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Rev. Daniel KempinSenior Pastor
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| Phone: (989) 835-5861 ext:201 Rev. Daniel Kempin was raised on a farm in northern Wisconsin. He received his
Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Mequon, WI, and
subsequently studied at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, where he
received his Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology
degrees. He was married to Karen in 1995, and they have three wonderful
children in their family at this time. Pastor Kempin has been in parish
ministry since 1996 and at St. John’s since October 2009. |
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Rev. Matthew MakelaAssociate Pastor
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| Phone: (989) 835-5861 ext:202 | Phone2: (608) 295-8968 Rev. Matthew Makela grew up in Green
Bay, WI, literally in the shadow of Lambeau Field. His love for the
Green Bay Packers is a testimony to his formative years in Titletown.
Pastor Makela was blessed to attend Lutheran schools from preschool
through seminary. He attended Pilgrim Lutheran School, Northeastern
Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Concordia University Wisconsin, and
Concordia Theological Seminary. He graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of
Arts, majoring in Pastoral Ministry and Theological Languages at
Concordia University Wisconsin, where he met his wife Cassie. Pastor
Makela graduated in 2010 with a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia
Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. Pastor and Cassie are blessed
with three daughters and a fourth child due in early June.
Outside of church duties, Pastor enjoys family,
music, home improvement, gardening and landscaping, and sports. He is
grateful to be called to serve the Lord’s gifts to His people at St.
John’s, and especially enjoys working with the young people of the
congregation. Pastor Makela specializes in youth ministry, senior
ministry, care for homebound members, and website / social media at St.
John’s. |
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Mrs. Phyllis SchultzChurch Secretary
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| Phone: (989) 835-5861 ext:203 Mrs. Phyllis Schultz has been a member at St.
John’s Lutheran Church since November 1981, having come from St. Matthew
Lutheran Church in Westland, MI. She is married to Jerry, and they have
two adult children and one grandchild. Mrs. Schultz has been church
secretary at St. John’s since April 1991, and she loves serving the
people of the congregation. She has been a Sunday school teacher at St.
John’s since 1982, teaming up with her daughters and granddaughter. Mrs.
Schultz is grateful that St. John’s is a very friendly and loving
congregation serving our Lord and His people.
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Mrs. Deb StarkDirector of Assimilation and Outreach
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| Phone: (989) 835-5861 ext:204 Mrs. Deb Stark grew up in Beloit, WI. She graduated from
Rockford Lutheran High School and received a Bachelor of Arts in
Communication Arts / Journalism from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA.
She worked for Pepsi-Cola before going to Concordia University in St.
Paul, MN, where she obtained DCE certification in 2008. Deb served her
one year DCE internship at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Midland, MI,
and the congregation asked her to stay. She has been serving at St.
John’s since 1995 in youth, family life, and assimilation. In 2010 her
role changed to Director of Outreach and Assimilation. Deb married
Michael Stark in 1997, and they are blessed with one son. In March 2009
Deb suffered a massive stroke, but with the dedication of her St. John’s
family, she returned faster than her doctors thought.
Deb appreciates
the quality and professional volunteers at St. John’s and that the
congregation is a very welcoming church family. She loves her job at St.
John’s, as she gets to meet our newest members as they join and are
excited about getting involved in their new church home. |
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Mr. Randy WalcikDirector of Operations
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| Phone: (989) 835-5861 ext:206
Mr. Randy Walcik grew up in Angleton, TX, and graduated from the University of Texas with a Business degree in1977. He started working for Dow Chemical at its Freeport, TX, location in 1979. He transferred to Midland in 1993 and retired from Dow in January 2010. In the thirty plus years while at Dow, Randy mainly worked in Dow's Information Systems department but also spent five years in Dow's Human Resources group.
Randy joined St. John's as a member in 2002, a few months after he and his wife P J were married. Randy and P J have four grown children and one grandchild. Since joining St. John's Randy has been active in several ministry areas, including Generation to Generation (G2G) board chair, Midland Missions '06 and '09, Christmas dinners, mowing, lawn cleanup, Harvest Dinners, roll bakes, etc.
Outside of St. John's Randy enjoys daily time with the Lord through devotionals and Bible study. He is active with the Lutheran Via de Cristo of Central Michigan organization. He enjoys hunting, golfing, working in the yard, and riding his motorcycle. Randy appreciates and thanks the faithful servants of St. John's and their dedication to helping out in any way they can.
Some Bible verses that help Randy get through each day...
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
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Mrs. Jan SutherlandParish Musician
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| Phone: (989) 835-5861 ext:205 Mrs. Jan Sutherland has been involved in
some form of music and music ministry as a singer, instrumentalist, or
director for the last thirty-five years. In 1992, desiring to learn a
new skill, she began organ lessons at her church, First Presbyterian in
Saginaw. Within six months she answered a call at Grace Lutheran Church
in Saginaw to play organ and develop a music ministry and continued in
this part-time Director of Music / Organist position until 1997. During
this time Mrs. Sutherland also went back to school to study organ
performance with Dr. Steve Egler at Central Michigan University and
nearly completed her Master’s in Organ Performance.
After a brief
full-time Director of Music position at Memorial Presbyterian Church in
Midland (August 1997-July 1999), she answered a call to be Organist and
Director of Music at First United Methodist Church in Midland from
1999-2008. When she began this call, she met and married her husband
Brian, and the couple has been blessed with two children.
in 2005, Mrs.
Sutherland encountered a life-altering diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. While the symptoms are various and numerous, she is blessed to
continue doing what she loves to do through good diet, sleep, and
exercise. In addition to sharing Parish Musician responsibilities with
Brian at St. John’s since July 2008, Mrs. Sutherland works as a musician
in the community giving private piano lessons, and directing and
playing for shows and other music opportunities for children and adults. |
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Mr. Brian SutherlandParish Musician
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| Phone: (989) 835-5861 ext:205 Mr. Brian Sutherland grew up in Charlotte, MI, and was confirmed at First Lutheran Church, where he sang with the chancel choir since 8th
grade. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor
of Applied Arts in Music. He is a twenty-three year member of the
Midland Symphony Orchestra and also plays in the Music Society pit
orchestra. Brian played in the show “City of Angels” as a member of the
Angel City 4 vocal group. He is a composer / arranger and is a piano
technician and trumpet /guitar instructor. He is married to Jan, and
they have two children. |
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Mr. John FunkJanitor Mr. John Funk
(Janitor) is a lifelong resident of Midland County. Educated at Catholic
schools, John studied for two years at St. Paul Seminary and graduated from
West Side Bay City Catholic Central. John served three years in the U.S. Army.
He also attended Delta College with degree in personal management. While his
children attended St. Brigid School, John served on school board for over fifteen
years. He and his family attend Assumption BVM Catholic Church. He has been a
lifelong advocate for the Boys Scouts and has spent over thirty years in
scouting as a boy and adult leader, spending six summers on staff at Paul
Bunyan Scout reservation. Presently John is the chairman of the Saginaw Diocese
Committee on Catholic Scouting and a member of the National Catholic Committee.
His wife, Diane, was kitchen manager for the St. John’s hot lunch program for a
year. Diane and John have been married for nearly forty years.
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