About

Our Pastor

Pastor Julie was born and raised in lovely state of Michigan and hails from Mackinaw City, where she graduated with 14 (count them) other kids.  She studied Philosophy and Religion at Adrian College, where she met her husband, Pastor Bryan Schneider-Thomas.

She attended Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH, where she earned her Masters of Divinity degree.  She began serving Zion Lutheran, Comstock Park, in the fall of 1995.  In January of 2016, she decided that one church wasn’t enough, and began her role of pastor at Hope Lutheran, Rockford.  At this time, these two churches and Peace Lutheran, Sparta, formed the Koinonia Lutheran Co-operative.  Conveniently her husband, Pastor Bryan, is the pastor at Peace.

Pastors Julie and Bryan have one daughter, Katie, who also seems to find herself at one church or another quite often!  They have two dogs and six sheep.  Pastor Julie loves basketball, hiking, practicing Tae Kwon Do and traveling.  

Director of Music

Randy Posthumus is the Director of Music for Hope and is a graduate of Western Michigan University School of Music.  Randy’s love for music and powerful voice have been enhancing Hope’s service for almost 30 years.  Randy has directed church choirs since he was in his early 20’s.  Randy began his career as a teacher of vocal music at Kent City where he taught for four years followed by Northview for 2 years.  He then left teaching to pursue a career in paint robotic sales.   He has also participated in and directed man community music theater productions.  Randy is currently semi-retired working part time as a case worker for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Mid-Michigan.  Hope has been blessed to have both his voice and musical knowledge since the church started in 1992.

Church Musician

Lisa started taking piano lessons when she was five years old and continued until she was 18, studying with several different talented local instructors.  By age 15 she was playing for weddings and soon after for her church in both the service and for the choir.  In 1992, Lisa joined Hope Lutheran as a founding member accompanying the choir as well as  playing with the praise team and for the church services.  She and her husband Randy bring their love of music to the community having performed in many churches, retirement homes, and nursing homes.  Lisa counts the opportunities she has had throughout her life to share her music with others as one of the greatest blessings the Lord has given her in life.