I grew up on a dairy farm near Navarino, WI. It was there, at a small rural Lutheran church, that my call to ministry began. I didn’t realize it until years later, but it was at that little rural church that I learned to appreciate the bonds of Christian fellowship, the rituals and wonders of the Church, and the nudging of the Holy Spirit to a life of service to God and neighbor.
When my wife, Laurie, and I were married, Pastor Tom Peterman encouraged us to become youth leaders. The years went by and soon our three kids were participating in the youth program. I was working construction at the time but was active in church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, and serving on numerous church committees and on church council.
My call to ordained ministry began 2010, when after more than thirty years of working in the construction industry, I felt the Holy Spirit coaxing me ever closer to a different call of service to God. Although I enjoyed my time working construction, I felt God calling me to something more, even if I didn’t know what that something was.
After visiting the office of the East-Central Synod of Wisconsin and having a conversation with Bishop Jim Justman, I found myself going through a time of discernment and eventually filling out paperwork for entrance into the candidacy program for ordained ministry. A year later, I was enrolled in a six-week intensive summer Greek program at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
After graduating from Wartburg Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in the spring of 2015, I served two rural congregations near Antigo, Wisconsin by appointment of the Bishop. Then, in July of 2016, I received my call to serve at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church here in Neenah, WI.
St. Mark’s is a wonderful community of faith, with many members who are actively making a difference in the life of the community. St. Mark’s is rooted firmly in the Lutheran faith tradition and yet is open to exploring innovative ways of being the Church in a world that continues to change. Worship is central to who we are at St. Mark’s and we continue to look for new ways to express God’s love for all people. We celebrate Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month.
I invite you to come and worship with us and join us in Christian fellowship, as we seek to grow in faith and love and serve the Lord together.
