On Sunday, June 28, we joyfully welcomed and installed Pastor Jon Hackbarth as Mount Olive’s new administrative pastor. Pastor Hackbarth will serve alongside Pastor Raasch through July and will preach his first sermon at Mount Olive during the weekend of July 4-6.
Be sure to introduce yourself and give Pastor and Jenny a warm Mount Olive welcome!
About Pastor Hackbarth
Pastor Jonathan Hackbarth was born on October 29, 1973. He grew up primarily in Lake City, Minnesota, where he attended a Lutheran elementary school before continuing his education at Martin Luther Preparatory School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He then pursued his ministerial training at Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin, and graduated from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1996. During his seminary training, Pastor Hackbarth served his pastoral internship (vicar year) at Divine Word Lutheran Church in Plover, Wisconsin. He then served a one-year vacancy at Peace Lutheran in Hartford, Wisconsin, continuing there part-time during his final year of seminary.
During 26 years of ministry, Pastor Hackbarth has served at King of Kings Lutheran in Garden Grove, California (5 years), Salem Lutheran in Woodbury, Minnesota (15 years), and St. John’s Lutheran in Sparta, Wisconsin (5 years). He has also served the wider church in a variety of roles, including regional youth camps, the St. Croix Lutheran Academy Board of Regents, workshop presenter, synod convention delegate, Everyone Outreach facilitator, and Circuit Pastor in multiple districts.
Pastor Hackbarth and his wife, Jenny, have been married for 29 years and are blessed with two children—Ayden (22) and Addison (20)—who both currently live and work in the La Crosse area. Jenny has also served in ministry in a variety of settings and roles and will be joining Mount Olive as our third-grade teacher. (Learn more about her background at her installation on August 9.)
Along with spending quality time with family and friends, Pastor and Jenny enjoy athletics and coaching, with experience competing in and coaching volleyball, basketball, tennis, soccer, and more. They also enjoy traveling, exploring new places, spending time outdoors, and gardening. They are grateful to call Mount Olive home and look forward to sharing Jesus with their new church family and the Appleton community.