Our Pastor 

Pastor Marin’s Story

Pastor Cerchez with his wife, Tatianna, their daughter, Anna, and son, Daniel.

Welcome! I’m Pastor Marin Cerchez
(pronounced muh-REEN ser-CHEZ, like “Marine searches”)

A former atheist, medical doctor, and university professor—now serving the Lord in pastoral ministry—I have seen firsthand the transforming power of God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.

I was born and raised under Soviet atheism in Moldova, where Bibles were forbidden and Christianity was actively suppressed. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, I obtained a Bible for the first time and began reading it. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I came to faith in Jesus Christ. That transformation ignited in me a lifelong passion to make the Gospel accessible to the lost.

In those early years after the fall of communism, I witnessed a powerful move of God in Moldova that reminded me of the Book of Acts. People were hungry for the truth and on fire for Jesus. The Gospel wasn’t just a tradition or cultural formality—it was fresh, life-giving, and unstoppable. Many who had never even heard the name of Jesus encountered Him for the first time, and their lives were completely changed. Prayer meetings, Bible studies, and baptisms sprang up everywhere—in homes, on streets, even in fields. That season of spiritual awakening shaped my understanding of what the Church can be when it is fully alive in the Holy Spirit.

I earned an M.D., a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology, an M.A. in Medieval Studies, a Ph.D. in History and Comparative Literature, and later an M.Div. from Concordia Theological Seminary. My studies were intentionally chosen to prepare me for Christian apologetics, equipping me to thoughtfully engage with history, philosophy, literature, and science in defense of the Christian faith. I originally came to the United States to pursue advanced academic study, but later returned as a missionary—called to serve in ministry here.

Before entering full-time pastoral ministry in the U.S., I worked as a medical doctor, taught at the university level, and served as the founder and president of a private school. Over the years, I have served the Lord both bivocationally and full-time in various ministries in Europe and in the U.S.  My ministry has included evangelism, discipleship, youth and student ministry, Christian education, and apologetics. In Wisconsin I lead an outreach to international students and immigrants. In Michigan, I was involved in revitalizing congregational life and helped launch ministries such as student outreach, a Christian media studio, pro-life initiatives, and a campus apologetics chapter at Grand Valley State University.

I also had the privilege of serving as Michigan Area Director for Ratio Christi, a campus-based apologetics ministry equipping students and faculty to give historical, philosophical, and scientific reasons for following Jesus Christ. Additionally, I served as a pastoral counselor to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) in Michigan and on the Board of Directors for Lutheran Bible Translators—a ministry that deeply aligns with my calling to bring God’s Word to those who do not yet have it.

My wife, Tatiana, faithfully serves the Lord alongside me and has been a source of strength and encouragement throughout our journey. Together, we are raising our two children, Anna and Daniel, who are both school students and growing in their faith.