Pat Rinker

My faith walk

I gave my life to Christ in the summer of 1972 at Young Life camp in Saranac Village, NY. Words cannot describe what God's Spirit did for me that day and every day since.

Leading up to that day was a childhood full of many of the events that make up many teens' lives, but my journey was also marked by severe losses and struggle. When I was about 8 years old my father had a stroke which left him unable to work the rest of his life. We grew very close over the next four years, which only made his sudden and unexpected death on August 14, 1967, so difficult.

I was affected so deeply. Normally a very emotional child, I could not cry at my father's funeral or for many years afterward. My prayer was first affected by my anger toward God over my inability to feel and express the pain I was experiencing. Later I began to end each day by asking God if I could share my day with my dad. After sharing my day and saying good night I would thank God for allowing me to talk to Dad.

Beginning my junior year in high school I started going to Tuesday night meetings with Young Life. I later went to camp and that is when my life changed. On Wednesday night was the cross talk, when we reflected on the tremendous act of love that Jesus suffered for us. The following night we each had the opportunity to give our lives to Christ. It was then that I stood and spoke the words aloud. They prayed for us and as they did the Spirit of God touched me in a way that I have never been touched before. Tears flowed and I experienced a healing that is so hard to describe.

I came home from camp and began reading the Bible from cover to cover, and then again. Over the years I found every answer, every support and direction for every challenge in my life. I looked back and could see how God was always active in my life, helping me even when I didn't realize it. Because Scripture came to mean so much to me, I always had a desire to help others realize what a treasure Scripture is and how much help God gives us through it.

Among all the devotions in this book, I hope you find assurance in the opening reflection for which the devotional is named. You are a gift from God. This is from a quiet time with Scripture I had while still in school. As you read from day to day, I hope Scripture comes to mean for you all that it has meant for me. I also hope you find in the Church the guidance you need to live a life filled with love and dedicated to building God's kingdom right here where we live. God bless you as we journey together in God's word.

Love in Jesus,
Pat Rinker

My life and family

My philosophy of life and ministry is this:

All that life is, is a series of relationships, in which we learn to love God and others. Everything else either contributes to that or distracts us from it. My philosophy of ministry is that all ministry is relational. Whether or not we have effective ministry depends on the quality of our relationships.

I have been married to my lovely wife Karen since 1976. We have three amazing children and beautiful grandchildren. I love Scripture, playing the guitar, and ballroom dancing with Karen. I play golf and disc golf with my son, Matthew, and I adore playing with my grandchildren.

I have been in full-time lay ministry since 1976 and praise God for all he has given me. I have had 16 years in parish ministry, two years teaching religion at a Catholic high school, and 18 years in full-time diocesan ministry. Karen and I attend Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Lansing, Michigan, where I sing in the choir.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I majored in Theology and English and minored in Greek and Secondary Education. I received my Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry from Regis University in Denver, and I am a certified Lay Ecclesial Minister in Youth Ministry, Catechesis, and Pastoral Ministry.