Education

• B.A. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN, 2000
• MDiv. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, WI, 2005
• Dip. C.A. The International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism, and Human Rights, Strasbourg, France, 2013
• DMin. Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, La Mirada, CA, 2017

Background

I grew up in Missouri, California, and Michigan before studying to become a pastor. After 12 years as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake, Minnesota, I arrived at WLC to teach in the theology department. I am married to Amanda and have three daughters, Abigail, Noelle, and Sophia. We enjoy traveling, reading, and following an eclectic mix of sports teams.

Teaching

• Introduction to Scripture
• Introduction to the New Testament
• The Theology of Christian Worship
• Apologetics
• Christ and Culture
• Christ in the Old Testament
• Thought and Life of Martin Luther

Research Interests

• Vocation
• Apologetics
• Postmodernism
• The History of Art
• Worship Forms
• Theological Formation

Scholarly Works

BOOKS

On Any Given Sunday: The Story of Christ in the Divine Service
New Reformation Press, April 2023

The Baptismal Life
Northwestern Publishing House, April 2023

Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing
New Reformation Press, April 2021

Peter: Theologian of the Cross
Northwestern Publishing House, Upcoming

Select articles

“Nutrition and Formation”
Worship the Lord Vol. 123 (November 2023)

“Apologetics and Preaching”
Preach the Word Vol. 22.1 (September 2018) through Vol. 22.6 (June 2019)

“Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Flourishing”
Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology Vol. XXV, No. 3 (Holy Trinity 2016)

video courses

“Apologetics”
Commission on Discipleship, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, 2022

“Vocation”
1517 Academy Course, 2020

presentation topics

• Vocation
• Apologetics
• Postmodernism
• Critical Theory
• Worship
• Baptismal Life
• Theological Formation
• Art and Christianity

Service & Memberships

• Board of Directors, The Lutheran Home Association, Belle Plaine, MN, (2007-2016)
• Chair, Redwood Falls Conference of the Minnesota District of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, (2009-2012)
• Member, Advisory Board, Christian Family Solutions Integration Initiative (2021-2023)
• Institute for Lutheran Apologetics (2022-Present)
• The Evangelical Philosophical Society, Member (2017-Present)
• The International Academy of Apologetics, Human Rights, and Evangelism, Fellow (2013-Present)