Pastor Punke shares about Good Friday as a guest pastor on ‘Worship Anew’

By Ashley Wiehe
Director of Advancement

Training in the U.S. Air Force. Degrees in mathematics and computer science. Interests in basketball, choir, and theater. And a clerical collar to boot.

The Rev. Douglas Punke serves as the senior pastor of the Historic Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Ind., and will provide the message for the Good Friday service on “Worship Anew” on April 3.

Punke didn’t set out on the traditional path to becoming a pastor, but the Lord was working on his heart.

At 17, Punke enlisted in the U.S. Air Force right at the end of the Vietnam War. He served five years before enrolling in college to study mathematics and computer science. While at school, he became more active in his church. God was planting a seed for His future plans.

“That helped cultivate a desire to become a pastor, but it took a while for it to germinate and grow,” Punke said.

So, he continued his studies and began teaching, but God was soon calling him to the church.

“After a while teaching mathematics and computer science, I had a desire to do more in the church,” he said. “I didn’t know what, perhaps teaching at one of our synodical schools. But it turned out that the Lord was moving me to seek the pastoral ministry.”

From there, he came to Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne in 1994 and was ordained in the Holy Ministry in 1999. His first call was to Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, Mo., and then in 2003, he was called to Zion in Fort Wayne, where he has been for 22 years.

“It has been the privilege of my life,” he said.

For Good Friday, he brings his wealth of experiences to the viewers as he shares about “Jesus’ Death – Good News.”

“I’ve discovered that some people avoid Good Friday services because it makes them feel bad,” Punke said. “Some of those feelings are justified. Christ suffered unimaginable cruelty. More than that, He suffered because of the sins of mankind. But don’t stay away on that account, for Christ’s suffering was for you. By His wounds we are healed; we are saved. That’s what makes this somber Friday good. Come and rejoice in our salvation.”

The program will be available on Worship Anew’s streaming services, including YouTube, Roku, Amazon Firestick, Apple TV, Google TV, Facebook, and on Worship Anew’s website at worshipanew.org.

For more Lenten and Easter resources from Worship Anew, please visit worshipanew.org/lent.