Pastor Lyle Heinitz

Personal History

Pastor Lyle writes that he “grew up in a ‘churched’ home where we attended church consistently.  I don’t remember hearing about salvation during my formative years….After college I began teaching and in my third year of teaching I met someone (while acting in a community theatre production) who shared with me the message of salvation in Christ.  I asked Christ’s forgiveness and accepted him into my heart and life in Spring of 1975.”

“After becoming a Christian, I again felt led to pursue ministry and attended a Bible school for one semester.  I was led back into teaching where I met the woman who would become my wife.  We served together as volunteers for Youth for Christ and when I approached her with the idea of going to seminary and into the ministry her response was, ‘I always believed God was calling me to be a pastor’s wife.’ We headed to seminary that fall and have been serving together for over twenty years.”

Personal Views

When asked to comment on his theology and practice of worship, Pastor Heinitz wrote the following: “I would consider myself a conservative Christian meaning that I believe: 1.) In the Bible as the true Word of the Living God; 2.) that all Scripture is God-breathed (II Tim. 3:16,17); 3.) that being born again (John 3:3) is necessary for salvation and eternity with God; 4.) that salvation comes only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; 5.) that Christ’s redeeming work on the cross and his resurrection make salvation possible.  My practice of worship is through quiet, reflective time alone with God, through corporate worship with the body and through God’s Word as it speaks to me.  I love to worship and find worship meaningful in all settings—whether quiet, reflective or loud, energetic.”

Educational History

B.A. English / Theatre Dickinson State University (ND) 1970

M.A.C.E. Bethel Theological Seminary (Saint Paul, MN) 1984

M.Div. Bethel Theological Seminary (San Diego, CA) 2000