Dr. Wayne Braun, Senior Pastor
Biography
Hello! I am the Senior Pastor of Lamb of God and would like to tell you a little about myself. Born and raised in the Chicago, Illinois area (yes that means I love the Bears and the Cubs) I graduated from Concordia College in Milwaukee Wisconsin (1980) and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO (1984 and 1997). My wife Linda and I were married in 1980 and have been blessed with four wonderful children – Benjamin (married to Anna), Jonathan, Bethany and Steven. Linda, you will notice, serves as our Director of the Early Childhood Ministry here at Lamb of God. Before coming to Flower Mound in 2001 God has blessed us with the opportunity to serve congregations in Northeast Nebraska, and Texarkana, Texas as well as serving as the Campus Pastor at Concordia University Wisconsin.
In my home life, I love my wife and family and enjoy spending time with them, working around the yard, reading and playing golf. In ministry I love having the opportunity to connect people to our Savior Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, worship, witness and any other way God gives me the opportunity. I am here to serve you so please let me know what I can do.
Rev. Phil Cook, Associate Pastor
Biography
Pastor Cook was born and raised here in the DFW area, in the Lake Highlands community of northeast Dallas. As a youth, he developed his passion for outreach through short-term mission trips with his church. He left Dallas for the University of Texas in Austin (Go 'Horns!), where he majored in Civil Engineering. While attending the campus ministry in Austin, he developed a love for small group ministry. Although he loved engineering, he gradually heard and accepted the Lord’s call to go into ministry.
After graduating with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 2001, he attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, where he received an M.Div. in 2005. While attending seminary, he served urban congregations in St. Louis and New Orleans. After graduation, he worked for a year in a Clinical Pastoral Education program before taking the call to Lamb of God in 2006.
Pastor Cook is married to his lovely wife Rebeka, also a native Texan. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, home remodeling, gardening, and being outdoors. He also plays trumpet (a little), guitar (very little), and sings.
Chris Winston, Music Director
Biography
Chris first began church music work at age 15. He has served as pianist and organist at many churches since then culminating in his position as Music Director at Lamb of God where he has served since 1998. Chris received his Bachelors Degree in piano from UNT then continued his graduate work there serving as a Teaching Fellow. Since leaving UNT, Chris has been performing and arranging, eventually working as the arranger for WoW Productions where he arranged, scored and produced music for the Warner Bros. theme parks. Following that, he was in charge of MIDI production for ISong (a Hal Leonard company) and produced over 15 interactive CD titles. Chris’ church experience includes: Rejoice Lutheran, Coppell, TX, Faith Lutheran, Gainesville, TX and Immanuel Lutheran, Mercedes, TX.
Chris also runs Winston Music, a music production company with many jingles and music beds in production or being broadcast nationally. He is in demand a as soloist, accompanist, and performer, and performs with ensembles ranging from Classical to Jazz, Country to R&B, Blues and Rock.
Rebecca Winston, Director of Choral Activities
Biography
Rebecca has been working the church music field since 1991. In addition to her work as Director of Choral Activities at Lamb of God, Rebecca has performed several roles with the Fort Worth Opera in their productions of Carmen, Susannah, Madame Butterfly, and Aida, and has been the recipient of awards from such competitions as The Stewart Awards, the Sorantin Competition, the McCammon Voice Competition, and the Shreveport Opera Singer of the Year Awards. She also performs as a soloist with several orchestras and chamber groups including The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra of New Spain, the Flower Mound Chamber Orchestra, The Texas Boys Choir, and Voces Intimae.
Rebecca received her Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas where she served as a Teaching Fellow. A native of south Louisiana, she received her Bachelors Degree in Voice from Centenary College of Louisiana. Rebecca maintains a large private home voice studio.
Gail T. DeBenedictis, Operations Manager
Biography
Gail T. DeBenedictis started work at Lamb of God on May 20, 1999. She handles the financial duties for the congregation under the direction of the CMC/VP of Finance. Related duties include managing employee benefits plan, payroll, filing employer tax returns, paying the church's bills, banking, authorized reimbursements, adhering to approved budgets, providing financial reports, maintaining the congregation membership database.
Under the direction of the CMC/VP of Facilities, Gail also manages the daily upkeep of the facility and participates in planning future projects such as carpet replacement, painting, purchasing new equipment.
Gail has 2 daughters, Kathleen and Colleen. She also has 2 grandchildren, Vincent and Brianna.
Dawn Wendorf, Church Administrative Assistant
Biography
Dawn began working for LOG in June 2003. Her job as Church Administrative Assistant is to greet members and visitors when they come to the church office, answer the telephone and support the Ministry Staff with their administrative duties
Adam Griffin, Youth Director
Biography
Adam Griffin was born in St. Louis, MO on March 2, 1980, to Timm and Rosalie Griffin. He grew up mostly in the Milwaukee area of WI with his brothers Ben and Greg, and his sister Lisa. Adam grew up attending Christian outdoor ministry camps and eventually worked at one for three years where he began to develop a passion for working with youth.
Although he went to college to become a teacher, through involvement in area churches, ministries, and Concordia Wisconsin's Y-min organization, God gradually pulled him to working full time with youth in a church setting. Having never actually grown up himself, God has given Adam an authentic desire to minister to students and to see the Gospel change students' lives.
His passion is to be available for the youth 24/7 for whatever they may need. To meet students where they are at, accept them for who they are, and challenge them to connect with the values of the youth ministry.
Adam enjoys playing guitar, singing, disc golfing, and Starbucks-ing. Adam now lives in Flower Mound with his dog Charlie.
Education
- B.A. from Concordia University Wisconsin, May 2003
o Major/s: Secondary Education, History
o Minor/s: Theology, Youth Ministry - Currently working on Masters in Youth, Family and Culture through Fuller Theological Seminary
Ministry Experience
- Adam has been the Director of Youth Ministry at LoG since July 15, 2003
Emily Ellis, Director of Girls Ministry
Biography
Emily Ellis has been a church member since summer 2001. Emily grew up all over America, and overseas, as a daughter of a military chaplain. She settled in Texas, which she now calls home, in 2001 with husband, Justin. Emily has two sons, preschool age and younger.
Emily's degree, from Lambuth University, is Family Sciences. Despite always thinking she'd go into something outside church work/ministry, like her entire family, she excitedly joined the LOG church staff in 2004. As Director of Assimilation, she's been working to enable new members in their involvement. Emily is now in transition within the church staff. She is transitioning into the role of Director of Girls Ministry
Linda Braun, Early Childhood Ministry Director
Biography
Mrs. Linda Braun was born and raised in Wisconsin which makes her a packer fan. Linda and Pastor Braun have four children, Ben, Jon, Bethany and Steven and a new daughter-in-law Anna. Her hobbies include cooking, quilting and walking. We enjoy vacationing and hiking in Colorado and the north woods of Wisconsin.
Education
Mrs. Braun received her teaching certificate and Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University in Wisconsin and holds teaching certificates from Wisconsin and Texas.
Ministry Experience
Mrs. Braun has served:
- St. Matthews Lutheran School, St. Louis, MO
- Immanuel Lutheran Preschool, Tilden, NE
- St. John Lutheran School, Random Lake, WI
Service at Lamb of God
Mrs. Braun has been the Director of Early Childhood Ministry since September, 2001.
Sue Stewart, Administrative Assistant - Early Childhood Ministry
Biography
Sue Stewart has served as Administrative Assistant for the Early Childhood Ministry since January 2007. Prior to this position, she served as an ECM teacher for our 3 and 4 year olds.
Although Sue was born in England into a military family and had the opportunity to grow up in cities around the world, she considers Texas to be her home and is a true-blue Cowboys fan. Sue currently resides in Highland Village with her husband John and daughter Kylee, while daughter Brandi is busy "Hooking Horns" at UT Austin.
Education:
- B.S. from Angelo State University
- Major: Elementary Education/Kindergarten Endorsement
- Minor: Psychology
Holds Texas Teaching Certificate for grades K-8 and Elementary Psychology
Marybeth Hurd, Assistant to the Director - Early Childhod Ministry
Biography
Marybeth Hurd has been on the Early Childhood Ministry staff since moving to Texas in 1994. She has held many positions, but currently is Assistant to the Director, as well as a Lead Teacher of three year olds. She enjoys working with young children and believes that the ECM is a vital outreach of the congregation.
Marybeth grew up in New York, but spent 4 years in Maryland before moving to Texas. While in Maryland she attended Montgomery College and received an Early Childhood Workers certificate.
Marybeth and her husband Bob have 4 children, all attending or graduates of Texas Universities.
Brandy Ramm, Director of Children's Ministry.
Biography
Brandy Ramm is a country gal at heart! She was born on a farm in Muleshoe, Texas. When she was 10 years old, her family moved to the big city of Fort Worth, Texas. She graduated from high school, and started her college life at Tarrant County College. God spoke loud and clear, calling her into professional church work. She attended Concordia University in Austin, Texas for four years graduating in May 2006. Her major as a Director of Christian Education, with a minor in Children’s Ministry prepared her for her full time career in ministry.
She is joyous about her Internship here at Lamb of God. She loves to be with children of all ages teaching them about their loving Lord, Jesus Christ!
In her spare time she likes to skip, hula hoop, and jump rope! She also enjoys photography, scrapbooking, playing/watching sports (especially University of Texas Football) and being outdoors.
Dick Lasch, Director of Care Ministries
Biography
Dick Lasch has served as Director of Care Ministries at Lamb of God Lutheran Church since August of 2006. In this capacity he coordinates activities surrounding several volunteer groups dealing with member assistance, care and support for members and their families including Stephen Ministry.
Originally from Western New York, Dick and his family moved to Baytown Texas in February 1981. Job transfers moved him and family to Texarkana, Texas in 1987 and then to Flower Mound in 1996. Dick has been involved in many volunteer capacities at each of the congregations he and his family have been associated with including Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, Elder and Head Elder, several Call Committees and others.
Dick and his wife Diane were married in 1967 and have two sons and five grandchildren. Paul Lasch and his wife Char along with their three daughters Lindsey, Victoria and Emma live in Bowie Texas. Pastor Mark Lasch and his wife Catherine live in Euless Texas with their two sons David and Ryan.
Tony Corson, Multimedia
Biography
Tony Corson has been running the multimedia area at Lamb of God since 2006. He is also an active performer and teacher in the DFW area and is a founding member of Fortissimo Brass, a brass quintet which gives concerts and clinics around North Texas.
Tony has degrees in music form Drake University and Northern Colorado.