our pastor
Pastor David Ude has been serving St. Stephen Lutheran Church since September of 2025. He grew up mostly in Wisconsin where his father, John Ude was pastor at congregations in Cambridge and Middleton WI (where David was born), Hales Corners WI (where David loved to play in the woods and forts and basketball courts), and then in Fridley, MN where David was confirmed. Being a fan of Wisconsin sports, David is known sometimes to jokingly refer to this period in Minnesota as his time of exile. Unlike the Israelites in Babylon, he did not groan as a prisoner, yet he did rejoice to return to Wisconsin to attend Immanuel Lutheran High School in the fall of 2003. During his high school years David loved competing in sports, particularly cross country and baseball.
In 2005, John Ude accepted a call to be a professor there at Immanuel so the family moved to Eau Claire, WI. David graduated from Immanuel Lutheran High School (2007). Since his earliest memories, David desired to be like his Dad (and both grandfathers), preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. So in the fall of 2007 he began pre-theological studies at Immanuel Lutheran College. He graduated from the college in 2011 with his BA degree and then from the Seminary in 2014. During his college and seminary days, David enjoyed coaching cross country and baseball.
In June of 2012 David married Rachel nee Radtke in Eau Claire, WI and they lived in Hudson, WI during the last two years of David's seminary training. While living in Hudson the Lord blessed David and Rachel with their first daughter – Anastasia.
In June of 2014 he was ordained and installed as Pastor at Living Hope Lutheran Church – a recently established mission congregation in Appleton, WI. He served there for just over 11 years until he accepted the call to St. Stephen in August 2025.
While in Appleton, David and Rachel were blessed with two more children: Samara and Simon. Jesus also blessed Pastor Ude's gospel ministry there with a great deal of growth from baptisms, new families moving to the area and new adult converts as well.
Pastor Ude particularly enjoys preaching, teaching bible study and confirmation classes, telling bible stories to children, visiting members, leading youth and family bible camping outings and sharing the gospel with visitors and contacts. Pastor Ude loves the pure gospel doctrine of Lutheranism and the beautiful way that traditional Lutheran architecture, liturgy and hymnody expresses this. Pastor Ude is excited about this work of preaching the gospel throughout California both at St. Stephen in Mountain View and in the various preaching stations in the areas of Sacramento, Stockton, and Los Angeles.
Pastor Ude also serves on several synodical committees in the CLC: the Worship Committee, the Committee on Domestic Fields, and the Lay Ministry Committee.
In his free time, Pastor Ude enjoys watching sports, cooking, running, playing with his children, going out to eat with Rachel and going on family excursions to see the beauty of God's creation.