Among the very highest abilities that Chuck has is his ability to get his message across in a sermon. I have heard thousands of sermons in my day (literally), and preached a lot of them myself, and I must say that Chuck's sermons are among the best that I have heard. I don't say this lightly. I know a good sermon when I hear one and I also know a bad sermon when I hear one (having contributed a few of them myself!) and Chuck is almost always on the highest level. I say this in formal terms, such as structure, content, delivery, illustrations, use of pauses, etc, i.e., everything we were trained to do in seminary, but also in terms of communication. The people hear what he is saying... Chuck has a genuine gift of proclamation. My earnest prayer is that he never finds out how good he really is and that he always preaches "as a dying man to dying men".
This reference for Chuck Wahlstrom is happily being written by a former parishioner at Steilacoom Community Church, Washington. I attended SCC for three years before relocating back to California last December. What originally drew me to SCC was Chuck and his wife, Jan. They ran a huge outreach program to the community on July 4th and I stopped by their “tent” with my daughter and granddaughter who were visiting from California. The connection was instant. I had always driven by the church but never stopped due to the name and my perceived understanding of their theology. Once I visited, the following Sunday, I was sorry I had not stopped by when we first moved into the area.
After attending for several months, I began to see some of the church politics which made Chuck’s job very difficult. This was a church who was primarily interested in doing thing “as they had always done.” Chuck patiently talked about being a healthy church (and preached about what that looked like). He talked about outreach, not just from a mission standpoint but from a personal perspective…looking beyond ourselves and reaching to others who needed to feel the love and touch of Christ.
Chuck is a bridge builder and looks for opportunities to bring the church and community together. His sermons on Sunday always encouraged us to grow deeper in our walk with God and his insight into scripture was Spirit-inspired. He never presented himself as having all the answers or having mastered his walk with God, rather he shared his flaws and always talked about his own learnings while on the journey with Christ.
Chuck’s patience and professionalism was something noticeable and I often thought about my own role in Human Resources. Chuck, unknowingly, challenged me to have a more open heart as I dealt with my own struggles working with others who didn’t always have the best interest of others in mind. Chuck has a wonderful gift of compassion and he effortlessly made connections with sincerity and genuine interest with those in our community and visitors to the church.
I believe Chuck could perform in any pastoral role and help a church achieve its ministry goals. Chuck is very loyal and will continue to strive to reach the goals set, even in the face of much adversity. So, if you’re looking for someone who will stay the course through the ups and downs and help build a strong and vibrant program, I can whole-heartedly recommend Chuck.
–B. Holland
It has been my pleasure to know Chuck for 18 years as a friend, colleague and as his supervisor. I was his conference superintendent for 12 years. I have walked with him through some trying church experiences but he has always served with integrity. Chuck loves people and wants the best for them regarding their faith journey. He is deeply committed to communicating the Gospel in such away that disciples are formed. I believe that Chuck is teachable and conscientious with any task he is given. I also find Chuck deeply loyal and willing to hang in there when others would have given up.
Chuck has a strong and healthy marriage. He and Janis enjoy ministry, the church community and their family. You would find them thoughtful and caring members of the faith community.
–M. Novak
It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to recommend Dr. Charles Wahlstrom to you. I believe that Dr. Wahlstrom (or “Chuck” as he is affectionately known) is an ideal candidate for a position involving human connection and care within the church. I have personally been on the receiving end of Chuck’s gift for extending a warm welcome to church newcomers. When my wife and I first attended the church at which Chuck was the senior pastor, he invited us to connect and fellowship on a more personal level over a meal at his home. We knew then, and have enjoyed since, Chuck’s heart for welcoming and fostering connection among the body of Christ.
In addition, at Chuck’s invitation I pursued and attended a membership class which he gave that ultimately led to my decision to become an official member of the church. I felt valued as an individual person throughout the process, and never once felt like a number. My questions were addressed in a respectful and contemplative manner, and I was approached with a unique type of interest and care that can only be described as a reflection of our Lord. I have Chuck to thank for this.
I have also had the privilege of learning and growing spiritually under Chuck’s wise guidance and teaching, and consider him a spiritual mentor to this day. He has a true gift for communicating the Gospel of Christ in an effective and winsome way. I appreciate not only the rigorous scholarship of his teaching, but also the sensitivity and compassion of his delivery. It is clear that his sermons and lessons flow out of an authentic personal relationship with Christ.
I can assure you that Chuck also has a genuine heart for church growth and development. His education and diverse experience have equipped him with a wealth of knowledge about church dynamics and the essential principles of growth. He is highly qualified to innovate and improve opportunities for connection within the church. I can personally attest to Chuck’s proficiency at connecting people with ministry opportunities, encouraging the church to grow in spiritual depth. I have also witnessed his ability to spearhead new creative methods of outreach to the local community.
–R. Price
I believe that Chuck brings 4 special abilities to any position of ministry:
1. A sincere, persevering love for Jesus and God’s people. Chuck and I both enjoyed long ministries in rural Nebraska in the early years of our ministry. We served congregations of people who were deeply connected to one another and deeply connected to Christ. Our churches had enjoyed vital ministry for over 100 years and still are vibrant today. We both received more than we gave, learning the depths of the faith from a generation of believers who endured the Great Depression, multiple farm crises, and multiple crop failures. We also learned to integrate new people into these long established family churches. Chuck has reflected this same love, care, and wisdom through many years of very challenging ministry.
2. A deep intellectual understanding of the faith and what is essential for ministry. Chuck knows the Bible, trusts its truth, and lives by it. I have seen Chuck endure great victories and crushing challenges, but his faith in the word and the faithfulness of God has held firm. He and Jan have so much to offer people who are trying to connect with God’s grace as they navigate the challenges of life. In his doctoral studies he has also been equipped with a vast number of tools to help the church minister to its potential. Chuck would welcome visitors and new church members, give them great grounding in the faith and the Evangelical Covenant Church, and help them identify and use their spiritual giftedness.
3. A thoughtful team player who will go the extra mile for those he ministers with. Chuck is skilled at training and developing leaders and helping them learn to work together in submission to one another. He listens and adjusts to the people and situations he is working with. He knows when to adjust vision rather than push people into ministry situations programs that do not fit them. He also would be excellent at listening to the rest of the pastoral team, responding to their input and vision. I would love to see Chuck in position to serve as an associate in a healthy pastoral team after so many years of being the lead pastor with very limited pastoral support.
4. An excellent teacher, preacher, and small group leader. Chuck has the skills and heart to communicate the faith and truth in settings large and small. And he teaches humbly and relationally in a way that draws people together.
In addition Chuck has an awesome wife who has always been a ministry partner. Jan is a very gifted musician and worship leader. Chuck is a gifted musician as well, so they bring that dimension easily to any setting.
–H. Alan Eagle
I witnessed and benefited from your passion for raising up men and women who love Jesus and have a passion to serve Him. I remember several of the annual Board retreats that included devotion, recommitment to Christ, and training to serve our congregation during the coming year. Through your caring encouragement and teaching you developed several people who could lead the church and reach out to include others. Those people continue to serve Christ today in leadership roles at other churches. Your preaching and teaching touched and transformed lives in our congregation. Your sermons brought comfort, hope, and conviction to live for Christ. You were used by Christ to mature people in their faith, to honor Christ, and reach out to others in His name.
-D. Listoe
Charles Wahlstrom is an immensely talented individual who I have been associated with for the past ten years. His integrity, morale compass and professional behaviors/conduct are impeccable. “Chuck” is a natural leader! He is gifted in dealing with different populations, evidences superb collaboration techniques, and is excellent at motivating individuals and teams. His leadership style is characterized by consistency, sensitivity and effectiveness. Chuck’s hallmark is leading by example.
Chuck achieves the perfect balance between demanding taskmaster and supportive, patient mentor. He intrinsically knows how to reduce complex tasks and subjects into teachable moments that facilitate understanding, learning and achieving. His ability to work with anyone, in a host of environments or scenarios is second to none. Additionally, the values, norms and standards he embraces make him an ideal role model.
Through quality communication skills, Chuck brings out the best in individuals; he invests in others. His intense desire to learn and educate himself is transmitted to those around him. To say that Chuck is innovative, motivated or highly skilled are understatements; he is brilliant, a superb pastor and exceptional communicator.
I would seize the opportunity to hire Chuck, immediately. The quality, talent and ability he brings would allow him to contribute immeasurably to any team.
–Robert J. Corliss
You are a mentor of new believers and pastors. You encouraged [name] to pursue his calling as a preacher and teacher. You provide him the opportunity to develop as a preacher and a teacher.
-C. Ptak
Chuck has the ability to bring harmony to opposing sides.
-K. Musselman
Able to listen, taking in what is being discussed and help guide the group to get beyond dialogue and lengthy discussion to move to formulating and implementing a plan of action.
Chuck remains calm while under fire. I have been in meetings with you that I know were very uncomfortable for you, and yet you remained non-defensive. Your non-combative attitude helps to facilitate reconciliation and progress. When in these difficult situations, you come across to me as being humble and listening to the other people involved, seeking to learn from them and hoping to grow through the process. I think that you model real Christian maturity in that regard.
good at encouraging others to step up to the plate, and encourage and enable them to do more than they thought possible.
-D. Roe
Guided us through working together with us to pull of a successful conference that the denomination are still taking about. Everyone learned that even though we were small we could accomplish great things if we worked together.
-B. Stout
You brought your knowledge and offered other sources as well for us to research. You did not try to control the situation but rather encouraged the board to explore and evaluate the information and our choices.
–G. Gohrick
Motivation and Encouragement in getting people to develop, learn and take responsibility to achieve objectives. Continued to keep everyone focused, encouraged and motivated to reach a consensus and a decision of the type of Small Group ministry that would best fulfill the needs analysis the Church membership had indicated.
-R. Smith
You are able to listen, taking in what is being discussed and help guide the group to get beyond dialogue and lengthy discussion to move to formulating and implementing a plan of action. I think of the time you attended the Vision Team’s near final meeting as our new pastor. You were able to listen and assess where we were as a committee with the vision to action. Your questions helped guide the group to closure and move to begin the plan for implementing small group ministry at ECC. Because we tend to move slowly and think very critically, this committee could still be thinking and discussing the best way to start small group ministry even today. We needed someone to direct us to action.
–S. Fandel
You have many good ideas accompanied by a "can do" attitude. Within congregational life, you offer unique ideas to try in the areas of outreach and new ministry opportunities. You encourage people to try the new ideas, and not to give up on a first endeavor. You get policies changed that will say "yes" and help to persuade "nay" say-ers also to say, "yes."
-JPW
I will never forget how you led our church, both leadership and congregation through the process of forming a 2020 Vision. You taught us to dream big and with prayer and hard work move that vision to reality. You helped our Church develop a more visible presence in our community. From reader boards at the ball field, a booth at the community fair, a float in the parade, staff appreciation at the local school, an annual service at the state park, serving at the Senior Center, providing a meeting place for community groups like the Boy Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous, Harvest Share food bank, and providing a safe place on Halloween through Trunk or Treat. Through these ministries and more, we presented Christ’s love and grace to the community. You moved us from vision to reality in property acquisition for a new facility that would be more centrally located, and would have the capabilities to serve the greater community as an emergency shelter. As a result, we would be better equipped to serve in times of crisis and need, as well as bring Christ’s love and light to our community.
–D. Listoe
I think of how personable, caring, giving and loving you have been ever since you were a very young child. You were always ready to talk to everyone, young or old. Grandma always thought you would be a pastor. When you were born, I remember how Rev. John Nilson prayed that you would grow up to be an Upstanding, Understanding, Uplifting young man. You have become that and more!
-JKW
Top qualities: Personable, Expert, High Integrity
Rev. Dr. Chuck Wahlstrom is a gifted minister of the Gospel. His many years of study, preaching, and pastoring have molded him into a dynamic and effective preacher and teacher of the Word of God. Pastor Wahlstrom is also very effective at helping his congregation members find their gifts and encouraging them to service to the church. In addition, Pastor Chuck is spiritually insightful counselor to his flock and excellent at conflict resolution. I have always appreciated and benefitted from his constant encouragement to myself and others in many aspects of life. Pastor Chuck is a man of integrity, a lover of God and His people, and a very devoted husband and father. I would most definitely recommend him as a pastor, preacher and teacher.
–Lori C.
Pastor Charles Wahlstrom has been a colleague of mine for many years. I have interacted with him in a number of ways. As a fellow pastor, as a young man who was seeking to go into ministry, and I was privileged to officiate his wedding. So we have discussed ministry, theology, and what it means to be a dad and a husband over the years. I know he and his wife, Jan, well.
He is never has been one to seek attention. He has fulfilled every ministry that he was involved with in a humble way. He is a supportive and encouraging man. He also has a good sense of humor, which one needs in ministry.
His relationship with the Lord is healthy and has always been a priority in his life. He reads, prays, and talks with others on what it means to love and follow Jesus. As a pastor he is very approachable. People of all ages feel safe when they spend some time with him. Relationally he is gifted. He doesn't try to be the life of the party, nor disappear when he is around people. He fits in and is able to talk and share with any type of person.
Theologically he is solid. As a teacher he is insightful, practical, and speaks from what the text states. He is a committed student of the Word. He has strong verbal skills, whether he is speaking to hundreds of people or a small group. Administratively he is very strong. One look at his past ministries tells you that. Thoughtful, open to others, works well with a team, and will share his views in a way that invites discussion.
My observation of Pastor Wahlstrom, is that he has, and always will be a blessing to the people he serves. He and Jan are loved by all who have been encouraged in their walk with the Lord by them. He has been an encouragement to me on several occasions in life. If I could boil down his desire in ministry, it is summed up in Colossians 1: 28-29. Therefore, I highly recommend Charles Wahlstrom.
–Pastor William Mueller
A caring, spiritual, shepherd-leader, spiritually challenging preacher/teacher of God’s Word, discerning equipper and encourager, and a persistent, long-suffering, visionary leader committed to win-win solutions to competing visions.
–RBS, University of Michigan