Mount Olive Lutheran Church

Called to Glory

by Pastor Jon Haakana

August 17, 1957—Jon Thomas Haakana born to Edwin & Jane Haakana—Mpls, MN.
May 1975—Graduated from Neil A. Armstrong High School—Plymouth, MN.
May 1979—Graduated from Concordia College St. Paul, MN with a B.A. in American History and Biblical Languages.
May 31, 1980—United in marriage with Mary Sawyer at Peace Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale, MN.
August 1981—July 1982 Vicarage assignment at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Des Plaines, IL.
May 27, 1983—Conferred the Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO.
June 26, 1983—Ordained into Holy Ministry at Shepherd of the Grove Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, MN. Ordained by Rev. David Bode (my pastor). Preacher: Rev. Roger Kilponen (my 1st cousin).
July 10, 1983—Installation as Assistant Pastor at Blessed Savior Lutheran Church in New Berlin, WI.
May 15, 1988—Installation as Associate Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hudson, WI. Asked to lead new mission plant 7 miles north of Hudson in Houlton, Wi area.
April 15, 1991—1st meeting mission plant pioneers in Houlton Elementary.
September 8, 1991—1st worship service for Family of Christ Lutheran Church—meeting in St. Joseph’s Town Hall in Houlton, WI.
January 16, 1992—Called as Mission Developer—Minnesota South District.
February 23, 1992—Installed as Pastor Family of Christ Lutheran Church—Houlton
October 29, 2000—Installed as Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mills, MN.
June 2006—July 2011—Pastor Jon & Mary participated in continuing education experience—the Pastoral Leadership Institute.
August 21, 2011—Installed as Senior Pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Anoka, MN.
Foreign mission trips to Norway House, Winnipeg, Canada (2001), Moscow, St. Petersburg and Lake Baikal, Russia (with Mary 2011), and to Gambela, Ethiopia (2013) and Odzi, Zimbabwe (2014 with Mount Olive Missions).
Baptized, confirmed, blessed H.S. graduation, and married daughter Rachel (and husband Jake), and baptized their twins, Ava and Connor.
May 18, 2025—Retired from full-time ministry.
Led and Called and Blessed
to Serve!

Thanks be to God and Thank You!

Pastor Jon

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:6-7)