Advent Lutheran Church Welcomes
Pastor Paul Bickel!
Pastor Paul Bickel!
Pastor Paul V. Bickel
Reverend Paul Victor Bickel was born the third of five children in 1947 in Bay City, Michigan to Victor and
Phyllis Bickel. He attended Trinity Lutheran School where his father was principal and taught grades seven and
eight. After graduating from Michigan Lutheran Seminary School in Saginaw, he enrolled in Concordia
Lutheran Junior College, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He later attended Concordia Teachers College, Seward,
Nebraska where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was granted a teaching certificate. After
graduation in 1970, he and Martha (nee Hussmann) were married in Grand Island, Nebraska where her father
was pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Their first placement as Lutheran teachers was to St. Timothy Lutheran School in Detroit, Michigan. Pastor
Bickel taught seventh and eight grades and was the athletic and youth director. After serving there for six
years, he accepted a call to be principal and seventh and eighth grade teacher at Redeemer Lutheran School in
Saginaw, Michigan.
In 1980 Pastor Bickel, Martha, and their four children moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. He enrolled in
Concordia Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Master of Arts in Religion. He served his vicarage
at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairgrove, Michigan, and after one year he accepted the call to serve as their full
time pastor.
After five years and two more children, the family moved to Watertown, Minnesota where Pastor Bickel
served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church. After seven years in Watertown, he was called to teach religion
and coach sports at Baltimore Lutheran High School in Towson, Maryland. Both Pastor Bickel and his wife
taught at BLS for 15 years.
Carrying on the legacy started by his grandfather and five uncles who were all Lutheran pastors, Reverend
Bickel is looking forward to the next chapter in his ministry as pastor of Advent Lutheran Church in Forest Hill.
While Pastor Bickel will officially begin his call beginning August 1, 2009, he is already leading the Advent
congregation in Sunday Services most Sundays. The Advent Calendar will list the Sundays Pastor Bickel will
be at Advent.
Phyllis Bickel. He attended Trinity Lutheran School where his father was principal and taught grades seven and
eight. After graduating from Michigan Lutheran Seminary School in Saginaw, he enrolled in Concordia
Lutheran Junior College, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He later attended Concordia Teachers College, Seward,
Nebraska where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was granted a teaching certificate. After
graduation in 1970, he and Martha (nee Hussmann) were married in Grand Island, Nebraska where her father
was pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Their first placement as Lutheran teachers was to St. Timothy Lutheran School in Detroit, Michigan. Pastor
Bickel taught seventh and eight grades and was the athletic and youth director. After serving there for six
years, he accepted a call to be principal and seventh and eighth grade teacher at Redeemer Lutheran School in
Saginaw, Michigan.
In 1980 Pastor Bickel, Martha, and their four children moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. He enrolled in
Concordia Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Master of Arts in Religion. He served his vicarage
at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairgrove, Michigan, and after one year he accepted the call to serve as their full
time pastor.
After five years and two more children, the family moved to Watertown, Minnesota where Pastor Bickel
served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church. After seven years in Watertown, he was called to teach religion
and coach sports at Baltimore Lutheran High School in Towson, Maryland. Both Pastor Bickel and his wife
taught at BLS for 15 years.
Carrying on the legacy started by his grandfather and five uncles who were all Lutheran pastors, Reverend
Bickel is looking forward to the next chapter in his ministry as pastor of Advent Lutheran Church in Forest Hill.
While Pastor Bickel will officially begin his call beginning August 1, 2009, he is already leading the Advent
congregation in Sunday Services most Sundays. The Advent Calendar will list the Sundays Pastor Bickel will
be at Advent.
