Born and raised in California, Craig McMahon enjoyed spending summers with his grandparents in Arvin, the setting for John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath.  Both sides of his family are “Okies” who migrated to California in search of a better life.

Craig and his wife, Twink, migrated to Iowa, where Craig earned a Master of Arts in English from Iowa State University (1993). Both of their daughters were born in Ames, Iowa: Phoebe in 1991 and Berti in 1994.

In 1995, Craig accepted an English Instructor position with Madison College.  He and his family moved to Madison, fell in love with Wisconsin, and set down roots.  

They thought their moving days were over, but the Holy Spirit had other plans.

In 2003, Craig and his family moved to Webster Groves, MO, where he and Twink attended Eden Theological Seminary, both graduating with Masters of Divinity in 2006.  Craig then served as an Interim Pastor for three and one-half years (Spring Prairie Lutheran Church, Deforest, 2006; Luther Memorial Church, Madison, 2007; Whitewater Congregational Church, Whitewater, 2008).  In 2010, he answered his first call to serve as a settled Pastor at Swiss UCC in New Glarus. 

In 2014, he began serving his as Senior Pastor of First Congregational UCC, Moline, IL.  In a short time, Craig and the congregation accomplished much. They began using technology to strengthen communication within the congregation, increase participation, diversify giving, celebrate their life and ministry together, and reach out to their neighbors.  In 2018, the church ratified an ONA covenant and began live streaming worship services. Craig helped the congregation revitalize its mission programs by connecting it with local social agencies and engaging young families in the joy of helping others. Craig also led the church in addressing long-needed issues with its vast, beautiful, century-old building.  In 2019, he developed the Let Light Shine capital campaign, raising $150,000 to repair and restore its stained glass windows. Most recently, the church installed solar panels to offset utilities costs.

July 2020, Craig began serving as Pastor at Windsor UCC, coinciding with the rise of COVID. With the church doors closed and the sanctuary empty, Craig preached to an iPad to a congregation he had yet to meet. Within this first year, the church installed a new membership software to meet new communication demands, and began live-streaming with a new audio video system. In time, with an on-line sign up process and safe-worship protocols, the church reopened at long last. With the church reopened, the work of establishing new relationships and renewing ministries began in good earnest, with many positive results.

Marking a new chapter of his Pastoral ministry, in May 2024, Pr. Craig will begin serving as Interim Lead Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He sees the wide-spread need for Interim Pastors as a calling and is glad for the opportunity to help congregations transition toward the future.

Craig enjoys three great passions: playing with his two grandsons, fishing the Driftless, in Southwest Wisconsin, and riding his bike like a madman.

Phoebe (http://phoebejanmcmahon.com/) is an artist and gardener and fantastic cook. She lives with her partner, Meg, in Madison. Berti and her husband, Rudy, live and work in Madison with their two beautiful boys. Twink is a hypnotherapist affiliated with New Moon Wellness.