Meet the Pastor
Pastor Larry Bong and his family were called to Grace Lutheran Church in August 2010. The congregation was very pleased and excited to welcome Pastor and his family into the family of Grace. Pastor Larry along with his wife and two sons arrived in Oconto Falls during the first week of August and he immediately started visiting and getting to know the people of Grace.
Ministering throughout Northeastern Wisconsin, Pastor Larry chose to answer the full-time pastor call at Grace in Oconto Falls. When asked what made him want to come here, he answered, “The people. From the people that interviewed me, to the people I met as my family and I looked around Oconto Falls, everyone was very friendly and kind. Oconto Falls is just the right size – a small family-oriented community but still with plenty to do close by.”
Pastor Bong has a unique background. He grew up Lutheran in the Missouri Synod, attended UW-Eau Claire and then received a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Studies from North Central University in Minneapolis. In 1984 he was ordained as an Assemblies of God pastor. Previous work experience has had him serving in Moline and Decatur, IL, Adams, Seymour, Greenville and Appleton WI. He has now decided to get back to his Lutheran roots.
For fun, Pastor Larry has coached football and track. He loves sports and being involved with kids and young adults.
The Bong family consists of Karen Bong, Larry’s wife of 25 years, and two sons, Andrew who is currently attending Fox Valley Tech College and Alex who attends Oconto Falls High School.
Pastor Larry’s focus is to help people become who they were created to be–not only at Grace but also in the community–by experiencing the love of God by loving one another. “Jesus said that if you can love God and your neighbor, you have completed the totality of the requirements set up in the scripture. This is not only challenging but fun. “Walking with God will cause us to rethink what we’ve always believed, and it also energizes our relationships with others,” explains Pastor Larry.
With Pastor Larry leading us, new and exciting things are happening at Grace Lutheran Church in Oconto Falls.
Karen and Larry Bong |