Pastor Carl Sitterud watches over his flock
| Pastor Carl Sitterud conducts the Sunday Service at the Desert Edge Christian Chapel. |
Carl Sitterud was born and raised in Huntington, the son of Lorraine and Douglas Sitterud. His childhood was just like everyone else’s in Emery County. Struggle a little, laugh a lot, and live life unfettered by the worries of those in the big city. The only bump in the road was when his father was killed in a mining accident when Carl was just 13 years old.
The next few years in his young life would find him searching for something. He wasn’t exactly sure what, but he knew it was out there. Carl tried many things, some not so promising. There came a point in his life where he was living in Huntington Canyon in a tent and wondering what he was going to do. He felt very lost, empty and incomplete.
During the months while living in a tent, an acquaintance from a Christian Missionary Alliance church came and told Carl of his own relationship with Jesus Christ. “God loves you,” the friend told him. But, Carl was not listening.
It was during this time of living in the tent, when Carl came home and found a note tied to the tent flap. It was left by a Sheriff’s deputy and stated there was a job for him at the Sheriff’s Office if he wanted it. “Maybe this is what I am looking for,” thought Carl. So, he went to work for Sheriff Guymon in hopes of getting his life in order.
In time while working for the Sheriff’s Office, another employee who happened to be a Baptist, shared his faith with Carl. “I knew what he was saying was the truth, but out of fear, I didn’t do anything with it,” said Carl. “In I Corinthians 1:18 it says ‘the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God.'”
When the job at the Sheriff’s Office was not the answer for him, he changed jobs and moved to Grand Junction, Colo. A friend who was already living there told Carl he could get him a job. He remained determined to get his life in order. With every renewed determination to get his life in order, he became more out of order.
On a weekend visit to Emery County, he met Jodi Jensen and asked her out on a date. She was home for the weekend from Logan where she had been living. She was attending a Southern Baptist Church there. The two had dinner together at Pizza Hut. During dinner, Jodi was telling him of God’s love for him.
Upon returning to Grand Junction, he and his friends were talking and philosophizing about who God is. They decided to go to the Assembly of God Church which one of the friend’s mom attended. “My first sentence was, yeah, but I don’t have anything to wear,” said Carl.
| Pastor Carl Sitterud speaks his message to those at the Desert Edge Christian Chapel. |
His friend told him not to worry. “Do you really believe the God who created all things cares what you wear to church. God looks on the inside, man looks on the outside,” said the friend. So the following Sunday, all the buddies went to the worship service.
“I had never been inside a church building where I didn’t know anyone,” said Carl. “Everyone was so friendly, hugging me and asking if they could do anything for me. I felt very uncomfortable because of what my life had become and their warmth made that go away.”
As they sat in the balcony, Carl said an incredible peace settled on him. “I finally knew the peace of God,” said Carl. Pastor Cole, who was preaching that Sunday morning, told Carl along with everyone else in the building, they were sinners and could live their entire lives trying to do good, but those things would fall short. “After I read Eph. 2:8-9, I knew what he was talking about,” Carl Said. “I realized the only solution for sin is God’s son, Christ. He is the only provider of the way to God.”
Carl was listening, and believed what was being said. He realized the other three people who had already told him of Jesus’ love were right, and took the first steps to finally putting his life in order. “I finally knew freedom and peace,” Carl stated. He relocated to Logan, got a good job at EA Miller’s packing house, and continued to date Jodi.
Jodi and Carl were married in 1983 and began their life together. They are the parents of three children, Nicole, Kaleb, and McKenzie. Carl opened his own meat shop, Carl’s Prime Cut Meats, then in 1988, he felt God’s call to ministry.
The small family was relocated to Price, where Carl finished his associate’s degree at College of Eastern Utah. When that was finished, the family was relocated again to Toccoa, Ga. while Carl attended Toccoa Falls College for three years.
Now a Pastor, Carl and his family returned to Price where he served as the associate pastor for the Christian Missionary Alliance for three years. He was called to plant a church in Emery County and that was the beginning of Desert Edge Christian Chapel, an evangelical free church located at 500 South Main Street in Huntington. He has been the pastor at Desert Edge for the past 11 years, and he loves the people there and his duties as pastor.
“My heart’s desire is for everyone I know and love to know the God of the universe like I do,” said Pastor Carl. “Services are held every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome, and they will probably get hugged.”