Director and Board Members
Bob Flohrs, Director
The Rev. Robert Flohrs is the Director for Wittenberg English Ministry as of May 1, 2015. Bob recently retired from the active ministry, having served Lutheran congregations in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona. His last call was serving 5+ years as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, the International Lutheran congregation in Frankfurt, Germany.
Bob and his wife Rita reside in both Virginia and Arizona. They have two children. Daughter Robin McAvoy lives in San Tan Valley, AZ, with her family. She is a real estate agent and co-founder of Groundwork Ministries along with her husband Nate, a teacher. They have 7 sons. Bob and Rita’s son Ryan and his wife Tammy live in Gainesville, VA, and have two children. Ryan works at Discovery Communications in Sterling, VA, and Tammy teaches piano.
Bob twice served as a WEM volunteer pastor in Wittenberg and has a love and commitment for WEM, its mission and ministry.
Jack Pfitzer, Secretary and Board Member
Jack joined Wittenberg English Ministry in 2014 as its manager of communications and promotion for which he led through 2000; he also served as a deputy director in Wittenberg 2015 – 2017 and began as a WEM board member in 2018.
A marketing communications professional for 40 years, Jack retired in 2014 after working in various positions with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod: Concordia Plan Services, the Board of World Mission, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Lutherans in Medical Missions, and in organizations with Lutheran churches and schools.
Jack also worked 17 years with Anheuser-Busch in marketing. Prior to his years with A-B, Jack was with the Veterans Administration in St. Louis and Omaha. After graduating at the University of Missouri in 1970 Jack spent six years in media instruction at Winona State University in Minnesota.
Steve Kukuk, Treasurer and Board Member
Steve Kukuk joined Wittenberg English Ministry as Deputy Director in 2019 and accepted the position of WEM Treasurer in 2023. Steve is a registered professional electrical engineer. He retired from the US Air Force in 1998 after 26 years on active duty. During his military career Steve served at duty stations throughout the United States and Europe, including eight years in Germany. Steve and his wife Deb are founding members of Kaiserslautern Evangelical Lutheran Church, an English-speaking church near Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Steve worked in private industry until his retirement as President of Wolf Creek Federal Services, Inc. in 2019. A lifelong Lutheran, Steve is an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he has served on various boards and committees and as President of the congregation.
David Burki, Communications and Board Member
David joined WEM in 2018 as a Deputy Director and in 2021 he accepted the position of Communications Director, managing communications and promotions for WEM. He spent 10 years in the US Army as a helicopter pilot. After leaving the military he worked as a helicopter ambulance pilot in Dallas TX where he met his wife, Kristin, who was a flight nurse.
David retired from a career in software engineering in 2018. He enjoys spending time with his 3 grandchildren, woodworking, camping and helping Kristin in the garden.
Mark Scott, Board Member
Pastor Mark Scott has served a number of congregations in the Southeastern Synod and the South Carolina Synod of the ELCA since 1976. Moving to South Carolina in 2003, he has also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Vice President for Advancement at Newberry College as well as a gift planner for the ELCA Foundation and the South Carolina Synod. He and his wife Karen are the parents of three daughters and the grandparents of three grandchildren. Currently Pastor Scott is serving as the pastor of Pomaria Lutheran Church and he and Karen reside in Newberry South Carolina. They enjoy traveling and have served with WEM in Wittenberg three different times since 2005.
Beth Schnabel, Board Member
Dr. Elizabeth W. Schnabel retired recently after being an environmental science educator for 36 years. She and her husband Charles live in Medina, Ohio and have been members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for 53 years where she is Mission Coordinator. They enjoy visiting their three children and three grandchildren, traveling, cycling and kayaking. Elizabeth and Charles recently placed their farm in a conservation preservation program.
Elizabeth did her undergraduate degree in science education from the Ohio State University, earned a graduate degree in Curriculum Development from Ashland University and completed a doctorate in Mission Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary.
Don and Cheryl Klein, Board Members
Don is a retired librarian for schools in Oklahoma and Kansas. He has directed programs for advanced and talented students as well as serving as coach for Academic Bowl teams. Don enjoys studies in German Reformation history, language and culture. Cheryl is recently retired from a career of elementary school teaching in Lutheran schools in Louisiana, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Cheryl continues as full time organist at her Oklahoma Lutheran congregation. Both Don and Cheryl are graduates of Concordia University, Nebraska.
