Our Leadership

Pastor Mark Friedrich was born in Oregon and grew up in Marcus, Iowa. Both his father and grandfather served as pastors.

After Mark graduated from high school his family moved to Jamestown,North Dakota. His parents remained there until his father’s retirement. They currently live in Algona, Iowa.

Mark received his BA degree from Concordia College, St Paul, Minnesota, after which he attended Concordia Seminary, St Louis, Missouri. During his vicarage in Golconda, Illinois he met his first wife Kathy. They were married two days after Mark graduated from seminary.

Pastor Mark and Kathy moved to Dalhart, Texas for his first call as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church. During their 4 year stay in Texas God blessed them with two children, Megan and Daniel.

Pastor Mark was called to be pastor to a dual parish at Trinity Lutheran Church, Phillips and Zion Lutheran Church Kennan, Wisconsin, serving these congregations for 5 years. God blessed Mark and Kathy with 2 more children,  Nathan and Abby. Pastor Mark was then called to St Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  A year and a half later, God called Kathy home on Aug 7, 1997 after struggling with lung cancer for about a year.

God did not want Pastor Mark to raise 4 children by himself so He brought a wonderful woman into his life. Pastor Mark and Cindy met and were married. Cindy had a daughter Nikki from her first marriage to Rick who died the same year as Kathy. They have raised these 5 children and God has brought many blessings to their family.

Pastor Mark was called to be pastor of Mountain View Lutheran Church in Apache Junction, Arizona in 2005. After he and Cindy visited Arizona he accepted the call of God and is faithfully serving at Mountain View.

Pastor Mark is thankful to God for the grace and mercy He has shown to him and his family. Without the love of God none of us could ever stand before the holiness of God. It is by God’s grace we have been saved, a true gift of God.

“We have enjoyed our many years at Mountain View Lutheran. God has blessed our ministry here. The church has been growing and we have many opportunities to for mission and ministry.

One of my passions is hiking and I love to connect with people through hiking. Getting out in God’s creation is a wonderful way to see God’s beautiful creation and how he provides for us and all he has created. Anyone who would like to go hiking with me check for times and places in our church bulletin.

We have much to do to help the least, the lost and those who need help the most. Will you join us as we seek to bring Christ to the community and our world?

I also thank God for my wife and family and hope that I can be the kind of father and husband that God wants me to be.”