Meet the Skaftuns! Behind the scenes Norm Skaftun says he likes to stay in the background, “hiding in the weeds.” But his “yes” to God’s call places him in front of groups of people on a regular basis. It wasn’t really Norm’s choice. He’ll tell you he has simply tried to obey.
Answering the call has been transforming for him and his wife, Pat. “It’s an adventure,” Norm says. “When you’ve been with the Lord and been used by the Lord, you have contentment and peace and joy. God can use anybody who’ll say ‘yes.’”
Retired, but just getting started Norm was able to retire at 60, but he knew the Lord still had something for him to do. He just wasn’t sure what. “I just started praying,” he said.
Meanwhile, Norm and a friend would meet at the Northshore Senior Center coffee shop to study the Bible together. Norm called it "iron sharpening iron." After a few weeks people started to recognize them, and some asked them what they were doing. “We told them we were studying the Bible together,” Norm said. And once he said that, people started coming up to them and asking them to pray for them, their friends, and relatives. “This one has cancer, that one had just been hospitalized, that one lost a spouse," Norm recalls.
Along the way, Norm and Pat met Cheryl Austin, another Evergreen member. She wanted Norm to meet another friend, an 80-year old retired pastor from Bothell who ministered to many of the residents in the assisted living facilities that surround the Northshore Senior Center.
From chairs to chaplain Norm introduced himself to the pastor one day before a worship service at one of the facilities. Norm said he just came to be help in any way he could – setting up chairs, helping people with their walkers, that sort of thing. He thought that’s what his ministry would entail. It only took a few weeks before the pastor asked Norm if he would preach. He continued to ask for a couple of months.
“I finally said ‘yes’,” Norm said. “And then I thought, ‘what am I doing?’” He fasted and prayed for three days. The next thing he knew, Norm said he was preaching to groups of seniors and presenting the gospel message on a regular basis.
The retired pastor died a year and a half later, and Norm became the chaplain for scores of senior citizens in Bothell.
“Some 80-year-olds fall asleep when I’m preaching,” Norm laughs. “I should have a ministry in sleep disorders.” The man who originally thought he would just set up chairs now continues to have a lasting impact on the Bothell senior community, and on the lives of many people beyond Bothell.
Just an hour before the interview for this story, Norm was leading a memorial service for one of the residents at the assisted living facilities. She had recommitted herself to the Lord just three months ago, Norm said.
“We’re just so full of joy today to have 55 people come to this service and hear the gospel message. Her kids don’t know Jesus yet, but they heard about Him today.”
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