Pastor Curt Backhaus was born on April 9, 1964, at Ellsworth Air force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota. Soon afterwards, he was adopted into God’s family through Holy Baptism and raised in the Christian home of his parents, Dr. Duane and Carol Backhaus. His father served 20 years as a dentist in the USAF. During Pastor’s early years, his family moved all over the country and even spent two years in Ankara, Turkey, before establishing their home in Glendale, Arizona. Pastor Backhaus was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on Palm Sunday 1978 at Grace Lutheran Church and School of Glendale, Arizona. For high school, he attended Arizona Lutheran Academy in Phoenix, where his teachers encouraged him to consider serving in public ministry. He completed his pastoral studies at Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin (1986) and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin (1990).
His first ministry assignment was as a mission explorer in Portsmouth/Suffolk, Virginia. He was ordained on July 1, 1990, at Redeemer Lutheran Church of Virginia Beach and helped daughter King of Kings Lutheran Church of Chesapeake. Pastor Backhaus then accepted the Call to teach Spanish and Old Testament at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, one of our synod’s preparatory schools in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1993. From 1999 to 2006, he served as mission pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Las Cruces, New Mexico. For the last 16 years, he served as Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Tomah, Wisconsin.
Pastor Backhaus enjoys meeting people, preaching, teaching, and sharing the good news of Jesus. What a joy to now join the saints here in gospel outreach in Austin, Texas, at Risen Savior Lutheran Church!
Pastor and Becca Backhaus, also from Glendale, Arizona, were married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 13, 1994. Becca graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1992 and has taught preschool and primary grades in Lutheran schools. Most recently, she taught 1st grade and then worked as an aide in the Tomah Public School District. Pastor and Becca have been blessed with four wonderful children — three daughters and one son.
Pastor and Becca look forward to joining their new church family at Risen Savior, making their home in Austin, serving their community, and together reaching anyone they can for Christ. May the good Lord of the Church direct and bless us all.
Installation of Pastor Backhaus at Risen Savior Lutheran Church
