About

Tom Schwolert  Minister

Minister@joylutheranchurch.org

214-716-7539

 Tom Schwolert - SAWL Minister.

I graduated from Luther Seminary with a Masters in Children, Youth & Family ministry. I  joined the leadership of Joy on December 3, 2017. I have worked at Lutheran churches in Minnesota and Texas and recently did leadership training and coaching with Vibrant Faith. I am married to Melanie and we have two daughters, Jazmine and Zoey. Jazmine lives and works in Austin for Water to Thrive and Zoey is a sophomore at the University of Arkansas. We also have a son Max, who died suddenly of an infection after getting the flu on December 29, 2012. He was a senior in high school. We have a small non-profit organization in his honor that provides $5000 scholarships to students. I love the church, however, it is my hope that we can operate less like an “institution” and more like an authentic relational community. God chooses people like you and me to bring God’s love to our neighbors. I want to personally invite you to come experience the “joy” at Joy Lutheran Church.

Church Council –

Bruce Kraft -  President

Rhonda White-  President-elect & Finance

Eleanor Barringer - Secretary

Richard Oltmanns -  Treasurer

Sandra LaCroix -  Worship

Brandy Trygstad - Outreach & Fellowship

Melissa Hickman - Education & Youth

Inez Roach - Stewardship

Cecil Derrick - Property

Joy Lutheran Church is a Christian community of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Since being established in 1996, Joy has been a committed presence in Rockwall and is welcome to all. Our mission is “To Joyfully Share Jesus and Ourselves with Our Neighbors.” This means we want to connect with you whether its inside the church walls or outside. We strive to make our presence known in the community so that all know that you are welcome to be a part of this authentic community of faith.

We are Lutheran in our theology which means that we are saved by grace through faith and there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor. Faith is a gift of God's unconditional love that comes to us in the real person of Jesus Christ who overcame death and rose so that we might experience life abundant. We believe the Kingdom of God is not only when we go to heaven, but it is also now. God comes to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are limited people who accept that life isn’t perfect. We sin, we fall short, yet we know that because of the sacrifice that Jesus has made for us on the cross, we are set free from that sin. We come to God in confession and seek God’s forgiveness regularly.

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with more than 3.5 million members in more than 9,200 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.