Pastor John Otte

Our Pastor, Rev. John William Otte, was born in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, on April 10, 1974, the oldest son of Pastor William and Deanna (nee Bremer) Otte. He became a child of God through the washing of Holy Baptism on May 19, 1974, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights. He was confirmed on March 1, 1987, also at St. Matthew in Columbia Heights.

John received his elementary and high school education in Columbia Heights. He graduated from Concordia College (now Concordia University) in St. Paul, Minnesota, summa cum laude in 1996 with a major in Theatre. He then attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, from which he graduated on May 19, 2000, with a Master of Divinity degree. He did his vicarage at Messiah Lutheran Church in Clio, Michigan during 1998 - 1999. On June 3, 2000, he was ordained into the Holy Ministry at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.

He served the dual parish of St. Paul Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church from 2000 until 2007, serving first as the associate pastor in charge of youth ministry and then as their senior pastor.

On July 6, 2002, John married Jill Kovach at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Richfield, Minnesota. Jill, a Lutheran School teacher, moved to Blue Earth where she served in a nearby Lutheran school. She then worked as a special education paraprofessional at a nearby public high school. Their family grew in December of 2006 when they adopted their son, Isaiah.

For pastoral care or emergencies, contact Pastor Otte at 651-455-4127 or by email at
j_otte@live.com.