1. Your high school: I attended Lakeside Lutheran High School and graduated in 1992.
  2. Your ministry story: I had a number of people that influenced my ministry path.  My parents were huge supporters of going into ministry even though I was the first in the family.  I was blessed with an amazing group of faithful, Christ-centered teachers throughout my grade school experience at St. Paul in Lake Mills, WI, my high school experience at Lakeside Lutheran, and my time at Dr. Martin Luther College/Martin Luther College.  Throughout that time, I was also encouraged by my wife(I guess fiance at the time) and my peers.  God blessed my path with a ton of amazing people to encourage me.  Also, I have always loved teaching people.  Diving into ministry meant that I would get that experience, but most importantly, I would be able to share Jesus with them.
  3. An influential person in your ministry story: I don’t want to offend the many people that had deep influence on my life, but I would probably highlight my high school principal, Jason Nelson.  I vividly remember having a conversation with Mr. Nelson standing right next to the pay phone in the halls of Lakeside.   He said a simple, yet impactful set of words.  “Ted, I just want you to know that the faculty prayed for you this morning at our morning devotion.”  This simple, yet striking statement has always stuck with me.  They were praying for me.  They were taking the time to care about me so much that they took my name to our God in prayer.  Wow!  After that, I knew that I wanted to be able to do that same thing for every one of my students.  Thank you Mr. Nelson for praying for me.  That single prayer has spawned thousands of prayers for my students over the past 20 years.
  4. What you might have been if NOT a pastor/teacher: I always wanted to be a professional baseball player, but I wasn’t athletic enough.  I wanted to be a NBA superstar, but I wasn’t tall or skilled enough.  I considered professional wrestling, but I cry to easily.  I thought I could play video games professionally until I lost in the opening round of the Nintendo championships when I couldn’t win at Tetris.   I think my answer would be a chef.  I have always been blessed with a knack in the kitchen and at the grill.  I also love video editing, which led to some pretty embarrassing high school and college video projects.
  5. College activities and jobs: I spent four of my five years up on the hill washing uniforms in the athletic department.  It was a quiet, thankless job, but it paid the bills.  I remember vividly turning some of the new MLC baseball jerseys a light pink color.  Thankfully, that was my last year at the job.  I think the team appreciated the new jerseys the next year.  Our athletic director didn’t appreciate it so much.
  6. Good college memory: I will never forget being a part of the most (in)famous intramural basketball team of the 90’s on campus, the Dream Team.  Our final intramural game was up on the stage in the gym where we actually had our own live band, Lethargic Einstein, play for the entire duration of the game.  The only time they stopped was when the basketball landed in the middle of the band.
  7. How college changed you: It solidified my will to become a called worker, it gave me the opportunity to meet my beautiful wife, and it matured me.  I find every year I mature a little bit more, but I most definitely matured in college.
  8. Your ministry history: I graduated back in 1997 from Martin Luther College and I was assigned to Luther Preparatory School as a tutor.  After two years, I was assigned to Our Savior Lutheran School in San Antonio, TX.   I served at OSL for 5 years as principal.  During that time, I taught different combinations of grades from 2-8 grades and also coached numerous sports.  In 2004, I accepted a call to return to my alma mater high school, Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills, WI.  Over my 11 years serving at Lakeside, I served as the technology director, taught multiple courses and coached the freshman boys basketball team.  In 2015, I accepted a call to Evergreen Lutheran High School to serve as the school principal.  I served at Evergreen the past 4 years teaching multiple courses and coaching the varsity boys basketball team.
  9. Is there a story you tell high schoolers about yourself and your ministry journey? I share with them that I was never sure.  I was never sure that I wanted to be a teacher.  God used the people in my life to guide me on the path that He wanted. God never said stop on this path and, in the process, he’s kept me on this path and developed in me a deep love for ministry and for the people that I have been allowed to serve.
  10. What would you like to tell high schoolers about MLC and their college decision? Try it.  Give ministry a chance.  How many marketplace jobs do you get to talk openly about your faith?  How many jobs do you get to do such a huge variety of tasks?  In ministry, we call this wearing different hats.  God equips us all to wear all kinds of different hats.  The one that I am honored to wear most often is the missionary hat, sharing the sweet message of Jesus with others.  And, wait for it, I get paid to do this.  I am blessed to be a called worker and I deeply desire that for you too.  You have alot to offer God’s kingdom.  Give it a chance!  You will not be disappointed.  There is no better place to experience college than here at MLC.  It is an amazing family of believers.
  11. Your family: I have been blessed with an amazing family.  My beautiful wife, Kirstie (nee Lange), graduated from MLC in 1998 and has served in ministry the past 20 years beside me, both at the school I was serving at and also at schools within the high school federations I was serving.  God has blessed us with two amazing daughters, Anastasia (12) and Elliana (2).
  12. Hobbies: We love to travel.  We love the Caribbean.  We are avid cruisers aboard Carnival Cruise Lines.  We love experiencing the many different cultures and areas of North America.  I have only one state remaining to step foot into: Maine.  I have seen Maine from a cruise ship, but never stepped foot in it.   With my technology background, I also love working with computers and video games.  I am also a huge sports fan, supporting the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and San Antonio Spurs.  I also love collecting autographs and memorabilia.
  13. Movies, music, books you like: I love television and movies.  I am an avid watcher of the Food Network and various comedy shows.  As for music, I am huge 80’s and 90’s music fan.  If you are ever interested, challenge me to repeat all the lyrics to the 80’s hit by Billy Joel named “We Didn’t Start the Fire”.
  14. Something we’d never guess about you: I was 5’4″ throughout high school.  I was one of the shortest people in my graduating class.  God’s sense of humor:  I am now one of the tallest at our class reunions. August 2019