Rev. Jef Olson

Pastor

Pastor Jeffrey L. (Jef) Olson was appointed to the Buffalo United Methodist Church in June of 2008 by Bishop Sally Dyck. As the lead pastor, it is his privilege and responsibility to be about the business of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. At BUMC, we live out this general church mission statement by serving people for Jesus Christ so that we all may know joy.

Just as John Wesley espoused a path to Christian Perfection marked by a “holiness of heart and of life,” Jef’s theology advocates a healthy balance between tending to one’s personal spiritual wellness and sharing one’s gifts and graces with others both near and far. He accepts God’s grace by faith, but agrees with James that “faith without works is dead.”

A couple of favorite biblical references are found in Paul’s writings. The first is Ephesians 5.1 where Paul encourages others: For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. The other is from Colossians 3.12-17 and gives voice to the vision I hold for all who understand and accept Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord. As God’s chosen ones, living and holy…

Jef is married to Mary Jo (Bertschi) and they have two adult children, Chad (Brooke) and Leah (Luke) Fritze, and three grandchildren, ages 13, 9 and 5. Much of Jef and Mary Jo’s free time involves spending time at the cabin with family.

An ordained deacon and elder in the Minnesota Annual Conference, Jef received his Master of Divinity degree from The Divinity School of Duke University, having matriculated from Winona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He has also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary for his work on congregational revitalization.

The ordained ministry was not Jef’s original vocational path. After nearly twenty years operating a small-town family business, God’s call to ordained ministry was clearly discerned by Jef and affirmed by the church. As a United Methodist, ordained ministry means taking a vow of itineracy which includes the reality of “starting over” in whatever community a pastor is serving. Therefore, in the past twenty years the Olson family has lived in Winona, MN, Durham, NC, and Stewartville, MN before moving to Buffalo.

Jef has a long history of volunteer and civic involvement: volunteer firefighter, volunteer EMT, city councilman, Community Club, Lions Clubs, global and local mission coordination, member of board of directors for care centers in two different cities, and an education advisory board member in a public school setting.