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Meet Pastor David Ude

I am David Ude (and as my Mom would point out, that’s David, not Dave!). I am child number eight of nine and pastor number four of four in our immediate family! I am blessed to have many cousins, nieces, and nephews (at last count, Grandpa Roland A. Gurgel has over 120 descendants).

I was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and grew up in Milwaukee until the family moved to Fridley, Minnesota, when I was nine years old. During this time my love for Wisconsin and its sports teams was purified in the fire!

I attended high school, college, and seminary at Immanuel in Eau Claire, so I’ve been there over a decade. I enjoyed my time there—especially the years I was able to spend coaching Cross Country, Track and Field, and Baseball.

On June 23, 2012, I was married to Rachel (nee) Radtke. We have a daughter Anastasia who is almost six months old. She is poised to crawl, forcing us to put away the cords which weave their way around our house.

For pastimes I enjoy attending baseball games, running, listening to audio-books (those last two often go together), fishing, and eating. I love the fall of the year, which combines many of my favorite things—crisp air (good running weather), beautiful colors, and of course the Packers.

Most of all, I enjoy mining the treasures of God’s Word and sharing them with others. There are gems to be found under every rock, and there are always some souls that need them.

I have been called to serve Living Word Lutheran Church, Appleton, Wisconsin. While I am looking forward to discovering all there is to do and see in this beautiful part of the country, I am even more excited to speak the good news of salvation in this area. May God grant it.

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“Four of four” Ude clergy (Matthew, David, Aaron, Prof. John) are encircled by Pastors Michael Eichstadt, Bruce Naumann, Neil Radichel, Paul Krause, Norman Greve, Paul Tiefel, John Johannes (emeritus). The occasion was David Ude’s ordination/installation on June 29, 2014.

(We thank Pastor Ude for introducing himself to our readers at our request. — Editor)