Our Staff
Rev. Jeff Marquardt
Senior Pastor
I have been blessed to be pastor at Lake Norman Lutheran since 2009. Prior to that, I served congregations in Florida and Virginia. I am a graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and Concordia College, Portland. My wife, Nancy, and I met while serving as volunteer missionaries in Japan. We have lived in many places through the years but are glad to call North Carolina home. We have four adult children and it has been a blessing to see our family grow as three have married, and especially as we welcomed 3 grandchildren into the family in 2019: twin grandsons and their cousin, a granddaughter, born within weeks of one another. (If you ever want to see their pictures, just ask!)
I appreciate the friendly spirit and willing hearts of the members of Lake Norman Lutheran, as we continue to seek out new ways to serve God and our neighbors!
Rev. Mark Schild
Assistant Pastor
Born October 8, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, Mark was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Dolton IL. He confirmed his faith at Grace Lutheran Church in South Holland, Illinois in May of 1971.
Mark attended various colleges/universities with a concentration in Business Administration/Computer Science. He enrolled in 2006 at Concordia University Wisconsin in the Theological Education by Extension program to pursue Lay Ministry certification. Mark has been a Lay Assistant and active in many aspects of ministry at Lake Norman Lutheran Church for over 16 years. Specific Ministry Pastor status by colloquy was granted by the LCMS in December 2018. His call to Lake Norman Lutheran Church is as Assistant Pastor.
Mark currently serves as the IT Director at Lincoln Charter School in Denver, NC. In addition to serving as IT Director, he coaches cross country/track & field programs and sponsors the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the school.
Mark married Patricia on August 30, 1997 in Mooresville, NC. They are blessed with a son, Kenneth, born on May 19, 2000.
Reita Smyre
Administrative Assistant
My name is Reita Smyre and I am a Charter Member of Lake Norman Lutheran Church. I was born in Wilmington, NC; however, my family soon moved to Charlotte, NC where I grew up. I have been married to my husband Paul for 57 years and we have 3 married children and 5 grandchildren.
I am a member of the Altar Guild, a Stephen Minister and the Administrative Assistant here at Lake Norman Lutheran Church. I have been active with the church for over 40 years and love the church fellowship with fellow Christians.
Jenna Creque
Music Director
Was born and grew up in Wauseon, Ohio. She was baptized and confirmed at Saint James Lutheran Church in Burlington, Ohio.
Jenna took classes at various colleges in Northwest Ohio before receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio in the Spring of 2008.
Jenna married Scott Creque on December 15th, 2007 in Burlington, Ohio. She then moved to Denver, NC to live with her husband who works for a Nascar team. Jenna taught preschool and first grade for several years before being blessed with three children: Jayden, Clairissa Jo and Lincoln.
Jenna currently stays at home during the day with her youngest son and teaches piano lessons out of her home in the evenings to 15 students. She has been the music director and organist at Lake Norman Lutheran Church for 6 years. This consists of planning the music for the services, playing for them and also directing the adult and children's choirs.
Jenna has had a love for music since she was young. She began taking piano lessons at 6 years old and then flute at 10 years old. In high school, she began learning how to play the organ, piccolo and saxophone. To help pay for organ lessons she also started teaching piano lessons to several kids at her church. Jenna was soon asked to play the organ for the services a Saint James Lutheran Church in Burlington, Ohio which began her career as a church organist.