Mark Press
Biography
Dr. Mark Press has served as Director of the Oswald Hoffmann Institute for Christian Outreach (the Hoffmann Institute) since July 1, 2006. Mark attended high school at Concordia, Austin, TX and Concordia, Seward, NB (graduating in June, 1968). He spent his college years at Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University), Seward, NB, from which he graduated in June, 1972. He entered Concordia Theological Seminary of Springfield, IL, in 1973 and completed his M.Div. degree in February, 1977 (shortly after the seminary had relocated to Fort Wayne, IN). He finished his Ph.D. in Missiology at Concordia Theological Seminary of Ft. Wayne in May, 2004.
Dr. Press was married to Connie Kay (ne้ Baedke) of Denison, IA, on August 18, 1973. Their marriage has been blessed with three children. Sarah is married to Rev. R. Brian Stolarczyk of Trinity Lutheran Church in Merrill, WI, and they have one son, Raymond Mark Stanley Stolarczyk, born April 12, 2008, with another due in March, 2010. Son Jeremy graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, in May, 2005, is working for a Ph.D. in New Testament studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, and is now enrolled as a student in the University of Chicago law school. Both the older Press children graduated from Concordia University in Mequon, WI. The youngest Press child, Nathan, graduated from Valparaiso University of Valparaiso, IN, in May, 2005, and is currently employed in Merrillville, IN, at DirectBuy as special projects coordinator. He is married to Natalie nee Muskin of Crown Point, IN. They reside in Crown Point.
Ministry for Dr. Press has included pastoral service at Trinity Lutheran Church of Utica, MI (assistant pastor, 1977-84), King of Kings Lutheran Church of Mason, OH (sole pastor, 1984-91), Zion Lutheran Church of Seymour, IN (sole pastor, 1991-2002), and Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Crown Point, IN (senior pastor, 2002-06).
Personal interests and hobbies of Dr. Press include basketball, golf, bicycling, reading and gardening. His past community activities and involvements have included church planting, Habitat for Humanity, mission committees, local clergy groups, Rotary Club, Lions Club, and serving on a steering committee for a new Lutheran high school (Jackson County, IN). He currently serves as president for a Woodbury, MN, homeowners? association.
A personal note:
I have been blessed beyond measure by the opportunity to serve with the Hoffmann Institute and Concordia University. Teaching has always been a ?back burner? interest, and now that has been ratcheted up to ?front burner? stuff, and teaching at the university level has been very rewarding.
Students present constant opportunities for rethinking my ideas and for reimagining the will of God for His world of human creatures. Helping students to think through the possibilities that lie before them, to take seriously the daily walk of Christian discipleship, and to see themselves being multiplied in ministry is a great joy for me!
Family takes a prominent place in my daily life ? and planning for the next trip to see my grandson (or his little brother, soon to arrive in this world) always grabs my attention. For Connie and me, grandparenting has few ?down-sides?!
Oh ? the fish is one that I caught on my first trip (hopefully not my last!) to the Boundary Waters. Not a bad walleye, huh?
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