Faithful leadership grows through experience, perseverance, and calling. Andrew Farhat, Lead Pastor of St. John’s Church and School Denver, exemplifies how personal transformation and steady faith can shape both a life and a community. His journey—from student athlete and engineer to pastor and teacher—illustrates how conviction and grace can direct every season of life toward service.
Early Years in Seattle
Born in 1980 in Seattle, Washington, Andrew Farhat was raised by his parents, Bill and Ferial Farhat, Lebanese immigrants who left their homeland seeking peace and opportunity. Their courage and faith provided the foundation for Andrew Farhat’s own perseverance. Growing up in Lake City, Seattle, he developed discipline, curiosity, and an enduring respect for family and hard work.
From an early age, Andrew Farhat excelled in academics and athletics. At Nathan Hale High School, he earned recognition in football, basketball, and baseball—making varsity in three sports and being named team MVP and Second Team All-Metro Quarterback. These experiences cultivated leadership and resilience, qualities that later became central to his ministry.
Searching for Purpose
Despite outward success, Andrew Farhat felt a growing emptiness. During high school and college, he pursued excitement and acceptance in the party scene but found that temporary pleasure left him unfulfilled. Two incidents—a night in jail after an underage DUI citation and a near-fatal car accident soon afterward—became turning points. They confronted Andrew Farhat with questions about meaning and direction that could no longer be ignored.
In prayer and conversation with his mother, Andrew Farhat acknowledged his desire to change and give his life to God. What began as self-reflection turned into genuine repentance and a search for truth. This desire set the stage for his encounter with Christianity in a deeper, personal way.
Discovering Faith at the University of Washington
While studying electrical engineering at the University of Washington, Andrew Farhat began attending The Inn, a student ministry connected to University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. The gatherings introduced him to worship, Scripture, and Christian fellowship on a larger scale. Through his mentor Greg Millikan, Andrew Farhat was encouraged to explore the faith intellectually as well as spiritually.
Reading Letters from a Skeptic and studying the Gospel of John gave Andrew Farhat a new understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice and forgiveness. He came to believe that Christ truly was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” That realization changed everything. Faith moved from theory to conviction, and Andrew Farhat committed his life to following Christ.
A New Direction: From Engineering to Ministry
After his conversion, Andrew Farhat shared his faith with friends and developed a passion for Scripture. Even as he completed his engineering degree, he felt drawn toward pastoral work. A mentor advised patience—finish the degree, mature spiritually, and prepare for ministry in God’s time. Taking that advice, Andrew Farhat graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and accepted a position with the U.S. Navy in Bremerton, Washington.
While working in engineering, Andrew Farhat continued growing in faith. Two years later, he met Daisy through online introduction and soon recognized a shared calling. Their relationship centered on prayer and service. They married in 2004 and prepared to pursue full-time ministry together.
Seminary Training and Theological Growth
In 2005, Andrew Farhat and Daisy moved to St. Louis to attend Concordia Seminary, a pivotal step that deepened both his theological understanding and his sense of vocation. During his years there, Andrew Farhat excelled in Greek and Historical Theology and developed a firm commitment to Lutheran doctrine. He studied the Church Fathers and Reformation history, discovering in Lutheranism a return to biblical simplicity and grace-based faith.
In 2009, Andrew Farhat graduated with a Master of Divinity and received his first pastoral call. The years of preparation confirmed his conviction that God’s Word alone sustains the believer and the church alike.
Early Ministry in Oregon
The first congregation served by Andrew Farhat was St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Roseburg, Oregon. The community faced financial difficulty and leadership division, yet Andrew Farhat approached the challenge with faith and humility. Through open dialogue and renewed commitment to outreach, the church became financially healthy within a year and regained unity among its members. This experience shaped Andrew Farhat as a leader who relies on prayer, collaboration, and clear biblical guidance to bring stability.
Leadership in Denver
In 2018, Andrew Farhat accepted a Divine Call to join St. John’s Church and School Denver as Campus Pastor for the Wash Park site. The congregation, one of two campuses in Denver, emphasized community outreach and education. During his tenure, Andrew Farhat continued to strengthen the church’s connection with local families and missions abroad.
From 2020 to 2021, Andrew Farhat completed certification in the Senior Leader Track of the Pastoral Leadership Institute, enhancing his ability to guide complex ministries. When the previous lead pastor accepted a new call, St. John’s invited Andrew Farhat to step into the role of Lead Pastor.
Today, St. John’s Church Denver and St. John’s School Denver continue to grow under his leadership, reaching families throughout the city and supporting mission partners in ten countries. The ministry focuses on faith formation, family discipleship, and Gospel-driven education.
Expanding Ministry Through Media
Recognizing the importance of digital communication, Andrew Farhat helped launch Transformed, a podcast created with Daisy and team members at St. John’s Church Denver. From 2022 to 2024, the podcast released nearly ninety episodes featuring honest discussions about faith and transformation, including a conversation with Christian artist FLAME. The project allowed Andrew Farhat to share Scripture and encouragement beyond the congregation.
In 2026, Andrew Farhat plans to begin a short daily podcast offering five-minute devotions—another avenue for teaching and connection rooted in the Word of God.
Family Life and Community Involvement
Family remains central to the calling of Andrew Farhat. He and Daisy live in Denver with their four children, embracing everyday rhythms of ministry, school, and community life. They enjoy the outdoors—walking, biking, hiking, and snowboarding—and often explore Denver’s local restaurants together. This balance of family and faith reflects the values promoted at St. John’s Church and School Denver: strong homes, joyful service, and Christ-centered relationships.
A Ministry Shaped by Grace
Throughout every stage—student, engineer, husband, pastor—Andrew Farhat has sought to follow God’s leading with humility and perseverance. His journey illustrates how grace transforms not only belief but vocation. In times of challenge, Andrew Farhat has modeled faith that listens before leading and serves before speaking. The congregations he has guided testify to renewal that begins with prayer and steady devotion.
At St. John’s Church Denver, Andrew Farhat continues to focus on preaching and teaching that connect Scripture to daily life. Under his guidance, the ministry remains rooted in its Lutheran heritage while responding to the needs of a modern city.
Looking Ahead
The future for Andrew Farhat and St. John’s Church and School Denver is centered on continuity—strengthening discipleship, nurturing families, and expanding outreach locally and globally. Each initiative follows a single guiding vision: to proclaim the Gospel with clarity and compassion so that individuals and families encounter lasting hope in Christ.
Through careful leadership, Andrew Farhat continues to build a ministry that honors the past, serves the present, and prepares for generations to come.
About Andrew Farhat
Andrew Farhat serves as Lead Pastor of St. John’s Church and School Denver, guiding a multisite Lutheran congregation devoted to faith, family, and outreach. Born in Seattle, Washington, in 1980, Andrew Farhat earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He previously served as pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Roseburg, Oregon. Today Andrew Farhat continues to lead St. John’s Church Denver and St. John’s School Denver with a mission centered on preaching the Gospel and building faithful community in Denver and beyond.