Brynn Harms joins Rivertown church

The Rev. Brynn Harms’ father is an Assembly of God minister, but growing up he never felt he was pushed toward that career. An interest in the ministry career came much later.

Harms is the new pastor at the Rivertown Assembly of God Church, located about five miles south Hastings on Highway 316. He has been a practicing minister since 2000. Before that time, he had tried the military as a career and was furniture salesman.

He grew up in Wisconsin and upper Michigan and graduated from high school in Wyoming.

“Then, I joined the Air Force where I met my wife and we married,” he said. That was more than 23 years ago.

“Initially, I thought about making the Air Force my career,” said Harms. “But two and 1/2 years into it, I decided this wasn’t what I wanted.”

His dad was a pastor in Austin, Min., so the Harms family came to Minnesota. They spent four years in Austin, then moved to South Carolina. During this time he sold furniture and thought more about his career. The ministry was still there in his mind, but it was slowly moving forward to a permanent choice.

While his father was a practicing minister, Harms never believed that he was being pushed into that area.

“But I think there was always that sense that is where I was being led,” said Harms.

He returned to Bible college, earning a degree in pastoral studies and considered where his family should be.

The choice was Minnesota. Family was still here, with his father ministering in Milaca. Harms became the youth pastor there.

“It was a wonderful experience,” said Harms. He praised the church, the people and community.

But as the Harms children grew up and “left the nest,” he again considered the family’s options.

After contacting the Assembly of God superintendent about possible vacancies in Minnesota, he learned about the Hastings church. The previous pastors had left 10 months ago, and the church was seeking a pastor.

“I knew nothing about it the church),” he said. He contacted the interim pastor, met with the search committee and other church members and was offered the position. He accepted.

It has been a change, a good one, he said.

“The community is definitely bigger than Milaca — much, much bigger,” said Harms. “The church is much smaller.”

And he loves the people.

“They are hungry to grow in faith," he said. "They are super people, passionate people."

As the pastor of a small congregation, Harms is responsible for the usual pastoral responsibilities such as the Sunday service, Wednesday night Bible studies, counseling and visiting people in the community when necessary. He is also responsible for other duties including some church maintenance. He laughed when asked if he is mechanically oriented, and he answered that he is.

The Harms family is living in an apartment in Hastings and is looking to buy a house.

“We just love Hastings,” he said.

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