Pastor Joel Zank has been in the ministry since 1987. He has served Mount Olive since 1996. His ministry began in the classroom. Pastor Zank served as a religion teacher at Shoreland Lutheran High School near Kenosha, Wisconsin. He entered parish ministry when he was called to serve a congregation in Rochester, Minnesota. In 2014 he was elected President of the WELS Northern Wisconsin District. In this role he spends time working with member churches and called workers throughout the area.
“Ministry means serving others with God’s Word. Mount Olive is a church that ministers to all. It seeks to minister to its members by using God’s Word to instruct and encourage them. At the same time, Mount Olive ministers to the people of Appleton, seeking to share the good news of God’s saving love with everyone. This is best accomplished when we at Mount Olive are growing in our knowledge of Christ and, then, living our faith in him every day.”
Pastor Zank and his wife Cindy have one daughter, Carrie. The Zanks love to camp as well as cheer for the Brewers and Packers.