Rev. Dr. Joel G. Koepp has been married to his wonderful God-given wife, Markie Koepp, since August 19, 2005. Both of them are Minnesota natives, and before seminary, Pastor Koepp taught Tae Kwon Do (South Korean Martial Arts), having two schools of his own. Markie has spent many years teaching, raising and caring for children. Pastor and Markie have been blessed with four children, Joel, Elizabeth, Kaitlynn and William. Dr. Koepp has received his B.S. in Social Work with a minor in Psychology in 2005 from Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, MN. He received his Master’s of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary,

Ft. Wayne, IN in 2010, and his vicarage year was spent at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Brookings, SD with Rev. Terry Naasz.

Pastor Koepp served as sole pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Wood Lake, MN for just over 7 years. After several years, Pastor Koepp studied and earned his Doctorate of Ministry from Sioux Falls Seminary, Sioux Falls, SD in 2014 writing his dissertation, and later publishing it into a book entitled, “Who Am I? Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and the Differing Perceptions of the ‘Self’”. 

Rev. Dr. Joel Koepp was installed as pastor for Immanuel Lutheran Church on August 20, 2017.