Woodbury Pastor Says Farewell

There was once a pumpkin patch at in Woodbury. It never grew. But the church did.

Pastor Ralph Olsen—who founded the church through a grassroots effort in 1980 and watched it expand to one of the biggest Lutheran churches in the state—will give his final sermon this weekend.

While he was at the center of some turmoil at the church about a year ago and went on sabbatical, Olsen talked about the strengths of the congregation, the various outreach programs at King of Kings and his own faith journey during a recent interview with Woodbury Patch.

Olsen, 62, recalled knocking on 3,745 doors in Woodbury as he tried to drum up support for the new church 31 years ago.

“Some days, I felt like the world was Roman Catholic,” he said.

By November 1980, the church held its first worship service at Woodbury High School and the following summer a church a sign—still standing—was posted where the building was eventually built along Radio Drive.

“It was a tiny little thing, but to us, it was home,” Olsen said.

The church grew quickly, Olsen said, and one thing helped give the church an identifying characteristic—the “Norwegian blue” paintjob. He said people would call and ask, “What in heavens did you do to the church?”

“There were rumors that I was color blind,” Olsen said with a laugh. “And then there were the jokes: It’s the Smurf church. But the blue became the calling card. We’d say, ‘Blue church; Radio Drive,’ and they knew where to go.”

In 2006 the church added the large brick structure and it’s now home to 3,500-4,000 worshipers. But the “heart of the congregation” hasn’t changed over the years, Olsen said, and still shares the Bible's message through mission trips and baptisms and partnerships with a congregation in Africa.

Olsen has been a member of the Woodbury Lions, , and the Woodbury Area Clergy. In 1993, he was chosen by the as Citizen of the Year.

That community involvement was once reflected by . He enjoys shopping there, and a King of Kings member got him a Walgreens vest to wear.

There have been happy and sad times at King of Kings, Olsen said, noting the 1,000-plus baptisms and 225 weddings he’s presided over—and nearly 160 funerals.

“It’s not just a job or a career, it’s family,” he said.

As he leaves King of Kings, Olsen said he plans to start his own company and work to raise funds for nonprofits and do motivational speaking. He’s also taking a class to become a life coach.

“Whatever I do, I’ll always be a pastor in my heart,” he said.

Olsen grew up in Chicago, where his pastor encouraged him to enter the clergy. But it wasn’t a straight path to the pulpit—he remembered telling a professor at seminary that he wouldn’t be back after one summer. The professor disagreed.

Olsen did, of course, and he asked his professor how he knew he would return.

“I saw it in your eyes,” Olsen recalled his professor telling him.

Olsen will share his final sermon at worship services on June 4-5. A community celebration will be held from 2-5 p.m. June 26 at Axel’s at Prestwick. The community is invited to attend the reception. More information is available by calling 651-735-1321.