From Game Warden to Pastor: Steve Tomac's Journey to the Pulpit

Steve Tomac comes from a family of pastors, but his path into ministry was an uncommon one.

Now the pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Yerington, Nevada, Tomac sees his journey as one that helped shape him to meet this moment.

His parents had always hoped he would enter the ministry, and it wasn't hard to see why. His great-great-great-grandfather, Gottfried Schmidt, had been among the Lutheran immigrants who fled Saxony in search of religious freedom. Both Gottfried's son and grandson went on to become Lutheran pastors, planting deep roots of faith.

However, that path was reshaped early. When he was just eight years old, his father passed

away, and his family relocated to Nevada. For a young boy grieving a profound loss, the wide-

open expanse of the Nevada desert offered something unexpected: wonder. Rather than

ministry, Tomac pursued a career in wildlife management, spending 27 years as a Nevada

Game Warden before moving into a consulting career for another decade.

But even as his career took him far from the seminary, his faith remained strong. Throughout

those years, Steve remained active in the church, taking on leadership roles wherever he was

needed. Still, the call to become a pastor himself remained down the road.

That changed in 2020, when Faith Lutheran's part-time pastor, Everett Garwood, passed away

suddenly. In the wake of that loss, Tomac and head elder Charlie Hicks stepped up to lead

weekly services, doing what needed to be done to keep the congregation grounded. It was

during this season that District President Michael Lange began encouraging Tomac to pursue

formal training. That encouragement led Steve to become a Licensed Lay Deacon and that was

followed by President Lange introducing him to the SMP (Specific Ministry Pastor) program and

planting a seed that would soon take hold.

All of this unfolded during the uncertain days of the COVID pandemic. Faith Lutheran extended

two pastoral calls, and both were declined, leaving the congregation's hopes for a full-time

pastor uncertain. Tomac kept praying for guidance, and slowly, an unexpected sense of

direction began to settle over him. He felt led to apply to the SMP program himself. Looking

back, he describes it as God opening doors while simultaneously opening his heart to walk

through them. He passed his entrance exams, and four years later, he found himself right where

he'd once never imagined: pastor to the faithful saints of Faith Lutheran Church.

Tomac is quick to point out the unique gifts that come with answering a call later in life. The challenges and conflicts he navigated across two earlier careers, he says, gave him a depth of life experience that now shapes how he relates to and cares for others. He still has plenty to learn, he admits, but he can't picture his younger self being ready for this kind of calling. He also believes his congregation benefits from the stability of his life stage. He and his wife, Laura, are happy and settled in their community, with no plans for major changes, and he believes that steadiness offers the congregation a sense of security in return.

None of this journey happened alone. Tomac credits his congregation's love, forgiveness, and

faithful prayer for carrying him through the transition and his years of education. Laura has been

an especially steady source of support, not only walking alongside him personally, but actively

serving the church herself through worship music and AV, Director of Christian Education, and

as an all-around helper. Hicks and his wife, Cora, have also played an instrumental role over the

past six years, continuing to lead and support the church's worship team in ways Steve prays

will keep blessing the congregation for years to come.

Reflecting on his years of seminary training, Steve returns again and again to one truth: God

has provided for him time and time again. He is good. He is faithful. And He gives more than we

could ever ask for, in abundance!