The Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills celebrated the Rev. Clifford Hellmers on Aug. 16, recognizing 50 years of service to the church and its missions in communities around the world.
Hellmers served as the church’s full-time pastor for 32 years. During the following 18 years of active retirement, he continued serving the congregation through senior ministry and as coordinator of Project HOPE, the church’s international mission ministry.
The anniversary celebration included worship services at which Hellmers preached and reflected on his five decades of ministry. The congregation also held a reception in his honor between services…