Meet our Pastor...
Michael Gene Lilienthal was born to Gene and Cynthia (nee Bakken) Lilienthal in Waconia, MN, 31 January 1989, the first of four children. He was baptized 5 February 1989 by his father at Saint John Lutheran Church, Plato, MN. Pastor Lilienthal was confirmed in 2003 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Brownsburg, IN, where his father served as pastor. Upon graduating from Brownsburg High School in 2007, he matriculated at Bethany Lutheran College (BLC). During his time there he was actively involved in the theatre department, performing in main-stage productions of Romeo and Juliet, Child of Grace, Tartuffe, and as the title role in Hamlet, in addition to directing, writing, and otherwise participating in student-led and community theatre programs. He graduated May 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, magna cum laude. The following semester he began his studies at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, where, under the advisement of Rev. Prof. Adolph Harstad, he wrote and defended his Master of Divinity thesis, entitled “The Righteous Cry Out and the Lord Hears: Using the Psalms Privately and Corporately.” In 2014, he received his vicar assignment to serve Redeemer Lutheran Church, Iola, WI. After graduation in May 2015, he was called to serve Redeemer jointly with Messiah Lutheran Church, Omro, WI. Then in April 2018 he began serving Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, MN.
Pastor Lilienthal particularly enjoys the translation of biblical Hebrew and Greek, a gift he uses in his own studies and sermon preparation. Additionally, he is an accomplished writer of poetry, fiction, and drama. In 2012 Pastor Lilienthal was commissioned by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Historical Society to write a stage play depicting the life of Rev. Bjug Harstad, first president of the reorganized Norwegian Synod in 1917. The play, entitled The Oak Trees Still Stand, was produced and performed by ELS members and BLC students for the 2013 Synod Convention. With fellow BLC alumnus Ethan Bartlett, he created the Tapestry Radio Network, a podcast network comprising some of his creative interests, including literature and drama. In the summer of 2023, Pastor Lilienthal co-founded the community theatre program Shakespeare in the Village with his sister Risha Lilienthal, in collaboration with the Albert Lea Community Theatre and the Freeborn County Historical Museum. He then directed and starred in their inaugural production of Much Ado About Nothing.
On 27 February 2010 he married Sarah Doepel. Together they have been blessed with six children, all now resting in the loving arms of their heavenly Father. The Lilienthals have further adopted two children: Isabell (9) and Samuel (almost 5). They are also currently foster parents to son Wyatt (4). The family enjoys board games, pizza and movie nights, and reading. They also love to take advantage of hiking and camping opportunities, and making crafts and snacks.