Mark Lepper

My vocation (or calling in life): pastor and youth minister.

My congregation: St. John Lutheran Church, Belle Plaine, Minn.

My favorite Bible verse: It changes a lot. Isaiah 40:31, Micah 6:8, Hebrews 12:1, among others.

My favorite disciple: Probably Nathanael. He thought he was too good for Jesus, but Jesus knew he was good enough anyway.

My favorite person in the Bible: Balaam (and his donkey).

My favorite Christmas carol: “Go Tell It on the Mountain” sung by our Sunday school kids. They belt it out!

My favorite potluck dish: Probably Tater Tot casserole/hotdish. It’s total comfort food. Or the salad with the Ramen noodles in it.

I like my coffee: either black or hazelnut flavored.

I prefer to sit here during worship: I prefer to sit in the back. But, since I’m one of the pastors, they expect me to sit up front.

The magazine I read standing in line at the grocery store: headlines, like the ones about the half-human, half-bat child.

People would be surprised to know that: I am not allergic to poison ivy.

Lutherans are great at: liturgy and worship.

Lutherans could do better at: encouraging and embracing diversity.

The ministry I’m most passionate about: youth ministry.

What “living Lutheran” means to me: living a life of gratitude because we are saved by grace through faith!

I’m doing God’s work with my hands when: I am able to recognize my neighbor as a child of God, and treat them as such!