LAKE MILLS, Wis. — Dave Sobek knows a lot about leaps of faith. He is the pastor of Lake Mills Moravian Church.
Thirty years ago, when he was starting his career in the church, he took a leap of faith himself, and trained to be a firefighter.
At the time, Sobek was serving at his first parish in Pittsville, Wisconsin. The city needed more firefighters.
What You Need To Know
- Thirty years ago, when he was starting his career in the church, he took a leap of faith himself, and trained to be a firefighter
- In every new city, he became a firefighter. He even served as a fire chief in some communities
- The fire station is less than a mile away from Sobek’s church, allowing him to transition between roles in a moment’s notice
“Two captains wanted me to join,” said Sobek. “So, I said, ‘tell you what, you come to church, I’ll join the fire department’, because their wives both went to my church.”
That was the beginning of his path to joining faith and firefighting.
As a faith leader, Sobek moved around to many different churches throughout the Midwest. In every new city, he became a firefighter. He even served as a fire chief in some communities.
Sobek has been with the Lake Mills Fire Department for 10 years now. He also serves as the department’s chaplain. He’s been able to counsel his team through tough rescues and difficult life events.
Just last year, the chief of the Lake Mills Fire Department died unexpectedly in the line of duty from a heart attack. Fellow firefighters said Sobek’s faith and support were invaluable at that time.
“Simply having a person who understands what we are going through because he’s been on those calls,” said Lake Mills Fire Chief Jason Russ. “So, someone who directly relates to what you physically go through, or what you are mentally seeing, is a privilege for the Lake Mills Fire Department.”
The fire station is less than a mile away from Sobek’s church, allowing him to transition between roles at a moment’s notice. He said the roles are a lot more similar than you might think.
“I guess I like the fact that it’s the unknown,” Sobek said. “Every fire is different, every call is different, much like the church. No two people are the same. No two people react the same. Just to be there at those times.”