Sunday marked the first time in two years that Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Maple Valley had a permanent head pastor.

Shepherd of the Valley, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, has gone through multiple interim pastors as the congregation searched for the right fit.

Pastor Andy Arnold and his wife, Laura and their 2-year-old daughter, Katrina, arrived in Maple Valley last week from Kalispell, Mont., where Arnold was the associate pastor at a Lutheran church.

Andy and Laura also enjoy skiing and hiking as well as traveling — they just returned from a trip to Hawaii. Arnold is a self-described technology geek. He said he enjoys exploring ways to use technology to facilitate relationships.

The interview process began when a friend of Arnold called and asked if they could submit his name as a candidate for the position at Shepherd of the Valley. Arnold said that whenever anyone asks him that kind of question he never says no.

“We weren’t necessarily aiming to come to Seattle or Maple Valley,” Arnold said. “It seemed like a good fit with the congregation and a good place to raise a family.”

Arnold grew up in Ohio and Pittsburgh and comes from a Lutheran background — his father was a Lutheran pastor as well.

“I’d say that has less to do with it then people might think,” Arnold said. “I’ve never felt like I’m following in my dad’s footsteps.”

Arnold began his career in ministry working at various Bible camps and even considered pursuing becoming an executive director at a camp. Ultimately he decided to pursue a masters degree which then led him to leading congregations. Arnold also is involved with the ELCA triennial youth gathering that draws 35,00 students, leading the communications and media team.

“I didn’t necessarily plan on being in congregations, but as I’ve been in them I’ve really done well in them,” Arnold said.

Arnold earned his masters of divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago in 1998 after which he took a position at a church in Alaska before he and his wife moved to Kalispell.

“One of the things I really like about pastoral ministry is the myriad of things you get to be involved with,” Arnold said. “Preaching, teaching, volunteering, community care…the generalist nature of being a pastor.”

A key part of the church going forward will be learning and discerning how the church fits in the community and living out the mission statement to be a place that models God’s love for all people, according to Arnold.

“I think it’s refocusing and learning to love the community of Christ here and the community at large,” Arnold said.

Arnold said he and his wife are looking forward to the chance to be closer to metropolitan areas after living in remote locations for so long, and the chance to be close to Andy’s brother, who also lives in the Seattle area.

“It’s the first place I’ve ever moved to where I already knew people,” Arnold said.

Arnold’s goal is to stabilize things and then help the church tap into its strengths, like it’s long history of community service.

“I think Shepherd of the Valley is primed to grow,” Arnold said.