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Books, Radio, Facebook Help Saddle Brook Pastor Reach Beyond Church Walls

FAIR LAWN, N.J. – Christopher Wolf of Fair Lawn has written two books about faith. 

Christopher Wolf of Fair Lawn is pastor of the First Reformed Church of Saddle Brook.

Christopher Wolf of Fair Lawn is pastor of the First Reformed Church of Saddle Brook.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kidd Ferguson

People from across the country call into his radio show to make prayer requests. And he regularly makes announcements on Facebook inviting anyone who wants to talk to call or visit with him.

The pastor says it is all part of his effort to reach people who need help and encouragement.

“At the heart of this is the desire to see people healed and whole,” said Wolf, who for the past six years has served as pastor of the First Reformed Church of Saddle Brook.

Wolf worked as a newspaper reporter and in state government and public relations for years before being called to ministry, he said.

When ministry first came to mind, he thought, “Isn’t that for other people?” he said. But the more he pondered it, the more sense it made. “I love the Bible. I love taking care of people. I am pretty good at public speaking and leadership … I was like, wait a minute, this is all ministry-related,” he said.

For Wolf, one of his favorite parts about being a pastor just miles from where he was raised in Fair Lawn, is that “it has allowed me to reach out to people I’ve grown up with,” he said.

Wolf said he is committed to meeting people where they are. “It doesn’t have to be in your face. It doesn’t have to be, come hear sermons every week. I have believed for a while now, that yes I work in a church, that is a lot of where the ministry happens, but I bring Christ wherever I go,” he said.

Sometimes that is to a Panera restaurant, the Dutch House Tavern in Fair Lawn, a radio studio in Bergenfield, or an emergency room, he said.

Through his outreach efforts Wolf has connected with many who have shared their heartaches with him. He has been in living rooms when marriages are falling apart, and in hospitals after heart attacks and to baptize stillborn babies, he said.

“There is a lot of pain and suffering that I am aware of that I can’t always immediately solve. Sometimes I just have to sit with people,” he said.

As hard as that is, for Wolf it is worth it.

“For me ministry has always been, where is their hurt? I want to bring healing there. Where is there suffering? I want to stop that. Where is there despair? I want to bring hope to that,” he said.

For more information on Wolf, his books and radio program, click HERE.

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