives of others around them. So, they set on a course to make a difference. They started their ministry effort in the local church. Lyn knocked on doors to get kids to come to Sunday School on a bus and Lonna became a Sunday School teacher. Soon they were traveling to different churches singing with their children and Lyn sharing an evangelistic message.
Recognizing that they lacked formal training, the Sahrs reset their course. Not being very denominationalized, Lyn attended a Nazarene Bible college, an Assembly of God Bible college, and a Catholic liberal arts college. At age 37 Lonna started college, earning a degree in Elementary Education and Learning Disabilities. Between Lonna and the girls, there was at least one person in college each year over a nine year period; two at a time seven of the nine years; and three at a time five of those nine years.
Lyn didn’t give much consideration to denominational ties or ministerial career. His primary goal was to serve God in whatever capacity God had in mind. Therefore, he was open to ministry of need and difference. His pastoral ministry has lead him to pastor in the Church of the Nazarene, The Christian & Missionary Alliance, the Baptist General Conference, Evangelical Free Church of America, and an independent church. These local churches were all in serious trouble and the Sahrs have lead them through a re-birthing process. When asked why he would pastor in the different denominations he answered; “I went to those churches because God lead me there and they had a need that God had prepared me to help with. Also, I attended a CMA, BGC, and EFC church while I was growing up. I went to church by myself and therefore no one put any money in the offering plate. I went to church for free my entire pre-adult life. I owed these churches so much that I thought this was a way that I could give something back through the denomination. Lonna is also from a long line of very Godly Methodist and she was willing to serve wherever God put us.”
Today the Sahrs have taken a couple of years away from the pastoral ministry and have enjoyed time with family and friends. Their youngest daughter was able to graduate from high school at the same school where the Sahrs attended. The Nostalgia has been running high. Now they are pursuing a variety of ministry options including planting a church or re-birthing a struggling church. The Sahrs have been patiently waiting for God’s direction. Lyn is the founder and author of the ChurchMouse Chronicles.
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