Pastor Mark Wiesner
Pastormark@signalhillchurch.org
Family Background
Rev. Mark D. Wiesner was born on July 2, 1958 in St. Louis, Missouri to Rev. Dr. David E. Wiesner and Joyce M. Wiesner (nee Joggerst). His father was a Lutheran educator, and ended up joining the Seminary at the same time that Pastor Mark attended. Because of his father’s delayed vicarage, Pastor Mark was ordained a year before his father, and was privileged to participate in the ordination of his father! Pastor Mark has one sister, Debra Ettel, who also resides in St. Louis.
Academic Background
Rev. Wiesner has a Bachelor’s degree (1980) from Concordia College; Ann Arbor, Michigan. His major was religion; and he had a double minor in Humanities, and in Psychology/Sociology. Rev. Wiesner has two Masters degrees. The first is a Master of Divinity degree (1984) obtained from Concordia Seminary; St. Louis, Missouri. The second is a Master of Science degree (1995), in the area of Marriage & Family Therapy, obtained from Friends University; Wichita, Kansas. Rev. Wiesner is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Illinois. He is also a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Professional Background
Rev. Wiesner’s first divine call was to serve as Assistant Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Waconia, Minnesota (1984-88) where his primary duties included youth, evangelism, and teaching 7th grade confirmation in the church’s elementary school. He also enjoyed being in a number of community musicals, serving as a volunteer hospital chaplain, serving as a member of the County Chemical Dependency Advisory Board, and also serving as a member of the Drug Free Schools Advisory Committee.
Rev. Wiesner then accepted a call to Christ the King Lutheran Church of Salina, Kansas (1988-1996) where he served as the sole pastor of a rapidly growing congregation. It was also while he was in Kansas, that Rev. Wiesner acquired his second Master’s degree. His ministry was further enhanced through his work as a disc jockey at a local Christian radio station. Rev. Wiesner also found and lead a contemporary Christian band by the name of Martyrs.
Rev. Wiesner than accepted a call (1996-2000) to Belleville, Illinois. Lutheran Child & Family Services, in a joint venture with the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS, called Rev. Wiesner to the position of Ministerial Health Specialist. His time was spent providing counseling services and serving as LCFS’s Family Life Education Coordinator. Rev. Wiesner also served as Health Advocate for the Southern Illinois District, and was a member of the District’s Ministerial Health Committee.
In 2000, Rev. Wiesner left LCFS to begin his private practice, offering Christian counseling services in O’Fallon, Illinois. In addition, he served as Interim pastor for several congregations in the Southern Illinois district. In 2001, Rev. Wiesner accepted the position of Staff Chaplain at Lutheran Hour Ministries (2001-06), while continuing to provide counseling services at his private practice. He also served as Pastoral Assistant at Signal Hill Lutheran Church (2001-05) of Belleville, Illinois. In the last several years, Rev. Wiesner has performed in several community musicals with his oldest daughter.
On October 1, 2006 Rev. Wiesner was installed as pastor of Signal Hill Lutheran Church. He continues to run his counseling practice in O’Fallon, on a part-time basis.
Personal
Rev. Wiesner is married (June 1982) to Patricia A.Wiesner (nee Finger). Patty is a Physical Therapist and works with infants/children that are developmentally disabled. They have two daughters: Andrea (November 1983) and Sarah (August 1986).
