Joel Christiansen

Pastor-Bible Classes & Special Projects

I love communicating the Gospel and sharing how the message of Christ impacts every area of our lives. I desire for people to experience the lasting joy and fulfillment that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Instead of spending life burdened by fears, anxiety, and unsatisfying pursuits of temporal matters, I want people to find the freedom and forgiveness that God offers to everyone. I served as the Webster Gardens Senior Pastor for twenty-six years and retired in 2022.  I now serve as an assistant Pastor helping our community with pastoral care, Bible Class oversight, and other special projects as needed.  

Prior to my years as a pastor, I received a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. God has blessed me abundantly with a wonderful family. I was married to my wife, Lori, for 37 years before she died in 2015. Our daughter, Rachel, is married to Ryan Taube, and they are members at Webster Gardens. Our son Andrew is married to Hannah, and they live in Omaha, Nebraska. In God’s surprising way, He placed Mary Cernik into my life and we were married in 2019. In my free time, I love cycling and reading. Ironically though, my love for cycling has led me to have two different titanium plates inserted into my same collar bone as a result of my crashes!