Grace Lutheran Church
Meet
Our
Pastors
Rev. Michael Buchhorn
Senior Pastor
Pastor Michael Buchhorn was born in Georgetown, Texas, February 6, 1961 and was baptized in infancy at Zion Lutheran Church of Walburg, Texas. He was confirmed at the same congregation Palm Sunday of 1974. Pastor Buchhorn was educated in the Georgetown public school system and graduated from Georgetown High School in 1979. He received his undergraduate degree in Business Management from Concordia University of Austin, Texas in 1985. He went on to attend Concordia Theological Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 1989. As a part of his seminary preparation he was a vicar at Faith Lutheran Church of Vista, California. Michael was ordained into the holy ministry in July of 1989 at Faith Lutheran Church of Georgetown, Texas. His first call into ministry was to serve the people of Hope Lutheran Church in Batesville, Arkansas. Pastor Buchhorn went on to serve the following congregations: St. John Lutheran of Hamilton, Texas, St. Paul Lutheran of Serbin, Texas, Zion Lutheran of Auburn Michigan and St. Paul Lutheran of Kingsville, Texas. In July of 2018 he accepted the call of Grace Lutheran Church of Wayne, Nebraska to serve as their Senior Pastor.
On November 21, 1987, Michael married Kathryn Fundum at St. Paul Lutheran of Napoleon, Ohio. Kathryn was a native of northwest Ohio and a teacher by training. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Rachel and Sarah who live in Texas and Illinois.
Pastor and Kathryn enjoy music. Pastor has served the Lord in a variety of congregational settings. In each setting God has provided opportunities for growth in ministry skills and people of God to love and care for. Pastor feels that each of those experiences have been a preparation for the work of ministry he has been called to here in Wayne. A sinner saved by the grace of God, he remains grateful to God for His mercy which has allowed him to serve as a pastor of His church.
Rev. Erik Christensen
Associate Pastor
Pastor Erik Christensen was born in Clifton, Texas, September 23, 1988 and was baptized in infancy at St. John Lutheran Church of Hamilton, Texas. He was confirmed at the same congregation in 2002. Pastor Erik grew up in Hamilton, Texas where he graduated from Hamilton High School in 2007. He received his undergraduate degree in History from Texas A&M of College Station, Texas in 2011. He went on to attend the Concordia Seminary in St Louis and graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree in 2016. As a part of his seminary preparation he was a vicar at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Elmhurst, Illinois. Pastor Erik was ordained into the holy ministry in June of 2016 at St. John Lutheran Church of Hamilton, Texas. His first call was to Our Savior Lutheran Church of Nashville, Tennessee. In 2020 he accepted the call of Grace Lutheran Church of Wayne, Nebraska to serve as their Associate Pastor.
Pastor Erik loves being in the outdoors, playing and watching baseball, and meeting new people while sharing the love of God with his community. Whether it was in his trips through Europe, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, or Tennessee Pastor Erik has loved all the adventures that God has taken him on. Pastor Erik knows that each step of his journey was just another opportunity to learn important skills that God is using in the ministry that he has been called into at Grace Lutheran Church. Pastor Erik looks forward to seeing you around town, and by God’s grace is proud to be a huge supporter of our local Wildcats!
Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Carl Lilienkamp
Pastor Emeritus
pastorlilienkamp@gracewayne.com
Pastor Carl was born in Lockwood, MO on March 10, 1951. Elementary and high school education were in Lockwood, MO. College education was at St. Paul’s College, Concordia, MO and Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, IN. Seminary education was at Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, IL and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (graduating with a M.Div. in 1977 and a Doctor of Ministry in 1994). Ordination into the ministry was on March 13, 1977 and since that time has served only in the Nebraska congregations of: St. John Lutheran Church, Madison, NE; Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Staplehurst, NE; Christ Lutheran Church, Columbus, NE; Trinity Lutheran Church, Arapahoe, NE; Grace Lutheran Church, Wayne, NE. Over the years, Pastor Lilienkamp has served synod, district, LLL and LWML in a variety of capacities on boards and committees.
Pastor Carl and Darlene Oehlert were married on June 9, 1973 in St. Louis, MO. God has blessed the marriage with 4 children: Dan, Krista, Adam and Ben. Darlene graduated from Concordia, Seward, NE with an elementary Lutheran teaching certificate. Darlene has been involved in Elementary education ever since graduation, most recently teaching in the Wayne Elementary School.
Pastor Carl and Darlene enjoy family, hiking, nature, camping and travel. Pastor Lilienkamp feels both blessed, proud and thankful that all the years of ministry have been served in the Nebraska District.