About TJ

Tom grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana near Purdue University’s campus. He attended Indiana University as a music performance major studying classical guitar before changing to linguistics and Spanish. He attended Dallas Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Theology (ThM) with an emphasis in intercultural church planting and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Pastor Tom served several church plantings in Texas and Sweden before he was called to plant Christ the King Presbyterian Church in El Paso, Texas. He later earned a Master of Arts degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana and transferred his ordination to the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. He has also served two LCMS congregations, Saint Luke Lutheran Church (Wheaton, KS), St. Paul Lutheran Church (Melrose Park, IL), and First Saint Paul’s (Chicago, IL). In 2010 he received a Doctorate in Ministry from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago with an emphasis in preaching in a multi-ethnic, urban context. He was installed as Pastor of St. Luke on June 4, 2022. On August 23, 2022, Pastor Tom married Elizabeth. They have five adult children: Natalie, Daniel, Ezra, Joseph, and Elliot. He enjoys hiking, running, and walks with Elizabeth. Pastor Tom also plays classical guitar, Irish flute, and enjoys singing and photography.