Our pastor

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Pastor Holle is a 2004 graduate of Concordia Seminary – St. Louis. He and his wife (Becky) have three adult children, and they live across the parking lot from the church in Hiawatha in the parsonage. Becky recently retired after twenty-three years as a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois; daughter Katie, her husband Jeff, and their children Charlie and Hannah live in Omaha, Nebraska; son Jake, his wife Kate, and their daughters Clara and Ellie live in Ankeny, Iowa; and son Matt, his wife Katie, and their twin boys Levi and Liam live in Grain Valley, Missouri.

Prior to beginning his seminary training in 2000, Pastor Holle (Brian) was employed for 13 years as a civil/structural engineer. He spent approximately 8 years designing and overseeing the construction and installation of offshore oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico for Exxon in New Orleans, and then about 5 years as a consulting engineer and partner in an engineering/surveying firm in Hannibal, Missouri. 

During his time at the seminary, Pastor Holle and his family lived in Hamel, Illinois and they belonged to, and he did his field work and vicarage at, St. Paul Lutheran Church just outside Hamel. His “Lutheran” roots run deep as he was raised on a small farm in north-central Kansas where he was privileged to attend a Lutheran day school. Both Pastor Holle & Becky graduated from Marysville High School and Kansas State University. Before accepting the call to serve the dual parish of Zion (Hiawatha) and St. Paul (Fairview), Pastor Holle served at Messiah Lutheran Church in Lebanon, Illinois for 12-1/2 years, and then Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill, Illinois for 7 years.

Pastor Holle is committed to the teachings and confessions of the 16th century Lutheran reformers, and he treasures the historic traditions and practice which we have inherited from our forefathers. He loves preaching and teaching and leading worship where God’s Word and the Sacraments are the center and focus of God’s people, and he understands that his calling is one of service to both God and to His people. 

Pastor Holle is always prepared to take time to visit with people about God’s Word, about the teachings of the Church, or about other needs or problems that may be troubling them. Please don’t hesitate to stop in and chat with him at the church or parsonage, or give him a call (or contact him via the internet or text) if you have any questions or concerns.

Pastor’s phone numbers – (785) 740-0268 (Church office)

(618) 960-9575 (cell phone)

email address – revholle@sbcglobal.net