Welcome to Bethlehem Lutheran Church

 

Pastor Jeffrey R. Fricke
Associate Pastor for Discipleship

Jeffrey R. Fricke was born in 1959, one of four children born to Bob and Lois Fricke. The family lived in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Jeff graduated from Prospect High School and received a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Illinois State University. While at Illinois State, Jeff met his wife, Joy. The two were married the summer after graduation before Jeff entered seminary.

 Jeff attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and completed his internship at Rejoice Lutheran on the western edge of Omaha, Nebraska. Following graduation the Frickes started their family, and Amanda was born one month before Jeff began his first call at Our Saviour’s Lutheran in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The Frickes other two daughters, Jennifer and Susan, were born in Nebraska during the five years of rural ministry done with St. John’s in rural Columbus, Nebraska.

Pastor Jeff returned to the Chicago area in 1991 to work with Community of Christ Lutheran in Schaumburg, Illinois. This church was a re-development site with the ELCA and eventually was merged with Prince of Peace Lutheran in Schaumburg while Jeff served as Pastor.

 Following the seven years in Schaumburg it was back to Omaha to work with another church in transition, Morning Star Lutheran, where he served as Senior Pastor. Jeff arrived in the Fox Valley in 2002 to serve in transition as Senior Pastor at Bethany Lutheran of Batavia before coming to Bethlehem as our Interim Associate Pastor.  The interim part of Jeff's title was removed when he was called as Associate Pastor for Discipleship in August of 2006.

Jeff and Joy have been married for 25 years. Their kids are growing and going to high school and college while Pastor Jeff continues to focus on helping people grow in their faith relationship with God and reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ.