Pastor Jerry Reinke

Pastor Jerry was born and raised in the Twin Falls area. During his second year of college he married Karen, a long-time friend from his youth. They farmed for nearly 20 years, growing beans, corn and wheat. While farming, Jerry served as president of a non-profit corporation, Christian Radio of Magic Valley, Inc., which started radio station KCIR in Twin Falls.

In 1985 Jerry left farming and went back to school at Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin. While in school he served as Director of Outreach at Grace Lutheran Church, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Lay Ministry.  During that time he decided to become a pastor.  He attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Missouri and graduated in 1992.  He served for seven years as an associate pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Illinois, a congregation of over 3500 members.  While there he also served as minister of outreach and assimilation.

In 1999 he and Karen took a call to serve as missionaries through Idaho Circuit Rider Ministry. Among other ministries, they started a mobile ministry utilizing a semi-truck equipped with an outdoor stage, two twenty five foot climbing walls and an indoor video theatre.  They hired college students and toured Southern Idaho, ministering in small and remote communities. They served that ministry, now name Cross Country Ministry, until Jerry accepted the call to become pastor of St. John.

Pastor Jerry and Karen raised two children; Langdon, who is Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon, and Cheryl of Los Gatos, California. They have three grandchildren.  His hobbies include working on old cars, photography and video editing.