Pastor Dan Mielke grew up in southern Minnesota where his father pastored First Baptist Church in Adrian. God graciously revealed his need for a Savior, and he accepted Christ as a young boy. Having grown up in a Baptist Pastor’s home, Dan was able to experience ministry as a way of life as well as see the practical joys of following Christ. While in junior high, Dan submitted his life to serve God full-time with the caveat that he would not be a pastor.
In 1998 Dan’s family moved to Milltown, WI where he continued to serve God with his family before attending and graduating from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College. After finding his wife, Christa Schofield, he continued working for Pillsbury as the staff evangelist and ministry team director. Dan and Christa enjoyed traveling across America and Canada serving in churches, camps, and youth groups.
In 2009 Dan and his wife moved to Albert lea and served at Faith Baptist church where he learned that submission to God’s will did not allow for any exemption clauses, and he submitted to serving God and followed His leading to Milltown Wisconsin. While at Milltown Dan served as the associate pastor for 8 years. Besides the normal activities of pastoring, Dan involved himself in coaching basketball, addiction/jail ministry, teaching apologetics classes, directing evangelism and fair ministries, working with youth, speaking at camps, teaching at high schools, and raising three children. During his time in Wisconsin he worked with many hurting families which led him to pursue a Master’s in Biblical Counseling from Maranatha Baptist University. In 2020, Pastor Dan completed a PhD in Christian Apologetics from Trinity Theological Seminary in Evansville, IN.
Although trained in counseling, Dan would attribute his greatest wisdom and joy to his wife Christa. She also grew up in a pastor’s home where her father served as associate pastor in Grace Baptist in Mankato and senior pastor at Calvary Baptist in Granada, MN. Christa also accepted Christ at an early age. Besides family adventures and training her three children (Marcus, Matthias, Katiyanna), Christa enjoys in depth Bible study, life on life discipleship, historical fiction, jogging, and Domino’s pizza.
In December of 2017 God moved the Mielke family to Austin Minnesota. They are excited to work with Grace Baptist and join in what God has been doing in Austin.
A conversation with Pastor Dan:
What are your hobbies and interests: I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, coaching basketball, exercise, motorcycling, improv comedy, writing, outdoor activities, remodeling, and playing strategy games.
What are you passionate about: I love working with men. Whether with a hammer and drill, loading a truck or on the court, it is hard to beat shoulder to shoulder man time.
Where would you want to visit: I would want to visit somewhere hands on. Trucking through the brush in Australia or the wilderness of Alaska on an ATV. I also have a dream of trekking across a desert on camel.
Most influential authors: I am indebted to Dr. Constable and John MacArthur for their incredibly biblical and well researched commentaries. Randy Alcorn has inspired me to take the truths I know and make them count for eternity. Arthur Pink has blown my mind with the greatness of God, and Paul Tripp and Ed Welch have helped me practically live out those truths.
Most influential book outside the Bible: Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges. The book does an excellent job helping believers understand how to get off of the performance treadmill and work out God’s grace.
Favorite book of the Bible: Jonah. I see myself in the the story of a man having been graced by God struggling to give out grace to needy people.
Describe a perfect day: A full day of outside activity with my children ending on the couch with a good book, a cup of tea, and my wife.
What would you choose for your last meal: Bacon