God’s Word is Our Great Heritage: A Conference on Creation and Education in the LCMS Biographical Sketches of Speakers Pre-Suppositional Keynote Speaker Apologetics Workshop Mr. Mike Riddle Dr. Jason Lisle President, Creation Biblical Science Institute Training Initiative “Cosmology – Evolutionary Model and “Battle for the Next Problems” Generation” Pre-Suppositional Apologetics: “Contending for the Faith” • “Understanding Genesis” Mike Riddle is the founder and president of Creation Training Initiative. He is an international • “The Ultimate Proof of Creation” speaker and teacher on biblical creation, • “Nuclear Strength Apologetics, Parts I apologetics, and Christian education. He has been and II” involved in creation apologetics for over 35 years. Dr. Jason Lisle is a Christian astrophysicist who Mike has spoken at NASA, many secular and researches issues pertaining to science and the Christian universities, churches around the world, Christian Faith. A popular speaker and author, Dr. state homeschool conventions and secular and Lisle presents a rational defense of a literal Christian schools. Prior to being involved in Genesis, showing how science confirms the history creation ministry, Mike was a Captain in the USMC recorded in the Bible. Brought up in a Christian and a national champion in track and field. Mike’s family, at a young age he received Christ as Lord. experience in the education field includes: Since then Lisle has always desired to serve the Lord out of love and gratitude for salvation, and to • M.S. Mathematics, M.A. Education spread the Gospel message to all people. • Teacher junior and senior high school • Adjunct professor Northwest Graduate Dr. Lisle double-majored in physics and astronomy School of the Ministry with a minor in mathematics at Ohio Wesleyan University. He then went on to obtain a Master’s • Instructor at the Institute for Creation degree and Ph.D. in astrophysics at the University Research Graduate School of Colorado in Boulder. There, he used the SOHO • Answers in Genesis speaker/author spacecraft to analyze the surface of the sun, and • Director/instructor U.S. Sprint’s worldwide made a number of interesting discoveries, including engineer and technical training the detection of giant cell boundaries. Since then, • Director/instructor Microsoft’s engineer Lisle has worked in full-time apologetics ministry. training He wrote a number of planetarium shows for the • Instructor USMC Creation Museum, including the popular “Created • Cosmos.” Dr. Lisle has authored a number of best- Developed and taught teacher training and selling books on the topic of creation, including: communication skills courses worldwide Taking Back Astronomy, Stargazer’s Guide to the Night Sky, the Ultimate Proof of Creation, Discerning Truth, and Understanding Genesis. God’s Word is Our Great Heritage: A Conference on Creation and Education in the LCMS Biographical Sketches of Speakers Dr. Dean O. Wenthe President, Concordia University President David Maier System President, Michigan District, LC- Professor of Exegetical MS Theology and President Emeritus, Concordia “Creation and Education in the Theological Seminary, Fort Michigan District” Wayne, IN “The Pivotal and Foundational Role of Creation Rev. Dr. David P. E. Maier, the youngest of two for Anthropology and Christology.” sons, was born May 8, 1956 to Dr. Walter A. Maier, Dr. Wenthe joined the Concordia Theological Jr. & Leah M. Maier. His grandfather was the Seminary faculty in 1971, first at the Springfield, sainted Walter A. Maier, the Lutheran Hour Illinois, campus, then in Fort Wayne when the founder. He was married to Patricia (Kemmerling) Seminary relocated there in 1976. He is a professor on July 19, 1980. Their marriage has been blessed of Exegetical Theology and president emeritus of with four children, Leah, Joel, James and the Seminary, having served as president from Hannah. Leah is married to Kyle DeWees and their 1996–2011. marriage has been blessed with Beckett and Avery, Pastor and Pat Maier’s two grandchildren. Hannah was married to Garrett Wenzelburger in June, 2016 Wenthe also serves as president of the Concordia and Joel was married to Shae Snyder this past University System for The Lutheran Church— Memorial Day weekend. Missouri Synod. President Maier received his B.A. from Concordia He received his M.Div. from Concordia Seminary University Ann Arbor with a double major in Biblical (1971); Th.M. from Princeton Theological Languages and Christian Doctrine. Attending Seminary (1974); and his Ph.D. in Hebrew Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, he Scriptures from the University of Notre Dame with served his vicarage year at West Portal Lutheran minors in Ethics and Judaica (1991). Church in San Francisco, CA in 1980. After his Ordination on August 15, 1982, he served as Mission Pastor of Our Savior in Marlette, MI and He was pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Atlantic, then as Youth Pastor and interim Head Pastor at Iowa (1977–1980), and pastoral assistant at St. Peter in Arlington Heights, IL. In 1989, he was Emanuel Lutheran Church, New Haven, Indiana called to Our Savior in Lansing, MI as (1989–1996). Administrative/Senior Pastor. During his tenure, the congregation and school moved to a brand new He served on the Commission of Theology and facility on a 30 acre campus. He served there until Church Relations 1977–1980 and as a member of he was elected President of the Michigan District, the President’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life. LCMS in June of 2009. During the 2012 and 2015 District Conventions, he was re-elected to another term. President Maier has been a frequent speaker at youth retreats, men’s gatherings, and District Conferences and Conventions outside of Michigan. He has served numerous times as Dean at Camp Arcadia, Michigan. He has also served God’s Word is Our Great Heritage: A Conference on Creation and Education in the LCMS Biographical Sketches of Speakers the Michigan District as a Pastoral Advisor to President Terry Forke Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ, to the LWML and LLL, and as a Circuit Visitor, Circuit Visitor President, Montana District, LC- Chairman, and as Vice-President. MS President Maier’s service to Synod includes the “Truth: The Intersection of Worship Floor Committee for the 2001 LCMS Faith and Science” Convention and as a Council of Presidents representative on the Seminary & University Terry Forke is President of the Montana District of Education Floor Committee in 2010, the Theology the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He was born & Church Relations Floor Committee in 2013, and in Omaha, Nebraska in 1956. In 1979 he married Chairman of the Floor Committee 18 – Worker Cheryl Koschmann. They have five children, Wellness in 2016. He has served on the Specific Joshua, Jacob, Ruth, Judy, Christal and eleven Ministry Pastor (SMP) Task Force and the grandchildren. Terry and Cheryl make their home Resolution #4-04A Task Force for the Synod. He is in Billings. currently serving as the Chairman of the Council of Presidents. He received a BA in 1979 from Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1983 he received a Master In 2007, Maier was awarded his first honorary of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and doctorate by St. Peter Confessional Lutheran in 1989 a Master of Sacred Theology from the Church of South Africa. He was presented with the same institution. Outstanding Alumnus Award in May 2010 at Concordia University Ann Arbor during the Terry has served his entire career in Montana. He Commencement exercises where he was also the served as Pastor of Grace and Shepherd of the Commencement Speaker. In the spring of 2012, Hills Lutheran Churches in Three Forks and Ennis Concordia University Ann Arbor awarded him the from 1983-1993, and Our Redeemer Lutheran Doctorate of Laws Degree in recognition of a Church in Columbia Falls from 1993-2006 when he lifetime of outstanding leadership and diligent labor was elected President of the Montana District. in the Lord’s Kingdom. In December, 2012, Concordia University Wisconsin conferred the Terry served on the Board of Directors of Habitat honorary degree of Doctor of Letters to Maier. for Humanity of the Flathead Valley. He has been active in Lutherans for Life, a pro-life organization, A humbled sinner and cancer survivor, forgiven and for 35 years. He is now involved in the leadership healed at the foot of the cross, continually awed by of the Montana Pastors’ Network, an effort to inform the love of a gracious Savior, President Maier looks and embolden Pastors to speak out on issues of forward to the leading and direction of our Lord life, marriage and religious freedom. Jesus as he continues in His service. It is his firm conviction to share his joy in knowing Jesus as In addition to serving as District President he also Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of serves as Pastor of Trinity, Harlowton and St. Paul, God unto salvation for all people. In Christ, he Roundup, Montana. knows, the best is always yet to come! God’s Word is Our Great Heritage: A Conference on Creation and Education in the LCMS Biographical Sketches of Speakers President John C. Wille served on variety of floor committees for LCMS conventions, including as the chairman for the President, South Wisconsin ecclesiastical floor committee at the 2016 District, LC-MS convention in Milwaukee. “Creation and Education in the Rev. Wille was granted an honorary doctorate from South Wisconsin District” Concordia University Wisconsin in 2009. Rev. Dr. John C. Wille has served as the president In regards to continuing education, President Wille of the South Wisconsin District LCMS since 2006. has completed Pastoral Leadership Institute plus As part of the Council of Presidents, he presently two additional years of governance training, and he serves as the chairman of the Clergy Call and has participated in DOXOLOGY.