About Rev. Dr. Mark Press
Mark Press is the oldest of four sons born to the late Rev. & Mrs. Gottfried (Doris) Press. (Two of his brothers have also entered their eternal rest.) Having been born in Michigan, he still carries loyalties for the Wolverines, the Lions and the Tigers. Since coming to Minnesota, he has enjoyed seeing some of his favorite teams in action – without the high competition for tickets found in certain areas of the country. Mark and his wife Connie (a Yankees and Packers fan through no fault of her own – having been raised in Iowa) have raised three children. Sarah is a teacher and wife of a pastor (Rev. Brian Stolarczyk) in Wisconsin, and her sons Raymond and Luke are lights in the Presses’ sky. Son Jeremy will be clerking for a Federal District Court judge in Dallas and subsequently will work for a corporate litigation law firm in Chicago. Nathan, youngest of the Press kids, is married and working in NW Indiana, where he and his wife Natalie (both Valparaiso University graduates) are living and raising three dogs.
Mark served for nearly 30 years as parish pastor in churches in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. During those years, he developed a passion for church planting, which resulted in pursuit of a PhD in Missiology. He is a “system product,” having gone to LCMS schools all the way from first grade through his doctoral degree. In his current role he is privileged to work with university students (undergrad and graduate level), encouraging them in Christian outreach, to work with various partners in training outreach leaders, and to influence the university campus (and beyond) for the kingdom of Christ.
ACADEMIC / PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
- PhD in Missiology – Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN (May 2004)
- Master of Divinity - Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN (Feb 1977)
- Bachelor of Science in Education – Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University) Seward NB (June 1972) Major: Sociology Minor: Theology
ACADEMIC FOCUS
Missiology, Theology, Lutheran theology, Religious studies
CAREER HIGHLIGHT
“One of my favorite memories has to do with the founding of a Lutheran high school in Jackson County, Indiana. I had tried to initiate something along those lines early in my ministry in Seymour, but my attempt (through pastors and principals) fell flat! A few years later, a layman from a local congregation came to me with the desire, vision and commitment to continue working toward that goal, and through the Spirit’s direction, one man’s capable leadership (and some supportive help from many others, including me) that high school came to be. Not only that, but it has flourished and today boasts 144 students and 15 supporting congregations. The support of area people recently resulted in a dinner auction that had over 500 in attendance – and raised $200,000 for the work of God’s kingdom through Trinity Lutheran High School. We dare not sell short the power of God’s baptized children who are blessed with a vision!”
WEBSITES/HANDLES
www.hoffmann-institute.org
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