Neligh Pastor Celebrates 25 Years Of Being Ordained

The Kuhfal Family (L-R) Matt & Christy (daughter) Graves, Pastor David & Tami Kuhfal, Rebekah Kuhfal (daughter), and Jonathon Eaton (Rebekah's fiance).

A quarter century of spiritual leadership by a Neligh pastor was celebrated over the weekend.

After Sunday’s service, the Grace Lutheran congregation spent the day reliving the memories that Pastor David Kuhfal has brought to the church the last 22 years. His dedication to the Christian church has shown throughout each year after he was ordained and will undoubtedly continue.

Pastor Kuhfal’s journey was certainly a roller coaster as he explained that becoming a pastor did not always come confidently. However, he explained that one summer changed that all. “I worked at a Christian summer camp for a couple years teaching kids about God and what He has done for us. Just being able to see the difference it made in their lives made me want to do that full-time.” After finishing college and marrying his college sweetheart Tami, Pastor Kuhfal began the journey that brought him to small-town Nebraska.

His mission to become a pastor began when the couple packed up and headed to St. Louis, Missouri where he continued his schooling at Concordia Seminary, which then led them to Michigan for a vicarage internship. Their journey was long, but you could tell that Pastor Kuhfal did not regret a single moment.

Although the thought of settling down in Nebraska never crossed their minds, their second calling to the Grace Lutheran Church in Neligh transformed their future for the better. “We thought in no way we would accept it because we wanted to go further west at that time, not back this way. But, we came to check it out, and it just seemed like the perfect fit.” And this decision could not have been made any better for the community and the Kuhfal family.

Not only Neligh, but surrounding communities throughout Nebraska have also benefited from the devoutness from this veteran pastor. For several years, Pastor Kuhfal has served as the Neligh Ministerial Association President in which he has helped young members of the church choose the same path he chose twenty-five years ago. Three years ago, Pastor Kuhfal also had the honor of being elected as the Vice President for the Nebraska District of Ministerial Association.

Despite all of his accomplishments, Pastor Kuhfal stays humble and remembers what is most rewarding to him throughout his small-town, pastoring experience. “I like being in a small town, where your ministry is that you know everyone and their families well. And you see them on a regular basis. I feel like I can be apart of their lives,” he stated. Pastor Kuhfal proceeds to share his faith throughout the community and especially loves working with the children at the after-school programs. Even after twenty-five years, his inspiration to share with the youth has never diminished.

​From California to Missouri to Colorado, the Kuhfal family finally found their way to what they now call home, Neligh, Nebraska. Looking back on their past, Pastor Kuhfal chuckled when he recalled a certain moment during one of their many moves. “On our way from San Diego to St. Louis, we drove through Nebraska and my wife and I looked around and said, ‘Lord, anywhere but Nebraska!’” But certainly there was no better place for the Kuhfal’s to grow in their faith.