Pastor Rodewald grew up in south-central  Minnesota and attended a large Lutheran Elementary School in New Ulm, MN. He attended Martin Luther Academy in New Ulm for his first two years of high school and when his church body decided to move the school to Prairie du Chien, WI, he moved along and graduated in 1981. He then attended our pastor training college (Northwestern College) that was located in Watertown, WI. This college would be combined in 1996 with our teaching training college in New Ulm, MN, and be called Martin Luther College, which is our current college of ministry. Following four years at NWC, Pastor Rodewald continued four more years of study at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI, graduating in 1989.
Pastor Rodewald spent his vicar (intern) year at St. Mark in Green Bay, WI, and at the end of that year (1988) he and Karen were married in Prairie du Chien, WI. During his final year at the Seminary, Karen taught preschool at a nearby Lutheran Elementary School, as Pastor finished his preparation for pastor ministry. In May of 1989 they moved to Saginaw, MI, where pastor had been assigned as a tutor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, one of our WELS ministry preparatory high schools. (A tutor is like a campus pastor.) After two and a half years (he filled in for a time as the acting Dean of Students), Pastor accepted a call to a large congregation in Tomah, WI, where he served from 1991-1996. He then accepted a call back to Michigan Lutheran Seminary as the Dean of Students and served in that position from 1996-2004. In January of 2004, Pastor Rodewald accepted the call to serve here at Abiding Peace Lutheran Church. 
Pastor Rodewald and his wife Karen have been married for 30 years and have been blessed with three sons. Lucas, after teaching high school English for three years at Great Plains Lutheran, is now teaching and taking classes as he pursues a PhD in English at the University of Florida. Daniel is the pastor of Paradise Valley Lutheran Church in Phoenix, AZ. Joseph and his wife Hannah live in Watertown, WI where Joe is a tutor (teaching and dorm supervisor) at Luther Preparatory School and Hannah teaches grades 1-2 in Columbus, WI.
The Rodewald's enjoy sports and movies, as well as exploring the rapidly growing Greenville Area.
Read the most recent Pastor's Update.
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Our Vicar
Jacob Schmidt grew up in Wisconsin and Minnesota with his parents (Daniel and Elizabeth) and 5 other siblings (Daniel, Emily, Ben, Grace, and Nathan). He went to Luther Prep (Watertown, WI) for high school and then attended Martin Luther College from 2016-2020. While there, Jacob played football, lifted weights, and met his wife, Morgan. After college he attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He has just completed his second year and is looking forward to his vicar year here at Abiding Peace. Jacob’s hobbies include doing things outdoors, watching movies, and spending time with his wife. He is excited to be serving at Abiding Peace this year!
*A vicar is a candidate for ordained pastoral ministry, serving in an internship in the third year of seminary training. At the end of the year of vicarage, the candidate returns to seminary and completes a final year of studies. After being issued a call or assignment, the candidate is ordained as a pastor in the ministry of Word and Sacrament.
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