Ministry Staff
Pastor Ken Mitschke
Ken is the founding pastor of Word of Life. He envisions the congregation as people who are being transformed by God’s Word into passionate disciples of Christ – learning and laughing, loving and living life to its greatest potential – for the sake of THE Word of Life, Jesus Christ, and others.
He has served in ministry over 30 years, including twelve years in multi-staff congregations in Florida and Texas. Ken strives to help individuals become everything God desires them to be. As a gifted teacher, he presents God’s Word truthfully, relevantly and practically; as a pastor, he is keenly interested in equipping people to effectively share God’s love and share His story.
Pastor Philip Doublestein
Kate, Wyatt, and Gus
Hometown: San Antonio, TX Education: B.A. Theological Languages, Concordia University Chicago, 2009; M.Div, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 2015 Family: Kate, Wyatt, Augustine (Gus)
Early Life
Born in San Antonio, Pastor Doublestein was baptized into the death of Christ at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. When his family moved to Helotes in 1991, they became members of Crown of Life Lutheran Church. From an early age, he was encouraged by family members and church friends to consider thinking about pastoral ministry. In high school, he was active in youth group and played music in the band. He also studied Latin, began a love of exercise, and was on drumline at O’Connor High School.
In 2006, Pastor Doublestein began his studies in theological languages at Concordia University Chicago, minoring in philosophy and psychology. After graduation, he began a master’s program in clinical mental health counseling. Instead of finishing the program, he decided to withdraw and begin studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
Family
After returning to St. Louis from vicarage, Pastor Doublestein met Katherine (Kate) Vandegriff at Ballpark Village. They began dating in August 2014 and were engaged in March 2015. In August, two months after he moved to Peoria, IL to serve his first Call, he and Kate were married and she joined him there. In February 2018, they welcomed their first son, Wyatt. Shortly after moving to Texas, they found out they would welcome their second son, and Augustine (Gus) was born in May of 2020.
Kate works for H-E-B in their marketing department, and is the glue that holds the family together.
Wyatt is super active and very smart. He loves math and strategy computer games.
Gus is very social, athletic, and funny. He loves to be around people and use his imagination.
Pastoral Ministry
Pastor Doublestein’s senior year of high school was spent being mentored by Rev. Dr. Ely Prieto. Pastor Doublestein was not planning to be a pastor, but was convinced by Pastor Prieto’s leadership.
Pastor Doublestein is passionate about youth ministry and discipleship – believing pastors are called to equip the saints for good works. His preferred method is to provide space and permission for young people and young Christians to exercise their faith. Having spent five years in the mission field, he has experience in many forms of discipling. He is a voracious reader, and loves to learn and try new things in ministry in order to reach people with the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Philosophically, Pastor Doublestein sees worship as a gathering of believers around Word and Sacrament, but it was not a tool for mission – historically speaking. Rather, the mission of the Church is to go out from worship, centered in Christ, to bring Christ to the lost.
Pastor Doublestein’s biggest joy in ministry is helping people to own their faith and find their way of contributing that is effective and joyful.
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If you have any questions, CONTACT US. We hope to meet you this Sunday!