Ministry Team

Rev. Ron Flentgen

Rev. Luke Jacob

Senior Pastor 

Pastor Luke was installed as Senior Pastor at Trinity in January 2024. His greatest joys in ministry are sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others and seeing the body of Christ at work in the world around us. Pastor Luke joined Trinity’s staff in August of 2021 after serving 13 years in Racine, Wisconsin. He enjoys running, watching sports, movies, and board games. Pastor Luke and his wife, Courtney, have three young boys.

Rev. Philip Cook, Lead Pastor, Shawnee Campus

Rev. Philip Cook

Lead Pastor, Shawnee Campus

Pastor Phil is an Associate Pastor at Trinity and the lead pastor at the Shawnee campus. His greatest passions in ministry are seeing people find help, hope, and freedom in Jesus from the pain in their life caused by sin, and to help people know and follow Jesus more closely in their lives. Pastor Phil joined Trinity’s staff in 2015 after serving nine years in the Dallas area. He enjoys being outdoors and enjoying God’s creation, and playing with tools. Pastor Phil’s wife, Rebeka, is his partner in ministry as they raise three children.

Rev. Dr. Mark R. Schulz, Senior Pastor

Rev. Dr. Mark R. Schulz

Pastor Emeritus

Pastor Mark served as the Senior Pastor at Trinity and the lead pastor at the Mission campus from 2013 until his retirement in January 2024. His greatest joy in ministry has been connecting people to the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ and helping them grow as followers of Jesus. Pastor Mark served in pastoral ministry for almost forty years in Omaha, Chicago, and Kansas. He enjoys working out, watching all sports, and working in his yard. Pastor Mark and his wife, Nancy, have two adult daughters.

Rev. Ron Flentgen

Rev. Ronald Flentgen

Pastor Emeritus 

Pastor Ron is Pastor Emeritus at Trinity, assisting with Bible class teaching and occasional preaching. His greatest passion is to work with Holy Scripture to relate the Gospel to the lives of God’s people. Pastor Ron has served in the pastoral ministry since 1964.

Rhonda Synovec

Rhonda Synovec

Children Family Minister

Rhonda is Director of Family Life Ministry across both campuses, serving children, youth, and their families. Her passion in ministry is to equip families to grow together in their faith and love for Jesus. Rhonda began her ministry at Trinity as a volunteer in 1992 and later joined the staff part-time before transitioning into family life ministry in 2014. She enjoys time with friends, traveling, watching musicals, concerts and plays, and reading.

Rhonda Synovec

Beth Stephens

Youth Family Minister

DCE Beth Stephens is the Youth Family Minister at Trinity. Her greatest joy in ministry is reminding students and their families that while we live in a world full of change and confusion, our God is constant and clear. Beth joined Trinity’s staff in 2018. Previously she served in Battle Creek, Michigan, for three years.  In her free time, she likes to find good books to read, trails to get lost on, lakes to kayak, and new places to eat or get coffee.

Jo Ann Emerson, Preschool Director

Jo Ann Emerson

Preschool Director

Jo Ann is the Director of Trinity Lutheran Church Preschool and loves working with our preschool families. After 16 years of teaching elementary school, she began teaching at the preschool in 2011 and assumed the director role in 2016. Jo Ann serves on the Christian Early Childhood Association’s Board of Directors, which seeks to bring early childhood experts and presenters to the metro area. In her spare time, Jo Ann enjoys shopping for bargains, reading psychological thrillers, baking sweet treats, and walking her dog, Sweetie.

Dr. Lara West, Organist

Dr. Lara L. West

Minister of Music and the Arts, Organist

As Trinity’s organist, Lara leads congregational song, accompanies the choir, and provides preludes and postludes for worship. A lifelong Lutheran, she served as music minister at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lawrence for thirteen years before joining Trinity’s staff. She enjoys shape note singing, contra dancing, traveling to the mountains, and speaking German. Lara and her husband, Eric, live in Atchison, Kansas, where they both teach at Benedictine College.

Larry Conrad, Administrator

Dr. Brett Robison

Choir Director

Brett directs the Trinity Choir at the Mission campus. He brings a passion for choral music and music ministry to this role and has served churches for over twenty years. Most recently, Brett had been an assistant professor of music and the director of choirs at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. He also has a passion for arts administration and is currently serving the Topeka Symphony as their executive director. Brett and his wife, Jennaya, have three children and one grandson.

Dr. Lara West, Organist

Brandon Draper

Director of Contemporary Music

Brandon Draper has enjoyed a celebrated career as drummer, percussionist, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator. In addition to freelancing and teaching, he currently performs as a solo artist, multi-instrumentalist. Currently Draper is on music faculty at the University of Kansas where he teaches jazz drums, world percussion, steel band and is the director of Music Enterprise certificate combining music business and entrepreneurship.

Gretchen Hollman, Office Supervisor

Brian Daniel

Administrator

Brian is the Administrator at Trinity providing support to the Mission and Shawnee campuses. Prior to joining Trinity Brian was a small business owner for 20 years in the Kansas City metro area and adjunct economics instructor at Baker University. He enjoys family time and outdoor activities including gardening, camping, and spending time at the family farm.

Gretchen Hollman, Office Supervisor

Gretchen Hollman

Office Supervisor

Gretchen serves as a central hub of information and communications for the church as editor of the electronic newsletter and webmaster. Gretchen has served at Trinity since 2012. She enjoys participating in the Life Team at Hope Lutheran Church, sharing the gospel-motivated love for all, from preborn through natural death. She enjoys family time, floral arranging, her grand puppy, marching band events, singing, and sewing.

Gretchen Hollman, Office Supervisor

Brayden Yoder-Mulkey

AV Manager

Taking charge of the AV operations at both the Shawnee and Mission campuses, Brayden is currently pursuing his studies in music education and music enterprise certificate at the esteemed University of Kansas, Brayden is further honing his skills through student teaching in Lawrence. Brayden enjoys spending quality time with his loved ones and playing the French Horn. Beyond his responsibilities at Trinity, he gives private music lessons and contributes to the technical crew at the Lied Center of Lawrence.

Barb Estes, Staff Support

Jennifer Estes

Staff Support

Jennifer provides office support for the staff. Her responsibilities include maintaining the prayer list and preparing worship slides. Jennifer enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with her family.

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