Our Pastor



Welcome!





Welcome to Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church of Novi, Michigan! We are located on the northwest side of the Metro-Detroit area.


Novi derives its name from its history. Originally, it was just one of many train stops on the rail that ran from Detroit to Lansing. It was stop No.6. Using Roman numerals, that would be No. VI--hence, NOVI (pronounced NO-vi instead of NO-vee). The trains still run through Novi, but they don't stop anymore.


Now people come by car to our various shopping centers (include Twelve Oaks Mall and Fountain Walk), exhibitions at the Rock Financial Center, the Michigan 50's Festival, and other attractions. My wife, Laura, and I enjoy living in Novi very much. We hope that you will visit us. We think you will like Novi too.



Personal





I was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin on November 28, 1967, and shortly thereafter was reborn of water and the word. I was raised in Sheboygan, but when high school came I made the trip north every day to Manitowoc Lutheran High School. After graduating in 1986, I began my pre-ministerial training at Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin. (Northwestern has since been amalgamated with Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota under the name of Martin Luther College.) Upon graduation from Northwestern in 1990, I attended four years at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin. In 1992, I married Laura Schmidt of Noblesville, Indiana. Laura and I have been blessed with seven children, one of whom (Isaac) has already preceded us to heaven. If you don’t find me at church – and I’m around more often than not – you can find me playing with the kids in the back yard. Or maybe we’re out camping somewhere in one of Michigan’s state parks (love the U.P.!). Maybe I’m watching my kids with their various activities, or driving them there, or driving them home, or cleaning the car after driving the kids around. I could be cheering on the Green Bay Packers. (I’m a loyal fan, but I’m not obnoxious about it.) I could be practicing my trumpet. I need the practice. I could be reading on our deck. Too much to read, too little time. Or maybe I’m napping. Naps are good.



Professional





I graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1994 and was assigned to be an instructor at an area Lutheran high school. We moved to the western suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota where I served at West Lutheran High School (currently located in Plymouth, Minnesota). For two years, I taught Religion and Latin. I also served as Recruitment Preacher / Director. After two years there, I opted to be reassigned through the Seminary to a congregation where I could serve as a parish pastor. So in 1996 we moved to Novi where I was called to serve at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, which I have been serving to this day. My family and I greatly enjoy being a part of this congregation.





41415 W. NINE MILE RD
NOVI, MI 48375