Dear Friend,

Thank you for taking the time to visit our site and learn about Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church. I was installed as pastor of Faith on July 20, 2008, and I am blessed to serve the people of God in this congregation.

I am originally from the Detroit, Michigan area. Growing up, I attended Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Clinton Township, and I went to Lutheran High School North in Macomb. For my undergraduate education I attended Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois. I studied “theological languages" (Latin, Greek and Hebrew), graduating with a Bachelor's degree in 2000. I also played trumpet in the Wind Symphony and was part of a Youth Ministry team.

For my pastoral training, I attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. I did my fieldwork at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Dorsey, Illinois, and spent a year on vicarage at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars, Iowa. I also worked at the Concordia Historical Institute as a research assistant, and assisted Dr. Norman Nagel during my final year. In 2004 I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.

After graduation, I decided to pursue a Master of Theology degree at Australian Lutheran College, working with Dr. John Kleinig. My thesis was entitled, “A Matter of Life or Death: Priestly Service and Priestly Gifts in Numbers 18."

I completed a PhD in the Theological Studies program at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. I wrote my dissertation, "Certainty in Luke-Acts: Fulfillment, Transmission, and Order," under the supervision of Dr. D.A. Carson.

I was joined in marriage to my wife, Amberleigh, in the summer of 2008. Currently a homemaker, she previously served as Director of Public Safety at Concordia University Chicago. Amberleigh and I have two children, Zachary and Elizabeth.

Thanks again for visiting our site. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions about Faith, and stop in on Sunday morning if you are in the area.

Pastor Mark Birkholz

SERMONS