Benjamin Pagel
Principal at Peridot Our Savior's Lutheran School
Speakers
Phoenix Speakers
Meet the pastors, teachers, and leaders who bring God’s Word to Men of His Word Phoenix.
Daniel Gensmer
Pastor at Emmanuel, Tempe, AZ
I grew up in Florida and am a graduate of Michigan Lutheran Seminary (2016) and Martin Luther College (2020). Between MLC and the Seminary, I spent a portion of 2020 working on Spanish in Quito, Ecuador. Finally, in May 2026 I graduated from the Seminary and was assigned to Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tempe, Arizona. It has been an exciting year of change; my wife Rachel and I introduced our first child, Lillian, into this world this past June before making the big move to Arizona. We have been loving our new home and have been growing as I have settled into serving as an associate pastor at Emmanuel. Beyond the basics, I love tennis, cooking, Mexican food, my lovely wife, and our Lord.
David Parsons
Pastor at Holy Cross, Tucson
Pastor David Parsons began ministry at East Fork and Canyon Day Lutheran Churches on the White Mountain Apache Reservation as well as teaching at East Fork Lutheran School and the Apache Christian Training School. For the past eleven years, he has served as pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Tucson, Arizona. The congregation recently purchased new property on Tucson's east side, with plans to build a new facility that will better accommodate its growing congregation and expanding ministry. Pastor Parsons and his wife René have been blessed with six children.
Gary Pufahl
Pastor at Emmanuel, Tempe, AZ
I am an armored, baptized child of God who has the privilege of serving the Lord and his people in varying vocations. I serve as the lead pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tempe, Arizona, and as the circuit pastor of the Superstition Mountains Circuit. My wife Kris and I have been married for 25 years, and we have four children ranging in ages from 17 to 23. I enjoy being outdoors golfing, camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, and just soaking up the sun. It is my joy not only to prepare myself for the unseen battles but to prepare others as well. I seek to glorify God and to serve others with my life.
Jasper Sellnow
Pastor at Grace, Glendale, AZ
Jeff Gunn
Retired Pastor
Jeff formerly served for 14 years as a missionary in Zambia, Central Africa, was a high school teacher, coach, and assistant principal at Arizona Lutheran Academy, and subsequently served as Director of Native American Missions for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). In 2004, he became the founding pastor at CrossWalk Lutheran Ministries in Phoenix, AZ. He accepted a call to Amazing Love Lutheran Church in the greater Chicagoland area in 2021. He retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2024. Jeff is a self-described “leadership geek” and enjoys helping pastors, educators and business leaders with organizational leadership. Jeff is married, and he and his wife Julie have 5 children, all married, 14 grandchildren and 1 dog.
John Sebald
Keynote Speaker
Mark Jacobson
Pastor at Grace, Glendale
Pastor Mark Jacobson has served congregations in the Tucson and Phoenix areas since 2004. Pastor Jacobson also serves on the WELS AZ/CA District constitution committee. He and his wife, Amy, have been married for 25 years. They have three adult children. Next September they will have four. In his free time Pastor Jacobson enjoys coaching, officiating and playing an occasional round of golf.
Michael Berg
Professor, Wisconsin Lutheran College
Rev. Dr. Michael Berg teaches theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He has authored books on Vocation, Worship, Baptism, the Theology of the Cross, and Theological Formation (upcoming). He is married to Amanda, a preschool director at Pilgrim Lutheran in Menomonee Falls, WI. Amanda and Mike have three daughters ages 23, 21, and 18.
Shawn Herkstroeter
Grace in Action
Timothy Glende
Pastor at Crosswalk, Phoenix
Tim Glende has been a WELS pastor since 1998, beginning his ministry with a mission start-up in Urbana/Savoy, IL. From 2006-2025, he served as the Lead Pastor of 922 Ministries in Appleton, WI, a multi-site church that includes St. Peter Lutheran Church and The CORE. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Crosswalk Ministries in Phoenix, AZ. In his free time, Tim enjoys working out, spending time with his wife, Holly, and visiting their adult children and grandchildren.
Zac Pudlo
Pastor at Cross of Glory, Peoria