Destiny and Decision

The Molding of a Minister in the Twentieth Century

Fred R. Zimmerman

In this autobiography of a Christian minister, Fred R. Zimmerman tells the story of his life on the stage of world events that affected him either directly or indirectly. Born to be a minister, he first became aware of his calling early on in his boyhood. Orphaned at eighteen months during the flu pandemic of 1918–19, he was fortunate enough to be adopted by a childless couple. In their capacity as committed church-going Christians, he was wisely nurtured in his mission to become a minister. During his college and seminary years, crises accompanying this destiny began to arise. As his ministry developed through the years, destiny and decision became the yoke (Matthew 11:27–30) under which he exercised the burden of being a pastor. This is therefore a story not primarily of a person but of a God-appointed ministry.

Hamilton Books

Pages: 726 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-6074-7 • Paperback • August 2013 • $81.99 • (£63.00)

978-0-7618-6075-4 • eBook • August 2013 • $77.50 • (£60.00)

Subjects: Religion / Christian Ministry / General, Biography & Autobiography / Religious, Religion / Christian Ministry / Discipleship, Religion / Christian Ministry / Preaching, Religion / Christianity / Protestant

Destiny and Decision

The Molding of a Minister in the Twentieth Century

Paperback

eBook

Summary

In this autobiography of a Christian minister, Fred R. Zimmerman tells the story of his life on the stage of world events that affected him either directly or indirectly. Born to be a minister, he first became aware of his calling early on in his boyhood. Orphaned at eighteen months during the flu pandemic of 1918–19, he was fortunate enough to be adopted by a childless couple. In their capacity as committed church-going Christians, he was wisely nurtured in his mission to become a minister. During his college and seminary years, crises accompanying this destiny began to arise. As his ministry developed through the years, destiny and decision became the yoke (Matthew 11:27–30) under which he exercised the burden of being a pastor. This is therefore a story not primarily of a person but of a God-appointed ministry.

Details

Hamilton Books

Pages: 726 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-6074-7 • Paperback • August 2013 • $81.99 • (£63.00)

978-0-7618-6075-4 • eBook • August 2013 • $77.50 • (£60.00)

Subjects: Religion / Christian Ministry / General, Biography & Autobiography / Religious, Religion / Christian Ministry / Discipleship, Religion / Christian Ministry / Preaching, Religion / Christianity / Protestant

Author

Fred R. Zimmerman served as an active parish minister of the United Church of Christ in Ohio for sixty-two years. During the middle of his professional career, he filled a significant post on the administrative staff of Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio. A preacher and teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Zimmerman has been an ardent advocate of life as affirmed by Jesus in St. John 10:10 (“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”).

Table of Contents

Chapter One
Birth, Adoption, Schooling in Owosso, Michigan
1917-1935

Chapter Two
Elmhurst College, Eden Theological Seminary
1935-1941

Chapter Three
West Salem, Ohio, St. John’s Switzer Ministry
1941-1954

Chapter Four
Emmanuel Church—Sandusky, Ohio
1954-1962

Chapter Five
Defiance College, Ohio, Ministry
1962-1975

Chapter Six
College Hill-St. John’s Baseline, Bloomville, Ohio
1975-1987

Chapter Seven
Sylvania, Ohio, Retirement Ministry
1987-2003

Postscript

References

Index

Destiny and Decision

The Molding of a Minister in the Twentieth Century

Fred R. Zimmerman

Destiny and Decision

The Molding of a Minister in the Twentieth Century

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