Meet Our Team

Meet Pastor Chris

Thank you so much for taking a moment to learn more about the people of St. Mark!

To let you know a bit about myself– I love helping people meet Jesus. Not the idea of him, or facts about him, but to genuinely experience Jesus in the ways he promises you can find him.

And that’s my hope for you, too.

I’ve had a lot of ministry experiences before coming to Battle Creek in 2022. Most recently, my wife and I started a mission church in the heart of St. Louis, MO. Before that I was a Worship Director, and even had a stint as a Youth Director while I was in college.

I’m a huge Texas Longhorns fan (hook ‘em!) ever since my years at Concordia University in Austin, Texas. Afterwards, I graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Aside from my education and experience, my wife Ashley and I married in 2005 and we have five kids through adoption and foster care. It can get busy running kids to dance lessons or hockey practices, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

If you haven’t done so already, please come check out St. Mark on a Sunday morning. Our team works hard to make sure your Sunday morning experience is a great one, and I pride myself on preaching messages that are engaging, practical, and help you draw closer to Jesus.

We’ll see you soon, and be blessed–

Chris Paavola, Senior Pastor