Practicing Presence: Nathan Hoff on Stability, Community, and a Rule of Life in Los Angeles (Part 1) | PT 147

What if the cure for modern ministry restlessness is staying put? In this episode, Pastor Nathan Hoff joins Tara Beth Leach and Mark Quanstrom to share his story of 20 years at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro, California. From a childhood marked by constant moves to forming a residential community in an unrooted city, Nathan reflects on the beauty of long obedience, shared rhythms, and a “rule of life” shaped by prayer and presence. 🎙️ In This Episode:Growing up in a pastor’s family that moved 15 times before he turned 30The call to ministry at age eight—and how grace reshaped his vocationHow generational faith shaped Nathan’s theology of rootednessCreating a parish community with shared rhythms of prayer and lifeWhy stability is countercultural—and deeply spiritual—in urban ministry ⏱️ Timestamps: 04:00 – From constant moving to a life of rooted ministry 07:00 – A childhood call to ministry and early formation 10:00 – Discovering Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro 13:00 – The influence of charismatic and sacramental renewal movements 17:00 – Generational faith and the grace that carries through families 20:00 – “On the block”: creating a shared residential community 24:00 – Rule of life, rhythms of prayer, and the call to rootedness 🔗 Resources & Links:Learn more about Trinity Lutheran Church → trinitysanpedro.orgExplore The Rule of Life and the Common Way → trinitysanpedro.org/ruleoflifeListen to Low in the Water (from the Eugene Peterson Center) → petersoncenter.org/low-in-the-water-podcastFollow Nathan Hoff’s writing → nathanhoff.substack.comExplore reflections on pastoral life → practicingbenediction.substack.com In a world that prizes movement and novelty, Pastor Nathan Hoff reminds us that faithfulness often looks like staying put—rooting deeply in a place, a people, and the daily rhythms of grace.