Pastor retires after 50 years of service

Risen Savior Lutheran Church’s John Farden bids farewell as pastor June 30.

After nearly nine years in Tea and 50 years as a pastor, Farden plans to retire for the second time. The first time was after five years in Aberdeen before moving to Sioux Falls in 2010.

Growing up in Detroit, Farden said God showed him in a dream that he should be a preacher.

“In my case the Lord decided he wanted me and he told me about it in a dream that I was preaching. I was about 16. My future was not decided by me,” Farden said. “Since then, he has blessed me in so many ways.”

Farden’s first assignment was at a church in the mountains of Montana in 1969. He spent nine years there before moving to South Dakota, where he became the pastor in Freeman. He spent 26 years in Freeman before going to Aberdeen.

While Sunday will be his last day as pastor in Tea, it probably will not be the last time he is a preacher.