Hey Y'all! - Introducing Chris Michaelis

Hey y’all! I’m Chris and I’m the new bald guy with a collar joining you in worship on Sundays and in various other ministries throughout the week. I’m one of two new Ministry in Context seminary students from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and I’m thrilled to be joining your community for the next year. Pastor Erik asked me to write a short introduction about myself to the St. Luke’s community and since I haven’t had to write a bio for myself before, here we go…I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and I say y’all. A lot! Most D/FW-ers usually say “Dallas” to mean the entire Metroplex since it’s more identifiable, but there’s a certain rivalry between Dallas and Ft. Worth and I like to claim which side of that rivalry I stand on. My parents taught my younger sister and me that the best way to be successful in life was to work hard. Studies came before extracurriculars, chores came before play time, and church on Sunday morning was a non-negotiable. My experiences in Sunday school, Confirmation, and youth group in the ELCA church I grew up in were instrumental in shaping my faith and relationship with God and others. I consider Confirmation to be the earliest point in my life I thought I might be called to ministry.I went to Texas Tech University where I received my Bachelor’s of Business Administration in International Business with minors in Spanish and Music. While there, as part of my degree program, I spent a semester in Sevilla, Spain taking Spanish language and culture classes. I was also a member of the band program, including the marching band, and it was through that experience that I met my, now, wife.Tiffany is the single most important person in my life and I’m eternally grateful that she is on this journey with me. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications in Advertising with a minor in Business from Texas Tech and she is now an Account Manager at a social media firm in downtown Chicago. Tiffany constantly pushes me not only outside my, sometimes stubborn, constructs, but also to be a better person. We've been married for 2 years and 10 months and we have a 2 year-old fur-daughter named Piper.I’m inspired by the work y’all do at St. Luke’s and I’m especially drawn to the ways St. Luke’s is deeply connected to and invested in the community of Logan Square. I look forward to meeting each of you and am even more excited to be working alongside you in this mission we share from God.Grace, peace, and blessings!