pastor russell "chip" wilke iii
Pastor Chip Wilke was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, and grew up as the son of two WELS teachers in Helenville, Wisconsin. He graduated with a B.A. in 1997 from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. He continued his schooling at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 2001.
Pastor Wilke was assigned to a home mission congregation at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Florence, Kentucky, where he served from 2001-2016. He began serving St. Paul's in July of 2016, primarily as one of our campus pastors in Mauston.
Pastor PhilIp Waldschmidt
Pastor Phil Waldschmidt began his service at St. Paul’s in July of 2022, primarily as one of our campus pastors in Mauston. He grew up as one of seven children in Tomah and Greenfield, Wisconsin, where his father served as a WELS pastor.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Martin Luther College (2018) and with a Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (2022). He served as a pastoral intern (vicar) at Shepherd of the Hills in Las Vegas, Nevada, from 2020-2021.
PASTOR DANIEL BURGESS
Pastor Daniel Burgess graduated from Martin Luther College in 2002 with a BA and went on to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary where he graduated in 2006 with a Master's of Divinity. In 2006 Pastor Burgess began serving Bethany Lutheran in Fort Myers, Florida. He served there until 2010 when he took a call to serve Amazing Grace Lutheran in Panama City, Florida. In 2018 Pastor moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and shepherded the Water of Life Lutheran congregation until he came to us at St. Paul's, Mauston and Adams-Friendship, in 2025.
Since 2004 Pastor Burgess has been married to Sarah (who teaches First and Second grades at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Wisconsin Rapids) and they have three active children: Madison (a student at Martin Luther College), Christopher (active in sports and outdoor activities), and Ethan (whose creativity knows no bounds).
A message from our pastors
Dear friend,
Jesus once said, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This statement, which is probably the most well-known passage in the Bible, contains good news that your soul needs. Jesus is telling you that God loves you. Even though you are a sinner, even if you have a troubled past, even if you are struggling with embarrassing sinful habits or powerful addictions, even if you are experiencing hurt or pain in body, mind, or spirit. Yes, through it all - despite it all - God loves you.
In fact, he loves you so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus, to die for you. By his death on the cross, Jesus earned forgiveness for all of your sins. You are at peace with God because Jesus paid your debt. And the good news continues! Jesus also secured resurrection and eternal life for you. This earthly existence is not the end. There’s an eternity with Jesus waiting for all who trust in him!
At St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, we hear this simple, yet beautiful, message regularly. We study it in our Bible classes, we hear it and sing about it in our worship services, and we share it with the people living in our area. Why? Because there is no greater comfort and joy than to know that our sins have been forgiven and that we have a home in heaven with Jesus waiting for us. It is this message about the saving work of Jesus in his death and resurrection that makes all the difference in time and eternity. We are eager to share that message with you.