ST JOHN - Key Persons
Pastor Andy Wright was born and raised in Circleville, Ohio. He graduated in 2007 from Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a B.A. in Biblical Languages. He then attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana graduating with a Master of Divinity in 2011. He was selected to serve as a Graduate Assistant at the seminary the following year while completing classes for his Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.). He was called to serve the saints of God at St. John in Keystone, Iowa that Spring and was ordained on July 22, 2012, in Ohio and was installed as Pastor of St. John in Keystone on July 29, 2012. He served the people of God there until September 2022. On October 2, 2022, he was installed as the Senior Pastor of St. John's in Topeka.
In May 2018 Pastor Wright completed his thesis and graduated with his S.T.M. in Systematic Theology (Doctrine). His thesis concerned the preaching of Martin Luther, the third use of the law, and the Formula of Concord. In August 2019 he began his studies for a Ph.D. in doctrinal theology from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He has completed his coursework and exams and is now working on research and writing for his dissertation in the area of The Lutheran Confessions.
His areas of focus and interests in theology are: The Lutheran Confessions, Luther studies, and the liturgy and worship of the church. While serving in Iowa, he served on the worship committee of Iowa District East and has written papers, given presentations, and taught classes on topics relating to worship, the subjects of his S.T.M. thesis, and Ph.D. work. He has also been on various radio/podcast programs and written for various things. He is also currently working on a book with Concordia Publishing House on the topic of how the Lutheran Confessions help, shape, and form our confession of Christ in the world.
Outside of theology he enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and anything pertaining to aviation and the space program. He has always wanted to be a pastor and an astronaut to the extent that he was told he should be a "pastornaut" a handle that has stuck with him for email addresses and the like since.
While studying at Concordia University he met Rebekah and the two of them were married on May 22, 2009. God has blessed them with four beautiful daughters Magdalena, Anastasia, Evangeline, Petra, and a son Boyd.
Bethany Johnson has served St. John's since 2015, first in the capacity of kantor intern, followed by associate kantor. She has been kantor since 2018.
Bethany's hometown is Plano, TX, where she began her work as an organist at Faith Lutheran Church in 2010. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Parish Music and Theology at Concordia University Wisconsin in 2015. During this time, she participated in two touring choirs, the Alleluia Ringers and Kammerchor, and served as an accompanist and organist for various LCMS churches in the Milwaukee area. Bethany earned her Masters of Church Music degree at the University of Kansas in 2017.
She has been a private music instructor in piano and violin since 2010, serves on the committee for the American Guild of Organists in Topeka, and has served as the organist for Higher Things conferences since 2016. Bethany is married to Kyle Johnson, and they have three children.
Rev. Nicholas Belcher was born and raised just north of Dallas, TX where most of his extended family currently resides. He is a lifelong LCMS Lutheran and a veteran of the United States Air Force having honorably served for seven years and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. While he was at his first duty station, he met his beautiful bride, Lauren, whom he married towards the end of his time on active duty. After fulfilling his military obligation, Rev. Belcher and his wife moved to Southern California where they both attended Concordia University Irvine. After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in History and Political Thought, Rev. Belcher attended Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne and completed his studies this past May. Almighty God has blessed the Belcher Family with two boys, Elijah and Amos, and now they have a third child on the way! Rev. Belcher is overjoyed to be called to serve St. John's as the Associate Pastor and, Lord-willing, he looks forward to many years of faithful service here to the glory of the Triune God.