Getting to Know Pastor Andrew Camenga

A Conversation on Faith, Technology, and the Journey to Ministry

For the past few months, St. John’s Reformed Church has had the privilege of welcoming Pastor Andrew Camenga as a guest preacher. As our congregation searches for a new pastor, his presence has provided steady guidance, insightful sermons, and thoughtful engagement with our community. But who is Pastor Camenga beyond the pulpit?

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with him over lunch, where we spoke about everything from his childhood fascination with computers to his unexpected path to ministry. Over the course of an hour, we covered technology, theology, problem-solving, and the ever-changing landscape of faith in a digital world.

A Childhood of Curiosity and Tinkering

Pastor Camenga grew up with an innate curiosity about how things worked. His father, also a pastor, encouraged him to take things apart—whether it was an old radio, a car engine, or a malfunctioning appliance—and put them back together. “I never had the fear of breaking something in the process,” he recalled. “That was a great way to learn.”

That hands-on approach carried over into his love of computers, which were just beginning to enter homes in the 1980s. “I was fortunate to grow up at a time when computers weren’t just polished consumer devices,” he said. “You had to understand how they worked in order to use them effectively.”

It was no surprise, then, that he pursued mathematics and physics in college, fascinated by the logic and problem-solving aspects of both disciplines. “I actually started as a physics major,” he said, “and added a math major because I enjoyed solving the challenges that came in those classes.”

The Call to Ministry

Despite his love for numbers and problem-solving, something shifted during his junior year of college. “I started praying through what I was meant to do next,” he shared. “Some of that process was straightforward, and some of it was filled with anguish. But by the time I reached my senior year, I realized I was being called to pastoral ministry.”

Growing up as a pastor’s son, he never expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. “I had the classic attitude—‘Dad’s a pastor, so I’ll never be a pastor,’” he laughed. “But things changed.”

His understanding of ministry wasn’t just about sermons and theological discussions; it was about being part of a community, guiding people, and fostering spiritual growth. “I think God created us, and in saving us, He also recreated us to be connected—not just in a generic sense, but within a specific community,” he said. “Gathering with the same people week after week is part of how He shapes us.”

The Intersection of Faith and Technology

Pastor Camenga’s background in mathematics and problem-solving has also shaped his approach to ministry. After his first pastorate, he served his conference’s Board of Christian Education. As part of that he served as the editor-in-chief of The Helping Hand in Bible Study, a quarterly Christian publication with both national and international distribution. His role wasn’t just editorial—it involved navigating the changing landscape of publishing, from shifting software programs to the rise of the internet.

“We were just starting to see how the internet would change things,” he said. “The tools we used were evolving, and we had to adapt. The transition wasn’t just technological; it was cultural.”

That awareness of technological shifts remains relevant today. We spoke about artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and the increasing disposability of modern devices. “When I was growing up, you could often take things apart, replace a part, and put it back together,” he said. “Now, a lot of things aren’t designed to be fixed—they’re designed to be replaced.”

Does he see that same shift happening in faith communities? “It’s a good question,” he said, pausing. “Technology can be a powerful tool, but it also changes the way we interact. The church is, at its core, a gathering of people—there’s something irreplaceable about physical presence. Online resources can be useful, but they shouldn’t replace the deep, personal connections we build in a faith community.”

The Role of Technology in Ministry

We also discussed how technology fits into the work of modern pastors. Pastor Camenga reflected on the balance of using tools intentionally. “Exactly. And, like the telephone, if you go back 110 years, that was new technology too. It’s just part of life,” he said. “I think the key is using whatever tools you have intentionally.”

He shared an example from a pastor friend of his: “He prays for different groups of people each week. He reaches out to them through text, since that’s how they communicate. It’s a way to connect and get prayer requests. And here’s the really fascinating thing: sometimes, people are more willing to share things via text than they would say face-to-face.”

Family and Shared Faith

Faith has also played a central role in Pastor Camenga’s personal life. His wife, who holds a PhD in mathematics, also grew up in a family of faith—her father was a Seventh Day Baptist minister as well. Though they weren’t in the same age groups for their younger years, they’d been to the same events because  they were part of the same network of churches and finally connected after both of them had established jobs post-college .

“We didn’t spend much time together growing up,” he said, “but when I was pastoring at Adams Center and she was teaching high school in Minnesota, we started to get to know each other more. At the time, she was applying to Cornell for her PhD and I was shifting to a ministry role with the Conference. I’m grateful to God that He brought us together.”

A Thoughtful Approach to Ministry

Pastor Camenga’s approach to ministry is both intellectual and deeply human. He understands the importance of doctrine and theological clarity, but he also recognizes the broader role of the church in serving the community.

When we discussed the importance of connecting people with resources and services, he reflected, “It’s about the church helping people.We should be able to guide people toward what is truly beneficial for them.”

His focus is always on the bigger picture—helping people grow in faith, serve others, and become more deeply connected to God and their community. As Pastor Camenga continues to guide us through this season of transition, we invite you to take the time to get to know him better and engage with him in the coming weeks. Whether through conversation after service or during a fellowship event, we encourage you to connect with him, hear his thoughts, and share in the journey of faith together.

-Article and Illustration by Jordan Rhoat