Pastor Mark Friedrich was born in The Dalles, Oregon, and grew up in Marcus, Iowa. A third-generation Lutheran pastor in the Missouri Synod and one of four siblings, he was raised in a family deeply rooted in ministry.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and completed his theological studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. During his vicarage in Golconda, Illinois, he met his first wife, Kathy, and they were married shortly after his seminary graduation. His first pastoral call took them to Grace Lutheran Church in Dalhart, Texas, where they served for four years and welcomed two children, Megan and Daniel.
Pastor Mark later served dual congregations in Wisconsin at Trinity Lutheran Church in Phillips and Zion Lutheran Church in Kennan, where their family grew with the addition of two more children, Nathan and Abigale. He then accepted a call to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Following a season of deep personal loss with the passing of his wife Kathy, Pastor Mark later met Cindy, and they were married in West Virginia. Together they blended their families and have been blessed with five children.
In 2005, Pastor Mark accepted the call to serve at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Apache Junction, Arizona, where he continues to faithfully serve today. He is grateful for God’s grace and mercy throughout every season of life and ministry, and for the many ways God continues to work through the church.
Outside of ministry, Pastor Mark enjoys hiking and spending time in God’s creation as a way to connect with others. Contact Pastor Mark if you would like to join his hiking group.
