Pastor Otten has served churches in Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland and Ohio; as an Assistant and Associate Pastor, a School Chaplain, a Christian Studies Instructor, a Family Life Coordinator, and a college Professor - teaching Introductory courses in World Religions, Contemporary Ethics, and Philosophy.

In 1997, the LCMS Dept. of World Mission endorsed Pastor Otten for ministry in the Armed Forces.  In 1999, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the US Air Force.