5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:5-6
Pastor Frahm has served congregations in the Midwest and Colorado prior to accepting the divine call to be pastor of Grace in Racine. He is a 1998 graduate of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, a seminary of Lutheran Church-Canada, a sister synod of the LCMS. Pastor Frahm has served continuously as a parish pastor in the LCMS since ordained in 1998. He is known strongly as a teaching pastor and leading reverent liturgical service rooted firmly in the classic Lutheran understanding (see Augsburg Confession XXIV).
Pastor Frahm considers our historic Lutheran doctrinal and liturgical heritage a crucial asset for the mission and life of the church and our identity. The historic liturgy with its ceremonies best conveys the fullness of what we believe, teach, and confess. The Divine Service is not simply a stylistic flavor among contemporary or other options, but is the confession of the historic Christian faith (hence Augsburg Confession, Article XXIV). Stewarding the content and delivery of the Divine Service with its hymnody and ceremonial throughout the Church Year is a chief pastoral duty. Also, he believes in providing solid instruction for youth and adults and preparing congregations to remain steadfast and bold in confessing the faith amid the changing culture. The Bible, catechism and hymnal are key to our identity as church as we reach out to those in the world around us. Sadly, not all Lutherans have maintained that heritage, but Rev. Frahm seeks to maintain that for the sake of the gospel medicine pure and clear.
Pastor Frahm was born in a Chicago suburb and was raised in a small southern Minnesota town surrounded by corn fields and prairie. His extended family live in Twin Cities area. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University – Mankato and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada (LC-C seminary affiliated with Brock University). He majored in historical theology in his Master of Divinity studies. During his college years Pastor Frahm was very involved in campus ministry in Mankato and was the first president of Region 4 (MN and Dakotas) of Lutheran Student Fellowship (now LCMS U). He considers himself a product of LCMS campus ministry in many ways. In between college and seminary he was a member at University Lutheran Chapel in Minneapolis, MN and served on the board of elders there. During his college years he was blessed to have heard many excellent theologians and churchmen of the Lutheran church who were influential in his desire to attend seminary. He also counts it a blessing to have been formed pastorally during his seminary years by many fine professors and pastors. His vicarage year was served in a combination campus ministry and parish setting in central Michigan.
He is happily married to Jennifer, a southwestern Michigan native as well as a life-long LCMS member. She has worked in higher education. They both enjoy visiting and vacationing in the great north woods around Lake Superior and Michigan, the Rocky Mountain west, train travel, reading, etc. Pastor Frahm also enjoys music, watching hockey, bike riding, hiking in the woods, and is something of a railfan and train nerd.
Pastor Frahm has had articles published in The Lutheran Witness; Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology; The Bride of Christ liturgical journal, has been a guest on Issues Etc, and has been published on various Lutheran blogs and theological discussion sites (Brothers of John the Steadfast, Gottesdienst blog, and others). He also helped author study guide documents for the ACELC film project – “If Not Now, When?” In the public square, he has also contributed research in the area of religious and civil liberties in the civil realm as well as supporting the cause of human life ethics.
In these times especially, it is important to be prepared to confess the truth and give an answer to those who ask us for a reason for the hope within us. Personalities, fads, programs, and such come and go but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Congregations are not built upon the chaff of personalities or programs but upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets with Jesus Christ Himself as the cornerstone. Where possible, the support of solidly Lutheran schools (at various levels) also bolsters faith and equips Christians for serving in this life as servants of God in their particular vocations. In our vexing culture it is important that congregations are deeply rooted in the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). In this way we may stand by God’s grace in the oncoming storm confident in our Lord who has won the victory and will return in glory on the Last Day. The Lord’s accomplishment of salvation of sinners in the crucified and risen Messiah is no fall-back plan but was something of the heart of God in eternity in love and mercy. Without Christ we are not merely broken, but spiritual blind and dead without saving faith in Christ and we need spiritual and physical resurrection. Therefore nothing is so central as the spoken and sacramental Gospel of Christ that deliver to us in the here and now the benefits and blessings of Good Friday and Easter and indeed Christ Himself as the Holy Spirit enlivens us.
Almighty God, grant to Your church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom which comes down from heaven, that Your Word may not be bound, but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people. In steadfast faith, we may serve You and in the confession of Your name, abide to the end through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.