Rev. Jack A. Kozak was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1958.  He attended Detroit’s Lutheran High School West, graduating in 1976.  He served in the US Navy on the nuclear powered, fast-attack submarine USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN685).  He attained the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and was honorably discharged in 1980 at the end of his enlistment.

Using the GI Bill, he graduated from Henry Ford Community College (Dearborn, MI) in 1984, Concordia College (Ann Arbor, MI) in 1987 and Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN) in 1990.

His first call was to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Detroit.  While serving the congregation, he also taught at Lutheran HS West from 1992 until it closed in 1995.  He was the Librarian, Dean of Chapel, Theology Teacher, and US Army JROTC Chaplain.  He was installed as Hope’s 7th pastor in February 1996.

Pastor Kozak married Brooke Staschke in 1986.  She was a Lutheran school teacher, having served in East Detroit, Michigan and Decatur, Indiana.  They are the parents of four children.  Christopher is married to Lauren and they have a son, Gavin.  Jennifer is married to Kyle Klein.  They reside in Abilene Texas and have a son, Lawson.  Daughters Megan and Rachel still live at home.

Pastor can be reached at jakozak@ameritech.net.