Mary Ann (Geiger) Hamm is a breast cancer survivor, former teacher, hospice chaplain and, now, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church, Kutztown.

Hamm graduated in 1977 from Kutztown University as an elementary/special education major, taught for 24 years in the Northwestern Lehigh School District, and loved teaching. But, she kept getting "messages."

People would suggest she enter the ministry.

"You should be a pastor," friends would say. Although she tried to ignore the messages, she finally, at age 45, realized she was receiving a calling to the ministry.

She started with one class at Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem.

In 2001, she recognized it would take too long to complete a course of study by taking one class at a time.

She retired from teaching and started her full-time journey toward the ministry.

"It was difficult," she said, but that didn't stop her.

She completed her Master of Divinity degree at Moravian and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia and graduated magna cum laude.

Hamm previously was pastor at the joint parish of Zion's Moselem and Becker's St. Peters in Richmond Township.

She most recently served as chaplain at Life Choice Hospice in Dresher, Montgomery County.

Hamm's past experiences have contributed to her success as a spiritual director.

When she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36, she wanted to connect with other women facing the same thing.

She led the effort to form a hotline service for breast cancer patients. Support of Survivors (SOS), still in existence is a volunteer group, based at Lehigh Valley Hospital's John and Dorothy Morgan Cancer Center, Salisbury Township.

SOS volunteers are trained by a professional counselor in empathetic listening.

In her work with hospice patients at Life Choice, Hamm recognized this important skill. Helping the patient, as well as the family, to deal with "God's timing" calls for special listening skills.

"You have to meet people where they are [in life's journey]," she said. "It's like being on holy grounds."

She recalls a visit in which the patient asked if she was there to help him die.

Hamm's teaching experience helped her with organizational and leadership skills.

Obviously, that experience also helped her relate to children; she is excited about upcoming sermons for children.

Hamm's varied experiences also included her work as a Brandywine Heights high school student at Herman's Drive-in, Topton. When she saw the former owners, Harry and Nettie Herman, walk into St. John's, she embraced the fact she had truly "come home."

Hamm felt an air of enthusiasm at her installation. Bishop Samuel R. Zeiser of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America presided.

Kim Warshel, church council president, said, "The process to call a new minister in the Lutheran church is a very deliberate and thoughtful process, so after over a year of preparing we're very happy to have Pastor Hamm join us.

"So far, she seems like a perfect match for us. With her enthusiasm and leadership, together with our dedicated and generous congregation, we are excited about the future of St. John's."

A self-proclaimed Energizer Bunny, Hamm, too, is confident she is a "good fit" for the church which has had an interim for the past two years.

Hamm and her husband, Alton, live in Macungie.

They have two sons, Nicholas and Nathaniel, and one grandchild.