Our Staff

David Christensen
Lead Pastor
Pastor David Christensen currently lives north of Marshall on the farm where his great-grandparents homesteaded. His wife, Julie, and their daughters; Johanna (married to Josh), Signe, Kaia, and Siri have a passion for ministry, music, and good food. They have a large garden that they tend alongside their organic farm and dairy operation. Life is good and delicious, because God is faithful! David attended St. Olaf College, where he majored in English, and Luther Seminary, where he received his M.Div. in 1998. His first call was to Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, MN as co-lead pastor. He served there until 2008 when he moved to Marshall, MN, as a campus pastor at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU). In 2010 a church plant started in Marshall. Living Word Lutheran Church would call David to full-time ministry that year. His role at Living Word includes preacher, teacher, and counselor. God has richly blessed and grown the ministry of Living Word over the years. As David often says, “When the Holy Spirit moves, all you can do is buckle-up and go for the ride!” And what an incredible journey it has been for David and his family! They have witnessed God’s power and love as Jesus is proclaimed and praised. To God be the glory!!

Greg Pavek
Associate Pastor
Greg Pavek was hired at Living Word in August of 2015 as Living Word’s Youth Minister. He is now in the Associate Pastor role and loves shepherding families and people of all ages and faith stages. He is accompanied in ministry by his wife Erika, who is an elementary teacher. Together, they have two sons (Sawyer and Lincoln) and a daughter (Solveig). Both Greg and Erika understand that the challenges of living out your faith are always evolving and acknowledging them with authenticity is important. Their heart is to show people that church is not a perfect place for perfect people but a place where broken people come to worship a perfect God. Their goal is to help guide people into lasting relationships with Jesus Christ where they can live out their faith in all aspects of life. Greg has a passion for showing Christ to all ages of people, in not only word and speech, but in deed and truth.

Katlyn Benson
Office Manager

Jaci Peterson
director of
CHILDREN'S MINISTRy

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DIRECTOR OF
YOUTH MINISTRY

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DIRECTOR OF
WORSHIP MINISTRY

Elly Sprik
DIRECTOR OF
cONNECTION mINISTRY

Kathy Dahl
FINANCIAL SECRETARY

Jeff Davenport
maintenance technician
