Mission Leadership Team
PropertiesRev. Bryan Borger, Senior Pastor
Hailing from the cold prairie of central Canada, Pastor Bryan Borger brought to St. Peter his warm heart and abundant energy for our common ministry of sharing a changeless Christ in a changing world. He is on fire for Jesus! Pastor Borger is passionate about sharing the love of our Lord and Savior in many and various ways – from animated sermons and creative children’s messages, to liturgy that engages the talents of the congregation; from meaningful and stimulating Bible studies to outreach ministry for the least, the little and the lost in our community and our world. Since 2004, Pastor Borger has been shepherding his St. Peter flock in the Lutheran faith, empowering members to use their God-given gifts to praise and serve the Lord in worship, Bible study and Christian service.
Pastor is married to Lori, the love of his life who also is a Sunday school teacher and member of the Liturgical Dance Choir. The Borgers home school their five children, who range from elementary to college aged: Sarah, Joshua, Samuel, Anna and Isaac. Pastor Borger enjoys the Pittsburgh Steelers, hockey, his motorcycle and chocolate, though not necessarily in that order! Email him at: revborger@me.com |
Elders
Lay Deaconess & Stephen MinistryAmy Smessaert, Lay Deaconess and Stephen Ministry Leader
Vickie Hess, Stephen Ministry Leader Mike Fonck, Stephen Ministry Leader Rev. Dr. Adam Clark, Outreach Pastor
Pastor Adam Clark has a heart for building up friendship in a world where we so often feel alone, even when we are "together." Pastor Clark also earned a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics from the University of Notre Dame with a dissertation on the German pastor, theologian, and WWII martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who is known for his emphasis on discipleship, ethics, and community. Drawing on these two sides of his being, Pastor Clark leads the congregation to "go deep" into the teaching of Christ, to live deeply into our relationships with God and others, and to "seek the good of the community" in which God has placed us (Jer. 29:7).
Pastor Clark and his wife Christy, an elementary schoolteacher, grew up together in the same North Carolina neighborhood. They have two daughters, Emma and Elena. In addition to his family and Carolina basketball, Pastor Clark enjoys movies, music, and good conversations over hot coffee or a cold beer. Email him at: adamclarknd@gmail.com. |
Pastor Emeritus Ken Mangelsdorf
Kenneth Mangelsdorf was installed as the 18th pastor of St. Peter in 1969. In 2004 he accepted the congregation's call to serve as a preaching assistant under Pastor Borger.
He delights in the opportunity to help “gather by the Cross” at St. Peter by preaching and also by teaching through the visual arts. Pastor Mangelsdorf’s wife, Anne, continues to serve as one of St. Peter’s organists. Pastor and Anne are at home in Mishawaka and at worship in St. Peter, but are blessed with the opportunity to visit their three children and six grandchildren in Michigan, California, and New York. Email: kamangelsdorf@aol.com 
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Youth Ministry David Homann
Much like he did while growing up on a central Illinois farm, Dave Homann is still working in the fields--only now the crops he tends are young Christians. Since 1992, Dave has nurtured St. Peter’s junior and senior high youth, guiding them through the joys and struggles of life and faith. He and his committed team of co-leaders engage the youth in small group Bible studies, Christian service projects, fellowship events like trips to Cedar Point, and retreats and conferences, including the National Youth Gathering of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Deeply rooted in the Lutheran tradition and gifted with a servant’s heart, Dave also sings in the church choir, frequently serving as cantor, and he is sowing seeds for a young adult ministry at St. Peter.
Dave and his wife Jackie, who leads the Liturgical Arts ministry, are busy parents of twin daughters Alex and Tori, and son Sam. When not with St. Peter’s youth, Dave is out ballroom dancing with Jackie, riding his John Deere tractor, swinging a golf club or sipping fine wine with family and friends. Email: spy@stpetermishawaka.org |
Music & Choir Director Emily Ruch
Tuning in to her passion for music and serving the Lord, Emily decided to leave her full-time accounting job in 2010 to pursue a vocation in music ministry at St. Peter. Along with playing the organ, piano and flute, Emily directs the adult, youth and children’s choirs, as well as various instrumentalists, soloists and the congregation in making a joyful noise to the Lord. Additionally, Emily works part-time as an accountant for Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, a ministry of the church. She is a native of Bremen, IN.
Emily is deeply involved in the Women of St. Peter, and she and her husband Brian are also youth ministry leaders. Brian also serves on the Outreach Team, the Board of Resurrection Lutheran Academy, and as St. Peter Webmaster. Both Purdue graduates, the Ruches are serious Boilermaker fans. In her “free time,” Emily enjoys reading, being with her family including her daughters Nora and Eliza and son, Robbie, and playing with and walking their beagle, Rowdy. Email: emmileebeth@hotmail.com Custodian Jeff Rockwell
When it comes to caring for the church building, Jeff Rockwell is ready, willing and able to maintain a welcoming, hospitable environment at St. Peter. As church custodian, Jeff is often a behind-the-scenes servant, who goes with the flow, politely handling numerous requests for special events along with the day-to-day responsibilities of keeping St. Peter clean and ready for worship, Sunday school, various ministries like sewing and Braille, and fellowship. He attends the men’s Bible study group and on Sunday mornings, he usually can be found running the sound system.
Born and raised in the South Bend/Mishawaka area, Jeff is an avid fan of Notre Dame football and the Indianapolis 500, bakes a “mean apple pie,” and has many musical gifts. As part of the Penn High School Marching Band, Jeff played the tuba at the 2001 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. He also enjoys playing sacred music on the piano and organ during his work breaks at church. Email: jrockwell12@gmail.com |
Ministry Coordinator Jenna Trethewey
Jenna is a small business owner, jewelry designer, the wife of Brian for over 17 years and mom to Emily (25) and Will (16). She is an Army veteran, a graduate of Indiana University of South Bend and a lifelong Hoosier. Jenna has over 20 years of administrative experience. She mostly grows deeper in her relationship with the Father through worship music. Her favorites include: for KING & COUNTRY, Elevation Worship, Bethel Music and Cory Asbury. Her favorite worship song is Reckless Love by Cory Asbury.
Jenna has such a healthy obsession with the British monarchy that she has a large Queen Elizabeth II portrait tattoo covering her entire right forearm. Her Brit-mania has developed through a life long pursuit of royal watching and educating herself on the crown. She is an anglophile through and through. Her other loves include Ed Sheeran, One Republic, the greatest invention of all time: Netflix, reading, playing cards, shopping, coffee, air conditioning and working her side hustle: The Olive Tale, Jewelry from Repurposed Paper; but, mostly, Jenna just loves to laugh. Email: splcsecretary@att.net |