Our Pastor

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Pastor David Tinker has served as our pastor since April 2012. Beginning in September 2016 Pastor Tinker began serving also as the pastor of Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church near Ledbetter, Texas.  This is part of a new shared ministry arrangement between MLLC and the Waldeck Church.  He has served as a pastor in Lutheran Churches for over 28 years.

He has served previous congregations in Ohio, Florida and Indiana.  A graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, and the University of Texas at Austin, he was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor on June 9, 1994.  Prior to attending seminary he worked at KUHT – Channel 8 – Houston PBS.  Pastor Tinker is married to Deaconess Jennifer Tinker, and they have two sons together, ages 20 and 6.  Jennifer was consecrated as a Lutheran Deaconess through the Lutheran Deaconess Assocation in 2001.  Her current, primary areas of service include parenting their sons, leading the Treehouse Lutheran Campus Ministry Board (Texas A&M and Blinn), serving as a supply preacher at area churches, and as a Zentangle Teacher.  She is creative with writing, painting, music, and other arts.

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Pastor David Tinker grew up in the Spring Branch area of Houston, Texas, and some of his family still live in the Houston area.  He finds great joy in seeing people grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Pastor David Tinker celebrated his 20th Anniversary of Ordination in 2014.  The people of MLLC graciously held a reception in honor of this special anniversary.  The reception was on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2014, which was the closest day to his ordination anniversary.  A 25th Anniversary event was held on June 9, 2019.  This was on the actual anniversary date.  A commemorative plaque was presented to him on that day.

This is Pastor David Tinker with his wife and son on the day of his 20th Anniversary of Ordination in 2014.

Pastor and Family June 2014

Here is Pastor David Tinker (left) with Pastor Chris Markert (right) when Pastor Markert was he was visiting MLLC on behalf of the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod ELCA.  This visit was on Sunday, September 17, 2017.  For several years Pastor Markert served as the Mission Catalyst (Director for Evangelical Mission) for our synod.  He is now serving as a mission developer for a congregation in the Houston area.

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This is Pastor David Tinker (left) with Pastor Pedro Suárez (right), who was, at that time, the Director for Evangelical Mission, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod ELCA. This was taken when Pastor Suárez visited MLLC in November 2013.  Pastor Suárez currently serves as the Bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA

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A few “Get to Know” items:

Schools:
1984 – Spring Woods High School – Houston, Texas
1989 – The University of Texas – Austin, Texas; B.S. in Radio-TV-Film
1994 – Trinity Lutheran Seminary – Columbus, Ohio; M.Div.
Churches where he has served as pastor:
1994-1998 – Faith Lutheran Church – Otterbein, Indiana
1998-2005 – St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – North Liberty, Indiana
2005-2006 – Grace Lutheran Church – Miami Springs, Florida
2006-2012 – St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church – Oak Harbor, Ohio
2012-present – Martin Luther Lutheran Church – Carmine, Texas
2016-present – Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church – Ledbetter, Texas
As of April 30, 2024, Pastor David Tinker has served at Martin Luther Lutheran Church as pastor for over 12 years.  This is longer than he has served at any previous congregation.
Favorite Movies: White Christmas, Holiday Inn, Fantasia, Metropolitan
Favorite Authors: C. S. Lewis; Harry Wendt, author of the Crossways Bible Study materials; Charles Dickens; Donna Tartt; Michael W. Foss; David Housholder, Alistair Cooke.
Favorite Singers: Bing Crosby, Leslie/Sam Phillips
Favorite Comic Strips:  Gil Thorp, Peanuts, Prince Valiant
Favorite Foods: Apricots, Red Bell Peppers, Lamb, Macaroni & Cheese, Broccoli, Wild Rice, Tomatoes
Favorite Beverages:  Red Zinger tea, Green tea, Tazo Passion tea, Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper
Hobbies: Movies, Travel, reading books, reading graphic novels, recorded music, live music concerts, Genealogy, playing with wife and sons.
Favorite Quote: “Beware of Laser Beams” – Kevin “Wolfgang” Paetzel. There is a story to go with this.  Ask him.
Favorite Bible Verse:  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God–what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2 (NRSV) – had Pr. Tinker had a “Confirmation Verse” when he was Confirmed in 1980, this would have been his choice.
Baptism Date and Location:  September 18, 1966 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Littleton, Colorado.
Confirmation Date and Location:  May 18, 1980 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas.
Ordination Date and Location:  June 9, 1994 at Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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