Pastor

Mark Edward Christ

Pastor Mark Christ is the son of Ronald and Shirley (nee Schroeder) Christ.  He was born in Buffalo, New York in July of 1960.  He has one sister, Beth (George) Lasky, of Lancaster, New York.  He was baptized at Ascension Lutheran Church in Buffalo by his great-Uncle, the Reverend Stender.  He grew up in the suburb of Cheektowaga (an Indian term meaning "land of the crab apple").  He was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church, Depew, New York.   St. John's pastor (at that time), the Reverend Robert Erickson, was extremely instrumental in starting Mark down the path toward the public ministry.  He is a 1978 graduate of West Seneca East Senior High School.

He served four years in the United States Air Force.  Basic training was completed at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.  He was hoping to work in aircraft electrical maintenance, but the Titan II missile was what the Air Force had in store.  He completed training at Shepherd Air Force Base (Wichita Falls, Texas) and Vandenberg Air Force Base (Santa Maria, California).  His permanent duty base was Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona.  He served as an enlisted member of a launch crew, pulling more than 300 alerts (at least 24-hours each).  He learned to work on various ground support systems, including: power generation and distribution, hydraulic, water, pneumatic, air conditioning and many more.  While serving at Davis-Monthan AFB he joined Fountain of Life Lutheran Church and was active with youth work, assisting with junior confirmation, singing in the senior choir, and the folk group.  He separated from the Air Force at the end of November 1982.

Pastor Mark began his college studies while he was in the Air Force, but he completed his undergraduate studies at Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan (1983-1985).  He graduated in 1985 with a BA (majoring in psychology and double minors in humanities and sociology).  It was here that he met his future wife Teresa (Teri) Faught.

Pastor Christ attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri (1985-1989).  His field work was at Bethany Lutheran Church, O'Fallon, Illinois, under the supervision of the Reverend Douglas Nicely.  His vicarage was at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois, under the supervision of the Reverend Elmer (Doc) Sedory.

Pastor Mark and Teri were married after his vicarage at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Holt, Michigan (August 1988).  Teri was born in Twin Falls, Idaho at the Magic Valley Regional Medical Center in December of 1963.  They have been blessed with two boys, Andrew (September 1992) and Ryan (February 1997).  Teri works at Shopko in Twin Falls and volunteers at Clover Trinity Lutheran School, tutoring and assisting with a Music Appreciation program.

Pastor Christ's first church was Ebenezer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  He served there for seven years.  He served as circuit Secretary and Treasurer for several years.  He also served on the Reformation Rally Planning Committee.  He was involved with worship services in several nursing homes in the area and helped out with a daily devotional radio broadcast.