Rev. David Wichert

ESCANABA — The parishes of the Escanaba Central, Escanaba First, and Bark River United Methodist Churches have welcomed Rev. David Wichert as their pastor as of July 1.

Prior to coming to the U.P., Wichert served the Saginaw AMES and Caro United Methodist churches in Lower Michigan. However, he is not unfamiliar with the Upper Peninsula. Before going into ministry, he served with the Department of Natural Resources as a conservation officer in the ’80s and into the ’90s. During that time, he resided in both Champion and the Gladstone area.

Wichert is a fourth-generation United Methodist. he grew up in Bay Port, Mich., attending United Methodist church camps in his youth. He graduated from Unionville-Sebewaing High School and did his undergraduate studies in natural resources technology at Lake Superior State from 1976 to 198. While at LLSU, he attended Anchor Hour campus ministries.

He served in the U.S. Army as an MP from 1981 to 1983 in Germany. Upon his discharge, he began his career as a conservation officer until 1997.

When Wichert began his call to ministry, he began his seminary training at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, simultaneously serving a two-point student charge in the South Indiana Conference under the Seminary Contextual Education program.

Through his years in seminary and ministry, Wichert served as a volunteer chaplain for Michigan Conservation Officers, was on the board of outdoor ministries, was involved in Detroit Conference youth ministries — the Bayshore Fishing Camp in Kinawing and Michigamme youth camps, participated in a cross-cultural mission trip to South Dakota with the Lakota Sioux Tribe at Pine Ridge, and helped with cleanup and repairs following the hurricane in New Orleans.

He has also been involved with Walk to Emmaus. In 2010, Wichert served as a United Methodist chaplain at the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, during which, more than 40,000 people were in attendance.

Wichert has been married for forty years to his wife, Janet. They have three grown children — a daughter and two sons — and four grandchildren.

Wichert leads worship services at Escanaba First United Methodist Church at 9:30 a.m., Escanaba Central United methodist Church at 11 a.m. (also aired on AM680), and Bark River United Methodist Church on the last Sunday of the month as a pulpit exchange with Pastor Christine Bergquist.