OUR PASTORS


  • REV. NILS NIEMEIER

    Reverend Nils Niemeier graduated from the Master of Divinity program at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis on May 15th, 2020.  He grew up in Northern Virginia and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies as an Oldham Scholar at the University of Richmond.  In August 2015, he completed his Master of Arts degree in Classics at Cornell University with a concentration in Roman Archaeology.


    Prior to being called to Messiah, Pastor Niemeier served as a vicar at Living Savior Lutheran Church in Fairfax Station, Virginia. He was ordained and installed as pastor at Messiah on August 16, 2020 and served until February 2025.  He has accepted a call to Lutheran Church of The Savoir in Bedford, Massachusetts.


  • PASTOR EMeritus ~ Rev. Charles Bell

    Pastor Bell served Messiah from 1997 until his retirement in 2018.  A Long Island native, Pastor Bell previously served as pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Aquebogue (1977-1997) and in Elm Grove, Wisconsin.


PASTORS CALLED TO THEIR HEAVENLY HOME


  • REV. HENRY KOEPCHEN

    Reverend Henry Koepchen Cross - Founding Pastor

    Pastor Koepchen received his AA from Concordia Junior College Bronxville, N.Y. and his BA from Concordia Seminary St. Louis from which he also received his M.Div. He served his vicarage in Wisconsin. He then became a missionary to Long Island, for the Atlantic District where, in 1957, he started a small congregation that is now the Messiah family. In 1966 he laid the cornerstone of the present church building. During his years in the ministry he also served the church-at-large as the Secretary and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS), as well as acting President of the Atlantic District. In 1996 he retired from the parish ministry, and continued to serve his Lord as a member of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic District.

    Pastor Koepchen passed away on April 12, 2021 at the age of 89.


  • REV. ALFRED HOFLER

    Reverend Alfred J. Hofler Cross  - Pastoral Assistant

    Pastor Hofler served Messiah from 1977 to his retirement in 2018.  Prior to serving at Messiah, he was the founding pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in East Moriches, New York (1962-1969), and also notably served as interim pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Middle Island (1961-1962).

    Our Lord called Pastor Hofler to his heavenly home on December 10, 2024.  He was 87.