Michael P Walther
Collinsville, Illinois 62234
618 344-3151

• Education: I graduated from Greenville College in 1980 with a degree in chemistry. I also served as a Marine Reservist throughout college. I graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1984. I received an STM degree from the same institution in 1998. Perhaps more important has been my ongoing personal study of the Hebrew and Greek Bibles, theology and whatever else I can find worthwhile to learn.
• Experience: I have served in three places: St. John's Lutheran Church, Beemer, Nebraska; Kearney State College Lutheran Campus Ministry, Kearney, Nebraska; and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Collinsville, Illinois. I've been a part-time instructor at Concordia Seminary 2006-2008. I love God, His Word, and the opportunity to serve His people. One of my goals in life is to be able to read the New Testament in Greek and the Psalms in Hebrew.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: I enjoy reading sermons as far back as the early church fathers. I am always amazed at the common thread of truth that is in most of those sermons.
• Family: My great-grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Germany. He served as a pastor in the midwest. My grandparents were both Lutheran school teachers. My parents were Lutheran school teachers in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. I am married to Carol, and God has blessed us with five children.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: Preach both the Law and the Gospel. Always connect everything to Christ, the cross, and the resurrection.
• Books that have had an impact: The Book of Concord, 1580; CFW Walther's (no relation) Law and Gospel
• Hobbies: I love music and play the piano, guitar, banjo, and a little fiddle and accordion. I enjoy fixing and repairing around the house. I especially enjoy flying. I received my pilot's license in high school.
• Something funny that happened while preaching: I once served as a vacancy pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Bancroft, Nebraska. They had a very old fashioned pulpit that was elevated to the level of the balcony. One the boards in the floor of the pulpit was missing. While I was preaching I accidentally got my boot stuck in that hole. So I spent the last half of the sermon both preaching and trying to figure out how I was going to get my boot out of there.