Pilgrim Lutheran Brethren Theology

We are grounded in the Biblical and Reformation truths emphasized by Martin Luther, the great German reformer. 

Our Ministers

Robert Heggestad, Pastor
​Dave Martin, Associate Pastor​
Julie Goodman, Youth Director

Meet Pastor Bob and Family

Pastor Bob has served as the pastor of our church for the past 33 years after moving to Mentor from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He has a deep love for Lutheran Brethren theology and practice.

​Pastor Bob loves to preach and teach out of the Word. He has a special gift of encouraging us in ministry and mission and also enjoys his ministry with all ages of our church family, especially with our kids and teens.

Pastor Bob is one of three brothers and one sister, proud parents of three boys, and a particularly proud grandparent of three grand boys. He figures it is God’s plan that he specialize in threes.

Pastor Bob is married to Jan - together they practice team style leadership in our church. They enjoy hospitality, music, landscaping and decorating. They are active in sports - volleyball, tennis, skating, rollerblading, skiing and basketball (Pastor), and love to travel, hike and explore.

Meet Pastor Dave and Family

Pastor Dave Martin has recently been called to serve as the new Associate Pastor at Pilgrim while he continues attending classes remotely at the Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

Before coming to Pilgrim, Pastor Dave served the local community as a firefighter and paramedic for 20 years. He and his wife Amy have been married for 21 years and they have three children: Rachel, Kyle and Olivia. As a young family, they began attending Pilgrim in 2009 and were welcomed into many ministries of the church including women’s ministry, teaching and preaching. Pastor Dave was called to be an Elder in 2014. It was through these opportunities that God called Pastor Dave to pursue studies at the Seminary and as a family to pastoral ministry. God has given Pastor Dave a heart for God’s people and a love for teaching and preaching God’s Word.

Meet Julie and Family

Julie Goodman is a California girl who now makes her home in Ohio. She is married to an extremely awesome photographer/teacher named Jeff. They live in Mentor with their two teenage boys and one teenage cat. Julie is a graduate of San Jose State University where she earned a teaching degree. After graduating, she spent 3 years working with Cru (a college student ministry). Along with youth ministry, Julie enjoys reading, performing arts, traveling, baking, running, laughing and all sorts of controlled chaos.

Pilgrim Lutheran Brethren Church Theology

Pilgrim conducts its services in an informal style of worship, highlighted by congregational singing, prayer, praise, fellowship, and Bible-based sermons. Pilgrim is committed to missions, evangelism, community involvement, and development of lay people as participants in the spreading of the gospel and in the ministry of the church. Pilgrim emphasizes personal salvation through Jesus Christ, resulting in Godly living which is in harmony with Biblical teachings. 

Pilgrim's theology and practice are traditional and orthodox in nature. We believe in the authority, accuracy and relevancy of the Bible. We teach salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We affirm the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He convicts of sin, leads us to repentance and faith, fills us with God's spirit, and leads us to prayer and contemplation. We are pro-life and traditional marriage in practice. We strongly believe that our faith and belief transforms our way of life! (See the CLBA Statement of Faith.)

Pilgrim has a vibrant, worshipful spirit! We believe that God is in our midst, saving, changing, and healing lives! 

Pilgrim's congregation consists of a unique blend of seniors, singles, families, teens, and children. Our people are warm, caring, and understanding. We come from many different walks of life and out of many different, and at times, difficult situations. We realize that life is a challenge and frequently a struggle; therefore, we emphasize the life-changing power and presence of Jesus Christ.

We look forward to the opportunity to meet you, to introduce you to our people and to Jesus Christ and to welcome you into our fellowship.