Guy Marquardt - Class of 1986

Guy Marquardt - Fox Tales Q&A

What year did you graduate?

1986

What is your most memorable high school experience?

There are so many memories to choose from! I was blessed to be involved in a number of different groups and extracurricular activities at FVL—everything from football and wrestling to math club and forensics to choir and theater performances. 

A few particular memories that come to mind: Latin 4 classes in the faculty lounge. Hosting Choral Fest, and performing with Choraliers in Toronto, Canada. Somehow getting named to the second all-state math team. Co-directing (and acting in) the drama class play. Ending up on my back on the mat, each time Mr. Bentz used me to model a new move for the wrestling team. (Well, that’s more of a painful memory.) And of course I have to mention learning to waltz for performing My Fair Lady, since my dancing partner in the scene (Linda Preuss) later became my wife! 

Who has had the greatest influence on your time at FVL?

I remember fondly a number of my high school teachers, especially those who inspired me to consider studying for the pastoral ministry, like Dr. Zabell, Mr. Payne, and Pastor Plitzuweit. Mr. Peterson gave me a love for singing and performing that has stuck with me ever since. While I didn’t end up doing anything with math as a career—like I originally thought I might—I’ll always be grateful for Mr. Schlawin’s teaching and encouragement, both in the classroom and out.

 

What are you doing now professionally and how did you get into this career path?

I am a professor of theology and Vice President of Asia Lutheran Seminary, and I serve as a missionary on the WELS Asia-Oceania Team, based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. After graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1994, most of my public ministry has been as a foreign missionary—first in Brazil for 14 years and now for 10 years in Asia, with six years in between as a parish pastor in northern California. I have a Doctorate in Intercultural Studies that serves me well as I teach seminary students from a dozen different countries in Asia—sometimes online and sometimes travelling to those locations to teach and consult with church leaders.

What was your first job?

I think my first official job was selling hot lunch tickets in the school office before classes each morning my Senior year at FVL. I only got paid one lunch ticket per day, if I recall correctly, but it was fun greeting other students as they arrived at school in the morning.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

At the age of 51 I was diagnosed with ADHD. It explained so much of my high school experience—including why Dr. Z was always asking me to turn around and face the front, and why Mrs. Sackenheim had me sit in the back row of desks in her classroom. But it also explains why I enjoyed participating in such a wide variety of extra-curricular activities.

What is something valuable you learned during your career?

Being a follower of Christ is all about relationships: our relationship with God first of all, but just as importantly, with one another as well. The same Holy Spirit who calls us to faith in Jesus through the gospel is the one who works through all of us believers to build each other up through that same gospel. We become Christ’s disciples when his Spirit leads us to know and trust in him as our Savior (John 8:31,32), but we show ourselves to be his disciples when the Spirit moves us to love one another and point each other to that same Savior (John 13:34,35). Every Christian believer is called to serve others humbly and lovingly in whatever vocation they find themselves in and with whatever gifts the Spirit has blessed them with.

What’s one lesson from your high school years that still sticks with you?

Morning devotions were led by a rotation of FVL faculty members and local WELS pastors. They all had good messages based on Scripture, but one area pastor in particular stood out to me: Pastor Bruce Marggraf from Emmanuel, New London. Without any gimmicks, and with no condescension for us highschoolers, Rev. Marggraf always preached a simple gospel message with a big, sincere smile about Jesus’ love for us. I remember thinking, “If that’s what a pastor does, I can do that!” What a pleasant surprise, then, when eight years later I was assigned by the seminary to work with Pastor Marggraf as fellow missionaries to Brazil. Since then, I’ve had the privilege and joy of telling others that same simple gospel message on five different continents!

Anything else you would like to share with the FVL community?

From our FVL graduating class of 1986, five of us went on to study at Northwestern College, four of whom were ordained as WELS pastors, and three of us serving in world mission fields. Continue to pray for workers in the Lord’s harvest fields around the world!