Pastor Mark
Pastor Mark Friedrich was born on November 23, 1959 to Henry and Evelyn Friedrich in The Dalles, Oregon. He grew up in Marcus Iowa. His dad is a pastor and so was his grandfather until he died.
After Mark graduated from high school his family moved to Jamestown ND. His parents stayed there until his dad retired. They have now moved back to Algona Iowa close to where his parents were raised.
Mark went to college at Concordia College St Paul, Minnesota, after which he attended seminary at Concordia Seminary St Louis, MO. During his vicarage in Golconda, Ill. he met his first wife Kathy Hamann. They were married two days after Mark graduated from seminary.
Pastor Mark and Kathy moved to Dalhart, TX where Mark was pastor at Grace Lutheran Church. During their 4 year stay in Texas God blessed them with two children, Megan and Daniel.
Pastor Mark received a call to be pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church Phillips, WI and Zion Luther Church Kennan, WI. Pastor Mark served these congregations for 5 years. God Blessed Pastor Mark and Kathy with 2 more children Nathan and Abby.
Pastor Mark was then called to St Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, WI. After being in Stevens Point for a year and a half God called Kathy home, after struggling with lung cancer for about a year Kathy died on Aug 7, 1997.
God did not want Pastor Mark to raise 4 children by himself so He brought a wonderful woman into his life. Pastor Mark and Cindy met and were married. Cindy had a daughter Nikki from her first marriage to Rick who died the same year Kathy died.
Pastor Mark and Cindy have been raising these 5 children and God has brought many blessing to their family.
Pastor Mark was called to be pastor of Mountain View Lutheran Church in Apache Junction, AZ in 2005. After visiting AZ with his wife Cindy, he accepted the call of God and is faithfully serving at Mountain View.
Pastor Mark is thankful to God for the grace and mercy He has shown to him and his family. Without the love of God none of us could ever stand before the holiness of God. It is by God's grace we have been saved, a true gift of God.
"I look forward to serving the Lord in Apache Junction for many years. I also thank God for my wife and family and hope that I can be the kind of father and husband that God wants me to be."