About Living Word : Our Pastor
Pastor John Borgwardt
Pastor John Borgwardt, son of Dr. Wayne and Mrs. Myrna Borgwardt of Waukesha, was born in New Ulm, Minnesota, on October 5, 1970. The youngest of six children, he followed the family when it moved to Appleton, Wisconsin, and later Waukesha. After four years at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, he graduated in 1989 and later attended Northwestern College, graduating in 1993. After his first two years at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin, he served as a vicar to Divine Word Lutheran Church in Plover, Wisconsin. In September of 1996 he married Sara (nee Bode). He graduated from the Seminary in May of 1997 and was assigned to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kearney, Nebraska. After five years, God led Pastor John to accept the call to start an exploratory mission congregation in Waukesha. Pastor John and Sara have three children, Emery, Nathanael, and Judah.
In thinking about serving the Lord in the pastoral ministry, Pastor John says, "I was raised in a very Christian home, the son of dedicated Christian parents who served in the public ministry. In that atmosphere, I came to realize that wanting to be a pastor wasn't enough of a reason for striving to be one. I needed a better reason. That reason is looking at everything Jesus Christ has done for me -- giving me forgiveness for all my sins and eternal life as a gift of his love and a new life to live for him. Knowing what amazing things Jesus has done for me made me want to give all I am to him in a life of service. I always had a desire to serve in a mission congregation as well, and the Lord has seen fit to allow me to do that. Now, with the Lord guiding and directing every step, we are alive in Jesus, learning, living and sharing God's living Word. Praise be to our God for all his blessings in Jesus Christ!"
