PASTOR

Pastor Bob Benke is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A graduate of Concordia College High School, Concordia University Wisconsin (A.A.), Concordia University Nebraska (B.S. in Ed.) and, after teaching 3rd grade at Zion Lutheran School in Belleville, IL,  Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO (M.Div).  Pastor Bob has had the honor of teaching every grade from Pre-K through University students.  In addition to serving Faith Lutheran Church he has also taught as an Adjunct Professor of Theology for Concordia University – St. Paul, MN for 17 years. 


In 30 years of pastoral ministry Pastor Bob and wife Mary have lived in St. Louis, MO, Meriden, Connecticut, Butler, AL, Maywood and Forest Park, IL and St. Paul, MN.  In those years he has served as a Jail Student Chaplain, Vicar, Assistant, Associate and Senior Pastor, Campus Pastor for Concordia University – St. Paul and sole pastor.  He is in the 1st edition of Who’s Who Among American’s teachers and has published several articles in the Lutheran Education Association Journal. 


Mary is a native of Colorado, a graduate of Valparaiso University and spent 17 years working with children from Pre-K -6th grade at Central Lutheran School in St. Paul 


The Benkes have three children: Jacob (Laura) a high school teacher at Walther Christian Academy in Melrose Park, IL, Katie, a service specialist for Health Partners in Bloomington, MN, and Nathaniel a senior at Concordia University Wisconsin.

our staff


  • Administrative Assistant

    Pat Beauregard

  • music Director

    Sigilda Naidin

    Sigilda was born, raised, and educated in Romania. Attended nursing school there, evaluated as LPN in US, challenged the nursing board and obtained the LPN license in 2007. Went to LPN-RN fast track program at NPCC and graduated in 2012 with an RN license. She is currently working at CHI St.Vincent Hot Springs in cardiology/telemetry unit. 

     Graduated from Music University in Bucharest in 1996 with a Bachelor in Music Pedagogy with emphasis in choral conducting. 

    Former choir director at UUVC in Hot Springs Village and Hot Springs Flute Ensemble, assistant choir director at Betania Romanian Pentecostal Church,  choir director at SDA Church in Hot Springs, former piano accompanist for NPCC Singers and Soundwaves in Hot Springs, and OBU in Arkadelphia. 

     Since 2016 working at Faith Lutheran church as a choir director of two ensembles: Faith Ringers and Faith Singers. 

     Active member of Hot Springs Music Club and SAI Music Fraternity since 2008. 

    She is teaching music locally-private piano lessons. 

    Enjoys living in the Village since 2014 with her husband, Alex. 

  • Organist

    Sharon Martin

    Sharon’s musical adventure began with piano lessons at age 8.  At 12, she began organ lessons at the Stewart School of Music in Portsmouth, VA.  When she was 16, she accepted a position of organist at the Naval Hospital Chapel in Portsmouth, playing for four services on Sunday mornings.

    After graduating from the then Norfolk College of William and Mary with a degree in accounting, she and Tom were married and moved to Wisconsin.  They lived in several places in Wisconsin before moving to Winona, Minnesota where they purchased a funeral home.  She was always able to find an organist position wherever they lived.  They sold the business in 1985 and stayed in Minnesota until 1997 when they moved to Little Rock, Arkansas.

    They moved to the Village in 1998 and began playing regularly at Faith when the previous organist left to take another position.

    Tom and Sharon have three sons and six grandchildren.

    Faith is blessed with having the only pipe organ in the Village.  It is still maintained by Roy Redmand, who was the original installer.