Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

June 17, 2009, Front page

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Biebert thankful for 25 years in ministry

Photo by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press

Neillsville’s St. John’s Lutheran Church Pastor Tim Biebert poses next to his church’s sign Tuesday, June 9.  Biebert has served in the ministry for 25 years, including 14 years in Neillsville.

By Peter Spicer

Spending 25 years in the ministry has been a “thank you to the Lord” for Neillsville’s St. John’s Lutheran Church Pastor Tim Biebert.

When Biebert survived a car accident that took the life of his brother when Biebert was just nine years old, he learned early on about what matters most in life.

Although Biebert’s father was also a Lutheran pastor, he was never pushed into the ministry but chose to serve others in that capacity.

Biebert moved with his family to several communities as a youth but spent some of his youth in Franklin.

Biebert attended Northwestern Prep School in Watertown and later graduated from the school’s college.  He furthered his education at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon to prepare for the ministry beginning in 1984. 

Biebert spent five years at his first pastoral position at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam, a congregation of under 100.  As the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Biebert served approximately 300 congregants from the rural communities of Prairie Farm and Dallas north of Menomonie.  Biebert spent six years at the church before moving to Neillsville in 1995.

Biebert has spent the last 14 years at St. John’s Church, which has approximately 650 members.

By serving others, Biebert has learned to greater appreciate what God does for everyone.

St. John’s Church, a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) congregation, provides many opportunities for congregants, including adult and children’s Bible studies, weekday classes for prospective church members and Wednesday evening Bible studies.

St. John’s Lutheran School educates just under 50 preschool through eight-grade students.

St. John’s Church and School has been blessed with great people, said Biebert.

Biebert doesn’t try to be a “spiritual czar” but instead stands back and allows others to use their knowledge and leadership abilities to help the church and school.

Biebert credits congregation chairman John Hagedorn for his support and leadership over the past few years.

Following his father’s example, Biebert and his wife, Linda, have not pushed any of their eight children – whose ages range from 1 to 25 – into the ministry.  However, the Biebert’s five oldest children are already on the path to serving full-time in the ministry.  The seven oldest Biebert children are boys; the youngest is a girl.

Biebert’s son Nathan, 25, attended seminary and began serving at a Lutheran high school in Nebraska.  Zachary, 23, is a teacher at a Lutheran school in Williamston, MI.

In the midst of a struggling economy, Biebert reminds his congregants and others “the Lord is in control of what is going on” and strengthens people’s faith if they rely on Him.

With God’s blessing, Biebert looks forward to continue serving in Neillsville or anywhere God wants him to serve.