 |
Rev. James T. Kress, Sr.
Rev. James T. Kress, Sr. was born April 4,
1962 to William and Barbara Kress. He is the
second eldest among 9 siblings. A few months
following his birth, he became a child of
God through the waters of Holy Baptism. In
1976, He was confirmed at St. Christina
parish by John Cardinal Cody. Growing up on
the south-side of Chicago in a Roman
Catholic family, he was a parish member of
St. Catejan and St. Christina Churches.
Pastor Kress was later confirmed in the
Lutheran Church in November of 1995.
He attended St. Rita High School excelling
in baseball. He graduated with honors in
1980. Pastor Kress began his collegiate
career first at the University of
Louisville, Louisville, KY.
|
|
Then he attended Triton Junior College,
River Grove, IL. Afterward he attended Lewis
University, Romeoville, IL and finally
completing his collegiate studies at
Northern Kentucky University, Highland
Heights, KY.
Jim met his wife, Lisa on of all things, a
blind date at a bowling alley in 1987. It
was love at first sight. Pastor Kress and
Lisa were married in January of 1988. They
have four adult children. Steven (26) is in
the Navy and is station on the USS George H.
W. Bush aircraft carrier. He is married to
his wife, Jorji (28) and they have two
children, Charlie (2) and Meagan (newborn)
and they all live in Hampton, Virginia.
Bryan (23) is graduating from Southern
Illinois University─Edwardsville next month
with degrees in Economics-Finance as well as
Accounting. He will be employed by Deloit
Accounting Firm in their St. Lois office.
Jim, Jr. (20) is a third year theatre major
at Southern Illinois University─Carbondale.
He plans to go to California following
graduation in 2010. Alyssa (19) is attending
massage therapy school through DePaul
University, Chicago and hopes to receive her
certificate in November of this year.
During college, he worked for his father in
his granite shop sandblasting monuments and
headstones. In 1988, Jim was offered an
opportunity to work for a cemetery lettering
contractor inscribing names, dates, and
designs on monuments and headstones in the
cemetery. It was in 1994 when he received
the privilege to work independently in the
same field as a contractor. He worked as a
contractor until his admission into
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne
in 1999.
Pastor Kress served his vicarage at Our
Savior Lutheran Church, Carmi, IL where he
was also called to be their pastor. He
served the Carmi parish faithfully from 2002
until receiving the call to serve the
members of Redeemer Lutheran Church,
Englewood. During his pastorate in Carmi, he
was well involved in the events and
activities of not only the church, but also
in the community. Pastor Kress is looking
forward to serving the members of Redeemer
in the faithfulness of our Lord and risen
Savior, Jesus Christ.
|
