Leadership & Staff

 

Church Leadership
Rev. Marcus J. Mackay
Senior Pastor 

317-733-7334
 
 
 
Rev. Mackay was installed as Senior Pastor for Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church LCMS December 9, 2018.  Rev. Mackay’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University, WI, and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He spent three years at Friends in Christ Lutheran Church in Bryant, Arkansas, and then eleven years as Sole/Senior Pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Hastings, NE. Mackay and his family reside in Zionsville, IN.  He is married to wife Jena and they have four sons:  Malachi, Matthias, Micah, and Marc. In a message to the congregation regarding his work, Mackay quoted John 15:16 – Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
Rev. James M. Grady
Visitation Pastor 

 
 
 
Rev. Grady was installed as Assistant Pastor for Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church LCMS in late 2017. He is now our Visitation Pastor. “Jim” is a lifelong Lutheran who, after an 18 year career as a critical care nurse, left to answer a call to the ministry.  “Jim” finished his studies at the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne in 2017. Pastor Grady was ordained and installed as Advent Lutheran’s Assistant Pastor thereafter.  In addition to his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University, he was ordained in August of 2017 as a general Pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Jim and his late wife, Debbie were married over 25 years. Together they have two daughters, Megan and Natalie, who both recently graduated college. 
Adrienne Brandon
Office & Executive Communications Manager
317-873-6318
 
 
 
 
Adrienne Brandon joined Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church and School Staff in 2021 as the new Office Manager and Administrative Assistant. In 2023, Adrienne was appointed the Executive Communications Manager for the newest Capital Campaign! Previously, Adrienne had a background in Operations & Office Management in the Hospitality, Tourism, Sports and Events industry with additional side-work of website and small business development.  Adrienne married her husband in September of 2017. Together they are blessed with two boys, and are expecting their third in 2024. 
Phil Lehman
Kantor & Organist
317-733-7486
 
 
 
 
After serving other churches in Indianapolis and South Carolina, Phil returned to Advent Lutheran Church in 2007 as the Organist & Kantor. In addition to playing for services, Phil assists Deb Trewartha with the Youth, accompanies the Choirs, and is our dedicated Wedding Organist. Phil is active in the American Guild of Organists and other organizations, and has earned many credentials in the area of Piano, Theory, Organ Performance, Liturgy, Worship and Choral Music. 
Jen Siukola
Deaconess
317-733-5473
 
 
 
Jen Siukola was installed as Deaconess for Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church LCMS August 14, 2022. Prior to her installation, Jen and her family have been faithful members and served on various committees. Jen interned at Advent and accepted her call in late June of 2022. Since completing her doctorate in trumpet performance/music theory and composition, Jen actively performed, taught, and wrote new music. Her debut album “Lighthouse Reverie,” was released in June of 2017. She recently finished furthering her education at the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne in 2022.  She is married and they have two children. 
Ervin Garcia
Custodian
317-873-6318
 
 
 
Ervin Garcia was hired as Custodian for Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church LCMS in 2014. He handles all upkeep of Advent in both the interior and exterior of our building. Ervin resides in Zionsville and has two children. 
 
 
School Leadership
Rev. Aaron A. Schultz
Headmaster & Associate Pastor
317-873-6318
 
 
 
Rev. Schultz was installed as Headmaster & Associate Pastor for Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church LCMS July 16, 2022. Aaron’s educational background includes a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where he has faithfully taught in Lutheran Schools for 10 years. He recently finished furthering his education at the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne in 2022. Pastor Schultz was ordained on Sunday, June 19th in his hometown and installed at Advent thereafter. He is married to wife Katie and they have four sons:  Canon, Ben, Sam and Augustine. Together his family reside in Indianapolis, IN. 
Deb Trewartha
Director of Choirs & Preschool 
317-733-5391
 
 
 
 
Deb is our Preschool Director and Director of Choirs at Advent. She has been involved in church work since 1988 when she left her position of 7 years as director of the Zionsville High School Choral Department to start a family while accepting the position of Music Director at Messiah Lutheran Church in Indianapolis.  She began her work at Advent in 1997 as the Director of Youth Music. In 2000, when Advent decided to open a Preschool, Deb was hired as Preschool Director.  Deb holds a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Music Education from Depauw University and a Master’s Degree from Butler University. She and her husband Kevin have 3 children and reside in Zionsville , IN.
Katie Schultz
Advancement Coordinator
317-873-6318
 
 
 
Katie is our Advancement Coordinator at Advent School as well as a Teachers Aide for the Early Childhood Education. She started working at Advent in 2022. Katie’s educational background includes a degree in Early Childhood Education from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. She has worked in churches and schools for many years. Katie is married to Pastor & Headmaster Aaron Schultz. Together they have four boys, Canon, Benjamin, Samuel, and Augustine. Together they reside in Indianapolis. 
Officers & Boards

Officers

  • Chairman – Monte Weimer
  • Vice Chairman – Craig Dykstra
  • Secretary – Margaret Halvorsen
  • Financial Secretary – Sue Gentry
  • Treasurer – Eric Hubert
  • School Treasurer – Heidi Fordice

Board Chairs

  • Board of Elders – Bill Bussing
  • Board of Trustees – Jerry Munk
  • Board of Evangelism – Mark Harris
  • Board of Education – Stephanie Hall
  • Board of Missions – David Longworth
  • Board of Fellowship – Sue Hoback
  • Board of Stewardship – Dan Latimer
  • School Board – Keith Mundrick
Board of Elders
 
  • Donald Hahn
  • Tom Mass
  • John Bergman
  • Jannson Engleman
  • Larry Hoffman
  • Bill Bussing
  • Matt Comer
  • Mark Werling
  • Joel Pruis
Board of Trustees
 
  • Woody Bredehoeft
  • TJ Burns
  • Eric Brauer
  • Jeff Burleson
  • Pat Winterstein
  • Jerry Munk
Board of Fellowship
 
  • Lee Mundrick
  • Sarah Uchtmann
  • Katie Krock
  • Barb Novak
  • Susan Hoback
  • Daisy Irving
  • Kathy Campbell
Board of Evangelism
 
  • Mark Harris
  • Debbie Hoffman
  • Esther Mussmann
  • Adam Heike
  • Joel Davis
Board of Missions
 
  • Dave Longworth
  • Kay Longworth
  • Mark Halvorsen
  • Stephen Kopeschka
  • Linda Silverberg
  • Barb Ullman
  • Becky Davis
 
 
Board of Stewardship
 
  • Dan Latimer
  • Jon Silverberg
  • Evan Bergman
Early Childhood Board
 
  • Timothy Dooms
  • Amanda Probst
  • Kathy Pickering
  • Heidi Fordice
  • Abby Fritcha
School Board
 
  • Keith Mundrick
  • Heidi Fordice
  • Joyce Pixley
  • Susan Sitkowski
  • Tom Hoback
  • Megan Grady
  • Ed Davis
 
 
Board of Education
 
  • Megan Dooms
  • Stephanie Hall
  • Karen Zheng
  • Miranda Harris