By Erik Cave, Director of NextGen Ministries, PacNWC
Enjoy this interview with Britta and Paul Burger, the new Co-Lead Pastors at Newport Covenant Church
What is your personal and ministry background?
Britta grew up here in the Pacific Northwest and Paul grew up in various states in the Midwest. Britta has always been deeply invested in her church communities and felt a unique sense of call as she served on the pastoral search team at Pine Lake Covenant Church to call their youth pastor. Both Paul’s parents and sister serve in Covenant ministry, which instilled within him a deep desire to serve the church.
We met at North Park University in Chicago and were married between undergraduate studies and seminary. While we have both experienced individual calls, as we have shared in life and ministry together, God has developed that call into a shared ministry as we now serve as co-lead pastors at Newport Covenant Church.
What are you passionate about in ministry right now?
Attending to healing, shepherding people towards authentic perspectives of themselves and their communities, and bearing witness to the reality of the hope of Jesus in others.
What three traits define you?
Enthusiastic, Collaborative, Connecting
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
While a bit of a cliche, family is incredibly important to both of us. We were both blessed to grow up in families that supported and encouraged us in life and in ministry and we now desire to do the same with our own kids, Bjorn & Sonja.
Where is your favorite place to be?
Britta grew up summering at Hagerman Lake in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Paul and their son, Bjorn, got to experience a bit of the magic a few years ago. More recently, our family has enjoyed a winter retreat in Leavenworth swimming outside in the snow.
What does true leadership mean to you?
The more we serve in ministry, the more we’re learning how important it is for us to lead collaboratively as we seek to empower and equip others to use their gifts. We have also been so grateful for our church chair, Pastor Merrie Carson, modeling for us what it looks like to lead as a discerning community.
Which one would you want most – flying cars, robot housekeepers, or moon cities?
It’s a close race between flying cars and robot housekeepers.
Visit Britta’s Facebook Page
Visit Paul’s Facebook Page
Visit Newport Covenant Church’s Web Page