Meet Pastor Joe

Pastor Joe Schultz joined Zion Lutheran Church after serving as Senior Pastor at Edison Park Lutheran Church for four and a half years. His path to ministry is a unique one.  Before answering God's call, he spent many years working in the construction industry as a ready-mix concrete truck driver.

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In 2007, Pastor Joe earned his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and was ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He and his wife, Tammy, are proud parents of two sons, Jason and Dan (Jess), and grandparents to Benny and Connor.

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Pastor Joe's journey of faith was transformed through a powerful encounter with God while running on the Illinois Prairie Path. In that moment, he experienced a profound sense of God's faithfulness—a truth that has guided him throughout his life and ministry. From construction work to pastoral leadership, he has witnessed God's grace and faithfulness at every step.

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As a servant leader, Pastor Joe is passionate about helping people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. He believes that God's love, grace, forgiveness, and acceptance are for everyone and that the church is called to share that message with the world. His prayer for Zion is that it continues to be a welcoming community where people experience God's radical grace and are inspired to love and serve as Jesus did.

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Pastor Joe especially enjoys preaching, pastoral care, leading small groups, and building meaningful relationships. He is excited to serve alongside the church council and the people of Zion as they live out God's mission together.  He is also a CAR guy.

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