About Us and Leadership

St. John Lutheran Church Holgate

St. John Lutheran has been a church in the Holgate area since the late 1840s. We are proud to be a (LCMS) Lutheran congregation and we stand by what we believe and confess each and every day. We welcome everyone to church and hope to see you all at other events during the week. If you have any questions about what we believe and confess stop by Pastor Haugen's office any time during the week or give him a call at 419-264-4641.  God's blessings on your walk with the Lord! 

Pastor James Haugen III 

James Allen Haugen III was born on March 16th, 1997 to James Haugen Jr. and Jennifer (Swithers) Haugen in Billings, Montana. He then was baptized on April 6th, 1997 by James Haugen Sr. in Billings Montana at Mt. Olive Lutheran. James then confirmed his faith on May 15th, 2011 at St. John Lutheran Church in Strongsville, Ohio. He then continued his path of study to become a pastor by attending Concordia University Ann Arbor. While attending Concordia James meet his lovely wife Michaela (Jones) and then after graduation in 2019, they were married on July 13th, 2019. After receiving his degree in pre-pastoral studies James continued his education at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne. While attending seminary Michaela started her teaching job at Patrick Henry which started their journey to Holgate.

During their second year at the seminary Michaela and James received their vicarage placement to St. Paul Lutheran in Napoleon Ohio while serving alongside St. John Lutheran in Holgate Ohio. The Haugen family then became bigger on July 11th, 2021 with the birth of their daughter Ella Rose. She has blessed the family and continues to be a burst of energy. After vicarage, the Haugens continued to serve St. John Holgate while James finished up his studies at the seminary. The Haugens faithfully received their call on April 25th, 2023 to serve the people at St. John Lutheran Holgate Ohio. The Lord has blessed the Haugens and their families with this call and they are eager to begin the Lord’s ministry here in Holgate, Ohio.

President- Tim Schumm

Elders- Mike Rosebrock, Doug Ordway, Paul Schumm

Treasurer- Jerry Oberhaus

Trustees- Tom Baker and Joe Baker

Sunday School Superintendent- Cindy Baker

Communion Statement 

The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as he says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but his very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with him and with one another. Our Lord invites to his table those who trust his words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as he forgives and loves us, that they may show forth his death until he comes.  Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation which is a member of the LCMS and yet desire to receive the sacrament, are asked first to speak with the pastor or an usher.  For further study, see Matthew 5:23f.; 10:32f.; 18:15-35; 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:17-34.