The Rev. John Bussman at work in his office.

At just 27 years of age, John Bussman might seem a bit young to be standing at the pulpit in front of the 900-member St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. But, though many of his congregation have a few decades on him experience-wise, the young reverend is proving a good fit for the century-old church.

“It’s definitely been a smooth transition on my end,” Bussman, who took the post approximately a year and a half ago fresh out of seminary, said. “It’s definitely better than being in the classroom.”

Bussman is a 2004 graduate of Cullman High School, and though he actually attended St. Paul’s as a child, noted he never thought seriously about his faith until the latter part of his high school years.

“I went like any typical high school kid, about once a month, though I never did really know the congregation here,” he said. “But, it was at that point that I started really reading the Bible and not being afraid of it.”

While studying chemistry and medicine at Birmingham-Southern College, Bussman said he felt a pull on his heart that he needed to do something else with his like. Though he enjoyed the subject matter, Bussman notes something changed in his spirit and he knew it wasn’t the track God wanted for his life.

“I was passionate about it, but for the wrong reasons, as I quickly figured out,” he said. “I thought sports medicine was a way I could help people, but I realized I wasn’t happy.”

He soon transferred to the private, Christian university of Concordia in Nebraska, where he found a passion for ancient languages thanks to the school’s acclaimed Greek and Hebrew under-grad studies program. Bussman noted that aspect of his studies really made the Bible come alive, as he dug deeper into the Hebrew and Greek texts that later Bible translations were based on.

“I remember I went and I sat in on a Hebrew class, and languages really came easy to me, and I actually knew what I was doing,” he said. “Obviously, if you’re going to teach the truth, you need to know what the text really says. Like, when someone comes into my office with a question about a passage, we can dig into what the original words were to get a clearer picture of what the text says.”

By the time he reached the point of having to take his entry exams, Bussman said he felt like he had a good grasp of the Bible — but the testing process was a nice reminder that there’s always more to learn.

“I learned really quickly not to go in thinking you know everything there is to know, because you don’t,” he laughed. “There were people and places quizzed in there that I hadn’t even heard of. I passed, fortunately, but it was definitely an eye-opening experience.”

Though his Cullman posting marks Bussman’s first official foray as a reverend, he spent a year stationed in Tullahoma, Tenn. as part of an internship training program with the Lutheran Church.

“The guy I was matched up with, Marty Nutter, was a perfect fit and we still keep in touch and talk every few days,” Bussman said. “From day one, that solidified what I wanted to do. They had a smaller congregation, around 280 members, but they all loved one another. They didn’t do handshakes, they wanted to give you a hug. It really showed  me how a church can love one another and care for one another.”

Following his time in Tullahoma, Bussman eventually found his way back to seminary, which is where he joined the running with several other young and  seasoned reverends as the church prepared to fill open positions across the nation.

Though he wasn’t sure he’d even be called up, and expected to be on the other side of the country if he did receive a nod, Bussman said he was shocked to learn his journey would end where it began: Cullman.

Upon returning home to take the reins at St. Paul’s, Bussman said he tried to bring back the experiences and knowledge he’d gathered in his studies from Nebraska and beyond.

“What’s important to me is how the body of the church can function when it’s functioning properly,” he said. “It’s like what Paul said, not all of the body is an eye. If everyone were an eye, where would the ear be? You need everyone working in an area where God has placed them. Even if you think you’re just the baby toe nail, try pulling out your toe nail and see how much it hurts. You need every part of the body.”

Bussman noted one of the most surprising things he’s found since taking over at St. Paul’s is the impact the private St. Paul’s School has had on him and the church, as an outreach and ministry tool within the community.

“I’m just amazed every time I walk in there, and whenever I need a blessing I head over to the school and just visit with this kids,” he said. “Every time I go over there I see what I missed out on when I was in school, and the benefit of not having 30 kids in a class. We sometimes have the choir come over and sing during service and it’s just great.”