Christ Our King Lutheran Church

A Missouri Synod Lutheran church in Morgan Hill, California

. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: MARTY TYLER

I was born in Vancouver Washington, November the 24^th 1956, the fifth child of Ken and Myrl Tyler (nee Mittan). My nearest sibling Ken is 8 years older. He and my sisters Barbara (Porter) and Karly (Dockter) still live in Vancouver, as does my mother, pictured with us last Christmas. My brother Terry, 17 years older, and my father were called to be with our Lord Jesus Christ in 1998 and 1985.

While I was baptized in the Christian faith at Easter time 1957 at Immanuel Lutheran ChurchVancouver, my family attended Grace Lutheran Church while I was growing up. It was there that I met my wife Debora (nee Gaylord), also baptized on Easter 1957, (at Memorial Lutheran ChurchVancouver).  We attended Sunday School, Bible school and were confirmed in the Christian faith together on Pentecost in 1971. We graduated from Concordia Lutheran High SchoolPortland, Oregon in June of 1975.

I attended Washington State University in Pullman, Washington my freshman year in college, and returned home to attend and graduate from Concordia CollegePortland with my Associates in Liberal Arts in 1977.  In August of that year I married Debbie, my high-school sweetheart, and went to work in the lumber manufacturing industry, planning to decide on my course of study and return to college once she graduated from nursing school. At that time I felt called into the ministry, but just could not see myself as a pastor. I thought maybe I was called to be a Lutheran schoolteacherbut there was a real “glut” of teachers at the time. Instead of returning to college when Debbie graduated, we started our family. Our first child Natalie was born September of 1979, followed by StephanieApril 1981 (married to Brinley Jenkins 2002), ElizabethMay 1983, AndrewNovember 1984, and several months before the birth of KathleenApril 1986, we were blessed with the guardianship of our great-nephew Tyler RobbMay 1983 and his little sister KarmaFebruary 1985. The following spring their new brother BrandonJanuary 1987, came to live with us as well8 kids under 8 years old! From mid 19882002 they lived with their mother or grandmother. Karma returned to live with us in fall 2002 and Brandon in February 2003.

In 1990, urged by yet a 3^rd pastor to consider the ministry, I left the lumber industry and went to work with a Christian friend at a local auto dealership, hoping that the “flexible” schedule would allow me to pursue an education as a teacher or in ministry. As eating wasn’t flexible with our growing family, this change lead to many hours, and didn’t allow for me to continue my education. During my time in the auto-sales industry I moved from sales, to finance, and eventually to general manager. Again in 1996 I felt called into ministry. Living in the same town/neighborhood my whole life, I couldn’t envision “uprooting” my family and heading to the Midwest to train at one of the seminaries. In March 1998 Grace called a seminarian, Paul Sauer, to vicar with us. My pastor continued to encourage me to look into the seminary, and with the added encouragement and information from our vicar (he encouraged my wife to encourage me too), I visited Concordia Seminary St. Louis, and in January of 1999 I decided to apply. I was accepted in April and in August made the move to St. Louis.

God has shown His fullest measure of grace to my family and me over our 5 years here, meeting all of our needs. When we move to our call congregation, we will be leaving Natalie and Elizabeth for work, and Andrew to continue college in St. Louis; Katie will be moving to Oakland to attend college (chose the school last spring), Stephanie and Brinley in Seattle, (both have options to transfer with their companies to the bay area), and Karma and Brandon will move with us. I look forward to the unfolding of God’s plan for my life and ministry in your midst. May we be a mutual blessing to one anotherto His Glory!

Sincerely in His Service,

Marty L. Tyler

“For I know the plans I have for you…plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Email:  Admin@ChristOurKingLutheran.org

 Phone:  408-782-0451