Evangelist David Hochmuth - Installation
July 13 - 9 am Service with reception to follow
St. Mark's is Moving Forward
Evangelist Hochmuth officially began his ministry at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on July 1, attending the first of regular weekly meetings with the pastoral staff. These meetings provide Scriptural study, brotherly connection, and joint planning of St. Mark’s ministry efforts.
Evangelist Hochmuth will be working closely with Pastor Walther in the area of evangelism, helping with outreach leads, and also strengthening relationships with our own drifting members. He will also work with Pastor Wells in supporting and further developing our growing small group ministry, encouraging deeper Christian community and spiritual growth at St. Mark’s.
We welcome Evangelist Hochmuth with thanksgiving and look forward to the blessings the Lord is bringing through his ministry with us!
Evangelist Hochmuth brings a rich and varied background in ministry to his new role at St. Mark’s. Before entering full-time ministry, he served for many years as a lay leader—teaching Sunday School, leading Bible studies, and holding various congregational officer positions. After earning his staff ministry certification, he served for 11 years as Minister for Spiritual Growth at St. Andrew in Middleton, where he led a thriving small group ministry, a summer day camp for kids, and a creative Sunday morning ministry for children. More recently, he served as Administrator of WELS Prison Ministry, overseeing a nationwide Bible correspondence program for inmates and developing training for mentors who help individuals reentering society after incarceration.
Throughout his ministry, Evangelist Hochmuth has also been involved in various outreach efforts, including friendship evangelism, Everyone Outreach, and Joining Jesus on His Mission. His experience spans congregations of many sizes, from small mission starts to large, multi-service congregations. At St. Andrew, he coordinated a network of about 20 small groups meeting throughout the year.
Mary Hochmuth has served in ministry alongside him, both as a Lutheran elementary school teacher and as an author (co-authoring His Days, My Praise and Your Word For Mine). She has led women’s Bible studies in a variety of settings—including churches, retreats, and local jails—and serves as a client advocate at the WELS Lutherans for Life Pregnancy Center in West Allis.
At St. Mark’s, Evangelist Hochmuth is especially looking forward to working with God’s people to share Jesus—both with those who do not yet know him and with those who long to know him better.
Before entering the ministry, Evangelist Hochmuth spent 25 years working as a civil engineer in the water resources field. His career took him across the country, with projects and travels in places like Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado, and even Alaska.
Born in Tucson, AZ, and raised in Santa Clara, CA, Evangelist Hochmuth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of California at Davis (1979) and a Master of Science from Colorado State University (1981). Throughout high school and college, Evangelist Hochmuth worked a variety of jobs—from fast food and apartment maintenance to an internship at the construction site of a 200-million-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant. During his engineering career, he served with three different consulting engineering firms before the Lord called him into Gospel ministry.
In the summer of 2003, Evangelist Hochmuth left his job and his home in Redding, CA, to take his family to New Ulm, MN, to enroll in the staff ministry program at Martin Luther College. He completed his studies and received his degree in 2006, graduating alongside his nephew.
Evangelist Dave Hochmuth and his wife of 36 years, Mary, are blessed with three grown children. Their daughter Esther is married to Michael who teaches at Christ Lutheran in Big Bend, WI. Esther stays at home with their four children. Sarah, their second daughter, works as a graphic designer in Middleton alongside her husband Peter. Their son Andrew is a Quality Control Technician at Wieser Concrete in Portage. The family enjoys gathering for birthdays, holidays, and other special events. At home, a cat named Gimli—technically Mary’s, though he often seeks out Evangelist Hochmuth’s attention—keeps them company. On a day off, you’ll often find Evangelist Hochmuth with a good book in hand. He also enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, fishing, and the occasional round of golf.
"With joy I accept your divine call to serve as your Congregational Evangelist. I believe the Spirit has led me to this decision, and I pray that he blesses it. Though the task seems daunting at times, I know that with Jesus all things are possible."
— Evangelist Dave Hochmuth
Evangelist Dave Hochmuth
Start Date: July 1, 2025
Gospel Mission
•Reach the lost in Watertown
•Regain the weak at St. Mark's
Focus Areas
•Lead St. Mark's Gospel outreach
•Organize and grow St. Mark's Small Groups
