Rev. Mike Burdick serves as Sr. Pastor with St. John’s Lutheran Church. He and his wife Kathy have four children and seven grandchildren. He was baptized and grew up in Peoria, IL, and has served congregations in Marshall, MN and Macomb, IL. He’s delighted to have served here in Effingham since October 2019.
He and Pastor Dille serve in all areas of general pastoral care for the Good Shepherd’s flock – preaching, teaching, and visiting. In addition, Pastor Burdick focuses particularly on work with the Elders, Stewardship, Evangelism, Trustees, and Preschool. He takes Fridays as his Sabbath day. His Bachelor’s degree is from Western Illinois University, and his M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
He tells the story of how in his first funeral at St. John’s, he fell into the grave. Not far in, but he landed on his back beside the grave, embarrassed and laughing. That true story is the springboard to acknowledging that we’re all headed for the grave, and it is only in Christ that we have hope and joy in the face of death. That’s why the ministry of the Church is so vital. We are privileged and responsible to share the Good News about Jesus with our neighbors so that they, in Christ, may die well. It’s a joy to share it here at St. John’s.
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24)