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After graduating from Tosa East, I went to Wartburg College, Waverly Iowa where I graduated in 1974. During my college years I married my wife, Karen in July of 1971, & this year celebrated our 46 anniversary. I attended Nothwestern Theological Seminary, St, Paul, Minnesota (now merged with Luther Theological Seminary) where I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1978.
1. Ordained in February of 1979 & began serving in ministry at a two-point parish, Big Bend/West Bank Lutheran Parish, in Milan, Minnesota for 8.5 years. 2. I left there upon accepting a call from Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lamberton, Minnesota where I served for 22 years.
3. I resigned from Our Savior's in November of 2008 & served St. John's Lutheran Home as sacramental pastor & First Church of Christ in Comfrey, Minnesota as interim pastor for about 1.5 years.
4. In 2010, I accepted a call from St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bulverde, Texas, outside of San Antonio, Texas, where I am currently the senior pastor having been here 7.5 years.
During my 38 years in ministry, I have been involved in the creation of an association of Lutheran congregations known as Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). Its purpose is to maintain the integrity and authority of Scripture & the Lutheran Confessions amidst a growing trend in portions of the Lutheran Church, as well as other mainline Christian denominations, to become more progressive & liberal in both theology & doctrine.In 2006, with four other pastors, we began to develop a new means of training persons who felt called by God to be pastors.
In 2008 we established the Beyond the River Academy which trains called persons to use the gifts God has given them through six core classes.
This was vitally important because of the fewer numbers of pastors willing or able to serve smaller/rural congregations. Until this year, 2017, I have served as president of the board of directors & the instructor of the Worship & Preaching Skills class. Currently I still serve on the board.
