Reverend John F. Selle

Pastor John F. Selle, the son of Rev. and Mrs. (LaVerne) Carl Selle, was born on October 16, 1945, in Chicago Heights, IL. Pastor's grandfather, grandfather’s brother, father, two brothers, three uncles, and a cousin all were, or currently are, Lutheran pastors. After receiving his parochial school elementary education in Reedsburg, WI, he enrolled at Concordia High School and Junior College in Milwaukee, WI, graduating with an A.A. degree in 1965. Two years later, in 1967, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, IN.

Pastor Selle obtained his Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, in May of 1971. So, from Kindergarten through his Seminary training, he received 20 years of Lutheran Christian education. This is a rather unusual fact in this day and time.

The first of two vicarages was a summer assignment, in 1968, in Lancaster, PA, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church under the tutelage of Rev. Samuel S. Shore. A full year of vicarage was in Houston, TX, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, under the watchful eye of Rev. Elmo Miertschin, in 1969-70.

On March 8, 1969, Pastor Selle was united in marriage to Cheryl Suhling of Kampsville, IL. Cheryl, a Registered Nurse, is a graduate of Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis. She has over 40 years of experience in her field. She currently is employed in the office of Dr. Terry Chambless, an Internist in Round Rock, TX.

The Selle Family consists of four adult children and nine grandchildren. Tina (Joe) Hamilton, son, Jacob, and daughter, Grace, live in Austin. Tina works for the Lance Armstrong Foundation as a program manager. Jon (Julissa) and their two children, Alba and Matthias, live in Quito, Ecuador. Jon is an employee of the State Department and works in the U.S. Embassy as a Foreign Service officer. His next assignment will be in Republic of Georgia, after seven months of Russian language training in Washington D.C.! Then, there follow the twins who topped the scales at 8# and 9# at birth – a record for the State of Wisconsin in 1976. An interesting sidelight is that they were baptized on July 4th, 1976 – a bicentennial baptism. Juli (Ryan) Richter, sons, Braeden, Dashiell and daughter, Madison, live in Round Rock. Juli is an Underwriter for a large insurance company. Tami (Chris) MacDonald live in Austin. Tami is a Registered Nurse. They have two boys, Aidan and Alister.

Pastor Selle served Salem Lutheran Church in rural Navasota (White Hall), TX from 1971-1975; Our Savior Lutheran Church in Burlington, WI from 1975-1980; St. Paul Lutheran Church in Magnolia, TX from 1980-1986; and now at Faith, Georgetown since 1986. Pastor has been active during his ministry in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, serving on both the Zone and District levels. He enjoys writing hymns and creating worship services, as well as serving in the ministry of visitation. He has conducted nursing home ministries for forty years. Personally, his hobbies include yard work, birding, and walking. For many years, he walked numerous miles to raise money for Faith’s youth to go on mission trips.

Pastor Selle and Cheryl make their home in Village II Georgetown, a mile east of church.

Pastor Selle’s motto is his Confirmation memory verse: "I am the Vine, you are the branches. He that abides in Me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

On September 11, 2011, Pastor Selle was extended a call to be Associate Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, Georgetown, TX.

SOLI DEO GLORIA