Meet The Pastor
Pastor Ron Valadez
PASTOR RON
EMAIL: PASTOR@BLCAUBURN.ORG
Hello and welcome!
I've been the pastor at BLC since March 2016 and couldn't be happier to be here! I grew up in Vacaville, CA, and then moved to the Gettysburg, PA area, staying there for 18 years before moving back to CA. My wife, Sara, and I have three daughters, two of whom still live at home with us.
My education includes an associate’s degree from Harrisburg Area Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University, and a master’s degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. During seminary I did a yearlong internship in Birmingham, AL where I served Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.
As far as hobbies and interests go, I love playing racquetball, watching baseball (Let’s Go A’s!), fishing, craft beer, video games, and the occasional cigar. I’m also a major sci-fi geek—I love superheroes, Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Firefly, etc.
As far as work goes, I love to write and have been published by Augsburg Fortress and Greater Birmingham Ministries. I grew up Lutheran, which means I’ve had a lifetime of being called to death and resurrection through my baptism. From that work, I feel called to proclaim that gospel in thought, word, and deed. So, many causes are important to me: hunger, homelessness, welcoming the LGBTQ community, sexism, interfaith, Black Lives Matter, in addition to being the best pastor I can be to the flock that God has called me to.
That’s me in a nutshell. I’d love the opportunity to get to know you better. Come and see what God is doing here at Bethlehem!
You can check out my sermons at LATINLUTHERAN.NET.