A couple months ago, the new class of five lead pastor residents started working at several of the Mars Hill churches in our Lead Pastor Residency Program. Under their respective local church lead pastors, they are learning about what it means to pastor a church long-term. Last week, you met Choi, Gray, and Birdwell. Today, we’ll introduce you to Rohde and Haeusel.
Miles Rohde
Mars Hill Bellevue
What’s your story?
I was born in a small Minnesota town called Caledonia on May 14, 1972, to Michael and Bernice Rohde. Because of my father’s service in the U.S. Army, I had lived in Oklahoma, Florida, Hawaii, and North Dakota by my 1st grade year. I lived in Houston, Texas, from my 3rd grade year to my sophomore year in college. Born and baptized in the Lutheran faith, then later on baptized in the Catholic faith at the age of 5, my family and I were unconverted and sporadic in our church attendance. I experienced some success as an athlete in Texas football and baseball, but my pursuit in life was fairly self-absorbed.
On December 15, 1988, at the age of 16, I was invited by some Christian friends to a Christmas party where I was ended up being the only non-born again person there. Unknown to me, this group had been praying for me to come to faith for some time. One of the friends, whose home it was that we occupied, took me in his living room and shared the hope that he had in the saving power of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit used him to make me aware of my sinful state and that in order to be reconciled to God I needed to trust in Christ alone for salvation. So in his front yard I asked God to forgive me of my sins and I placed my hope and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord.
How’d you know you were called into ministry?
In June 1989, while attending my first youth camp, I sensed the call of God on my life to pastoral ministry. Some try to describe what it means to be called by talking about “lumps in throats,” “increased heart rates,” and the like. For me, I experienced a singling-out of sorts in my heart and mind, as if I were the only person in the room. I didn’t even know what it meant to be called to be a pastor, and in retrospect, it was very subjective. That was until other adult leaders and pastors began to affirm what I knew to be true in my heart. I spent the remaining years of high school being discipled by a few wonderful pastors at Houston Northwest Church.
After high school, I interned for our senior pastor and then went off to college where I tried my best to run away from the call of God on my life. For 3 years I was successful. Not doing well in college, I moved to Minnesota where my family had relocated and, shortly thereafter, joined the Air Force in January 1994. In hindsight, the Lord was using all of this to bring me back to himself and to firmly reestablish his call on my life. I joined and trained in one of the most grueling and specialized career fields in the military as a Combat Survival Instructor (now called SERE Specialist). It was during this time that the Lord convicted me of my rebellious ways and brought me to a Bible-centered and gospel-driven church in Spokane, WA.
This is where I would meet my pastoral/life/marriage mentor, meet my future wife, and begin to pursue the pastoral call on my life in obedience to God’s call on my life. After seven years as a USAF SERE Specialist and a year as a government contractor/interrogator, I entered into fulltime Christian ministry in Spokane. In 2002, the Lord moved my wife and 2-year-old son to Minnesota where we would begin an 11-year pastoral journey that would include heartbreak, struggle, weakness, blessing, healing, renewed passion for the gospel ministry to which I have been called, and ultimately calling us to Mars Hill Church to be a part of the Lead Pastor Residency program. My wife, Pamela and I will be have been married 17 years this January and we have two wonderful children: Evan Michael (13), and Faith Noel (7).
What’s something you learned in your first couple weeks of residency?
I have learned that things move fast and that everyone, from staff to volunteers, work very hard and are on mission to making disciples and plant churches at Mars Hill. However, what has been a humbling surprise has been observing a significant culture of confession of sin and repentance among pastors/elders/deacons, etc. In a church culture where achievements and accolades are the ends pursued, there has not been a meeting I have attended or a conversation I have had that did not have a thread of understanding the seriousness of sin and the desire for confession and repentance. I could not be more grateful to serve alongside men and women who take seriously the grace of God that covers them, that compels them to confess and repent, and moves them to love and serve Jesus.
What’s a fun fact about you or your family?
My mother and father met in Tehran, Iran in June 1969. My father was stationed with the Army in Tehran, and my mother’s dad was working with an oil company and living in the Middle East. When asked where my parents met, I tell people Iran and proceed to get strange looks from them as they try to figure out why I don’t look Iranian.
Matthias Haeusel
Mars Hill Downtown Seattle
What’s your story?
I grew up in a devout Christian home near Frankfurt, Germany. I have a large extended family in Germany who all love Jesus. The rarity and blessing of this upbringing cannot be overstated; the land of the Reformation is anti-God and not looking for a Savior. When I was seven years old, I met Jesus at a Christian camp and by God’s grace I’ve been walking with him ever since. In my teen years, I worked with a global ministry called Youth with a Mission. After a required one-year stint in the German Army as a tank driver, I moved to the US to work with Youth with a Mission in Kona, Hawaii. I served as a Bible teacher and led mission trips to 14 different nations.
While serving in Hawaii I met my wife Andrea. We got to know one another while serving together in the island nation of Tonga. We were engaged in Costa Rica, married in Lake Tahoe, and after our honeymoon, went to Bible school in Switzerland. When we got married, our prayer was that God would leverage our lives however he saw fit, to bring him glory and make his name famous. It’s been an adventure-filled marriage! We have been married for 19 years. We have four children who love Jesus. It’s a joy to watch their unique personalities and gifts develop.
How’d you know you were called into ministry?
I have been involved in ministry from an early age. My dad was an elder in our church and I had a godly example to follow. When I was 16, God spoke to me that I was to become a missionary to the United States. Sharing this with my Christian friends resulted in much scorn. They reasoned that America sends missionaries, they don’t need them. I knew God was calling me to this task, and I took steps to get to the US as soon as possible.
A few years later, I followed this calling and moved to the United States. I went to Hawaii and served with Youth with a Mission for 3 years. I led Discipleship Training Schools comprised of 12-80 students on international missions trips.
I met my wife in Hawaii and together we pursued our calling into full-time ministry. We enrolled in Bible school in Switzerland. While there, our theology was challenged, tested, and formed. Next, we pioneered a missionary training base in Colorado. This involved purchasing and remodeling a 150-acre ranch, co-writing the curriculum for a young leaders training school, and co-leading the school with another couple for three years.
During our time in Colorado, we found out Andrea’s dad was ill and we didn’t know how long he had. We ended our work with Youth with a Mission and moved to San Jose, California, to be a support to our family. I didn’t know what was next in terms of ministry but I knew I had to support my family and I so got a job as a manager in an outdoor retail store. While working in the secular world for two years, the desire to return to full-time ministry grew steadily, despite a fun work environment and a good paycheck.
This sense of calling to pastoral ministry was confirmed by elders in the church we were attending at the time, and came to fruition when I was hired as a pastor at the same church. I resigned from my management position and completed my Biblical training with a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology from San Jose Christian College and a master’s degree at Grace Theological Seminary.
I have served as a lead pastor, teaching pastor, and student ministries pastor. Most recently, I planted and led a church in downtown Austin, Texas. In each of these roles, we have been blessed to see men and women come to faith in Jesus Christ and see lives dramatically impacted and changed by the gospel. This is the greatest possible confirmation of being called to full-time ministry.
We have followed Mars Hill for many years and are so grateful for the opportunity to serve here. We appreciate the deep love of theology and the truth that is proclaimed while not shying away from pro-actively living on mission for Christ. It’s a privilege to be here. We look forward to what God has for us as we serve and love the people of Mars Hill.
What’s something you learned in your first couple weeks of residency?
Be flexible, be humble, step up, and love Jesus and his church!
What’s a fun fact about you or your family?
We have four kids, who are super fun and who regularly enjoy making fun of my accent and pronunciation.
We think puppies, I mean Huskies, are cute, but we root for the Longhorns!
The 2013 Lead Pastor Residency Program application process is closed. If you are interested in applying for the 2014 program, please email residency@marshill.com and when applications reopen we will let you know.
