About - St. John's Lutheran Church Winston-Salem

St. John's Lutheran Church Stained Glass

As a Christian community, the members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Winston-Salem are dedicated to growing as disciples of Jesus through worship, fellowship, love, and service of others.

Founded in 1925, St. John’s Lutheran Church & School believes:

There is only one God, yet He exists in three “persons”: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
That Jesus Christ (The Son) died on the cross to pay for our sins, and rose from the grave to conquer death. All who have faith (trust) in Jesus will live forever with Him in heaven.
That all believers in Jesus, should become a part of a worshipping and serving Christian community.
Worshiping together whenever possible, and experiencing God’s presence in Word and Sacrament is critical to faith.
The Church exists to worship and to serve Jesus, by loving God, loving each other, and loving our neighbors.
St. John’s is a place where you can grow in faith, be supported by brothers and sisters in Christ and be equipped to share God’s love with others.

As a congregation, we worship God, and serve Him through serving others, we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we bring ourselves and others to the Lord through the Holy Spirit.

Tyson Labuhn
Pastor

St. John's Lutheran Church Kerstin Walker

Kerstin Walker
Administrative Assistant

St. John's Lutheran Church Winston-Salem Mike Zeoli

Mike Zeoli
Contemporary Music Director

St. John's Lutheran Church Winston-Salem France Burmeister

Frances Burmeister
Traditional Music
Director & Organist

Tammy Estrada
Business Manager

Tyson Labuhn was Installed as Pastor at St. John’s on Saturday Afternoon, May 18, 2024

Shown at left: Laying of Hands Rev. Dr. Bill Harmon on Rev. Tyson Labuhn

Shown at right: (front row): Rev. Dr. Bill Harmon, Rev. Tyson Labuhn, Rev. David Labuhn (his father), and Rev. John Fair
(back row): Rev. James McDaniels, Rev. Dr. Charles Spomer, Rev. David Tessman, and Rev. Philip Vangen

Pastor Tyson's Bio

Pastor Tyson Labuhn previously served as the Associate Pastor of Our Savior’s Way Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Ashburn, Virginia. His journey in ministry has been marked by a deep commitment to spreading the teachings of Christ and fostering spiritual growth within the community.

Born in Michigan and raised on US military bases in Germany, Pastor Tyson’s diverse upbringing laid the foundation for his compassionate and inclusive approach to ministry. In December of 1989, he earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration, embarking on a career in banking and later transitioned to the application hosting industry as a product manager.

However, Pastor Tyson’s path took a profound turn when he felt a calling to ministry. Sponsored by the Southeastern District of the LCMS, he completed lay ministry classes before pursuing a Master of Divinity, which he obtained in June of 2007, from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He was ordained at Zion Lutheran Church on July 2007 in Ellendale, North Dakota.

His dedication to serving the congregation became particularly evident when he assumed the role of Acting Senior Pastor at Our Savior’s Way Lutheran Church from May 2021 to July 2023. During this time, he provided steadfast leadership and spiritual guidance, leaving an indelible mark on the faith community.

He is passionate about walking with Christ, exemplifying a life of service to our Lord Jesus. His love for Christ is evident in both his professional and personal life, creating an atmosphere of warmth and acceptance within the congregation.

Having been previously married, Pastor Tyson is the proud father of four adult children. His eldest is a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and is stationed at McChord AFB in Washington State, two of his daughters reside in North Dakota, and his youngest daughter calls Golden, CO, home.

During his spare time, Pastor Tyson enjoys activities such as walking, immersing himself in football, appreciating various genres of music, and indulging in the world of cinema. These interests not only contribute to his well-rounded character but also offer unique avenues for connecting with others and building bridges within the community.

Pastor Tyson Labuhn’s life and ministry embody a harmonious blend of dedication, diversity, and devotion to the teachings of Christ. Through his leadership and genuine love for people, he continues to play a pivotal role in nurturing the spiritual growth and well-being of those entrusted to his care.

LUTHERAN CHURCH - MISSOURI SYNOD

St. John’s Lutheran Church in Winston-Salem is affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. “Synod” means to “walk together.” As a Synod, we “walk together” in terms of our doctrine and confession of faith. The Chief Doctrine professes that salvation is based solely on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Trinity — that God is one God, who has existed from all eternity as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equally God. Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, who came from heaven in the form of a man, who lived a sinless life on our behalf, and who died on the Cross to pay for the sins of the whole world. We are saved by God’s grace through faith. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that it is the only authority for teaching about God and Sin and Salvation.

The Bible teaches that God reaches into our lives through His Word (the Bible), and through two special means, known as Sacraments: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. We believe that, in Holy Communion, Jesus gives us His very Body and His Blood; that the bread and wine are not merely symbols that represent His Body and Blood.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, which consists of about 6,000 congregations throughout the United States, believes that Jesus has given His Church on earth a Great Commission: To go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that (Jesus) has taught…” – Matthew 28: 19-20

As a synod, we are in mission together to proclaim Jesus Christ, and Him crucified — the message of salvation, to a world that will be judged by Jesus when He comes again.

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN SCHOOL

St John’s Lutheran School is a ministry of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

St. John’s Lutheran School offers the highest quality in Christian training and academic education. Provided with a safe and nurturing environment, our students excel during their years at St. John’s, and beyond, becoming strong servant-leaders in their high schools and future jobs, churches, and communities.

St. John’s is committed to limited class size and providing a caring community. Faculty members are well qualified with a broad background and experience.

Students are exposed to a great variety of activities in and outside of the traditional classroom, including athletics, clubs, arts programs, and community service events throughout the year. A Christ-centered world view in all subject areas is enhanced by regular chapel services and religion classes encouraging in-depth spiritual development for each child.

Since 1951 St. John’s Lutheran Church has faithfully continued to offer the finest quality in Christian education. Click here to learn more.