Stephen P. Starke

Rev. Stephen P. Starke has always had a heart for hymns. At a young age, Starke played hymns out of The Lutheran Hymnal and read through the hymnal to pass the time before Sunday services. Pastor Starke graduated from Concordia University Chicago with a BA. While completing his MDiv from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, he attempted his first hymn text and was encouraged to write more. Since that time, he has written more than 200 hymns inspired by music and the Scriptures. He is regularly commissioned to write hymns for special occasions. Because of his extensive work as a hymnwriter, Pastor Starke received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Concordia University, Irvine, California, an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, and an honorary doctor of letters degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He also received the Christus Primus Award from Concordia University, Ann Arbor for his distinguished service to the Church and his contributions to hymnody. It is through the medium of hymns that Pastor Starke desires to preserve and pass on the truths of the Gospel for generations to come.