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Retired? He Hasn't Time For That

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By DEREK MAUL, Tribune correspondent

Published: December 22, 2007

Updated: 12/20/2007 04:55 pm

EDITOR'S NOTE: This an occasional series spotlighting local clergy members. This week's column features the Rev. Linford D. Houck, a minister at Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Road. The church has about 330 members. Services include worship at 8 and 10:30 a.m. and family Bible hour at 9:15 a.m. The church's telephone number is (813) 752-4622.

PLANT CITY - The Rev. Linford D. Houck has lived in Walden Lake since 1993, when he came to lead Plant City's Lord of Life Lutheran congregation. Since retiring in 1997, Houck has held several interim pastoral positions.

This fall he joined the staff at Hope Lutheran Church. Houck's focus will be Hope Lutheran's new Hispanic ministry. Houck's first weekly bilingual service is 12:30 p.m. Jan. 6.

Q. So you're not truly retired?

A. No pastor really should retire. I've never found it in Scripture.

Q. Where have you served as interim pastor?

A. Apostles Lutheran in Brandon, the Lutheran Church of the Cross in St. Pete and then Atonement Lutheran in Wesley Chapel. Atonement had been close to closing, so I stayed three years. The Lord blessed the work and then they called a full-time pastor.

Q. But you never left Plant City?

A. We love Plant City, and we plan to be buried here. Even though I was born in 1931 and raised in Ohio. My dad was a Methodist pastor who served rural parishes.

Q. Where did you go to school?

A. I graduated Lewisburg High School Ohio, attended Ohio State University, graduated Capital University in Columbus Ohio, then completed Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus for my master's in divinity.

Q. When did God call you?

A. As a small boy; I've always loved the Lord. I worked with guided missiles in the Navy, so I went into engineering. Then the American Automobile Association hired me as community consultant in the '60s. I eventually became a vice president with some 30 Ohio offices before retiring.

Q. God kept calling?

A. God is like the hound of heaven; I couldn't resist anymore. So I took early retirement to go to seminary - I was 56. The AAA board opened a retirement window. The chairman said, "We know God is calling you!"

They vested me with full retirement and I left as if I'd retired at 65. What an answer from God; it just stunned me.

Q. Why Lutheran?

A. I married Millicent "Millie" Walters in 1960. I was Methodist; she was United Brethren. A friend invited us to the Lutheran church. We loved it right away and knew we wanted to raise our children there.

Q. What makes you proud of your wife?

A. Her tremendous Christian faith and her partnership over the years.

She's a wonderful mother and grandmother. We have two children, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Q. Seminary at 56?

A. I love to learn. I wanted to get to work so I squeezed a four-year program into three years. Millie and I reopened a church that had been closed, just a block and a half from Ohio State University. We got a good ministry going.

Q. Are you glad you came to Plant City?

A. The people here are genuine, good people. They have an interest in this community and I do, too. They'd just opened the church Lord of Life and I was the first pastor. It was a wonderful experience. We saw healthy growth and we enjoyed the people. It was about 300 members when I retired.

Q. Talk about this Hispanic ministry.

A. I'm learning some Spanish; I'm getting prepared; God is working! We Hope Lutheran are hoping to start Jan. 6. We have a music minister coming in. This is proclaiming the gospel; this is where we are, and we ought to bloom where we're planted.

Q. You sound motivated.

A. The Hispanic ministry is so exciting. We need to reach the lost - that's what I'm called for. I'm just as excited as I was when I went to the seminary.

Q. What Scripture guides you?

A. The Great Commission; Matthew 28:18-20: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." It's all right there.

Q. Are you optimistic?

A. Absolutely; it's the Lord's church. We're in a series of battles and skirmishes, but I know God wins the war.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. Spend time with family, especially my grandchildren. I like to fish - drown worms. Then Millie and I enjoy road trips.

Q. What is the great challenge for this community?

A. Growth, how to deal with the opportunity. Is it going to be maintenance ... or mission?

Is there someone you would like profiled? Call Derek Maul at (813) 245-2304 or e-mail him at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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