Pastor Andrew Schroer: Featured Expert Interview

Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a Lutheran pastor for over 15 years. He has served congregations in Mexico, Florida and Texas. He writes a syndicated devotional column for three newspapers in Texas (The Victoria Advocate, The Jackson County Herald Tribune and The Bowie County Citizens Tribune). He is also a contributing editor for the national Christian magazine Forward in Christ. Much of his writing can be found on his blog 364 Days of Thanksgiving.com. His first book, 364 Days of Thanksgiving, was released in November of 2015. Pastor Schroer and his wife Clariza have two young children, Isabel and Andy.

 

Carol Round: Featured Expert Interview

I am a transplanted Okie. I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. However, my parents, who were originally from the Sooner State, decided to return to their roots in 1969 when I was 16-years-old. Although I have only returned to my birth state three times, Oklahoma people still detect a bit of Cajun accent. I think that’s funny because they don’t think they have an accent.

No matter where I’m living—I’ve moved ten times since I graduated from high school—I love being outdoors any time of the year. Whether it is raining, snowing or the sun is shining or hiding behind a cloud, I prefer the beautiful landscape of God’s creation anytime. Being outdoors, even when I’m weeding my flowerbeds, helps me to reconnect with God.

I earned my undergraduate teaching degree in journalism from Oklahoma State University in 1975 and a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in English in 1981, the same year I found out I was pregnant with my second son. I also earned my library media certification in 1993 from Oklahoma University. After 17 years in the high school classroom and 13 as the library media specialist, I retired in 2005, knowing that God had other plans for my life. Did you know you won’t find the word, “retirement,” in the Bible. I call it redirection.

In addition to writing a weekly faith-based column, “A Matter of Faith,” I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren, shooting photos, hiking, working in my yard, reading and studying the Word, volunteering at my church and going on mission trips. My goal in life is to use my gift with words to inspire others. After my column started appearing in newspapers across the state in late 2005, I began to receive invitations to speak before women’s groups. The only “C” I made in college was in speech because I was so nervous I clung to the podium to keep from fainting. Go figure. God does have a sense of humor!

Words are my passion. My weekly columns have been compiled into three volumes. In February 2012, Westbow Press released “Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God,” a short but insightful book to inspire and encourage readers to begin keeping a daily prayer journal as a spiritual discipline to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. A companion workbook, “The 40-Day Challenge,” was released in September 2012 to help readers get started on their prayer journaling journey.