Staff

Senior Pastor - Rev. Dr. Brian Hesse
As a life-long Lutheran, Pastor Hesse describes his personal mission as empowering each person to encounter the love of Christ. He received his undergraduate degree (BA) from Concordia University Wisconsin in Lutheran Elementary Education in 1997. He is also a two-time graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2001 (MDiv) and 2018 (DMin: Emphasis in Missional Leadership with Best Practices in LCMS Church Mergers for Multi-site Ministry). He served his vicarage at St. John’s in Moore, Oklahoma, 1999-2000 under Rev. Paul Hartman. His first call into ministry was to serve Trinity Lutheran Church, Amarillo, TX. He served the congregation of his first call for 21 years (18 years as Senior Pastor) before answering the call from God to join the ministry at St. Paul, Waco. He also served as Pastoral Zone Counselor for the LWML Panhandle Zone for 20 years. He was elected to serve as the Secretary of the Texas District - LCMS in June 2021. He and his wife, Janelle, have 2 sons, Caleb and Cameron. They joined the St. Paul family in July of 2022.

Phone: 254-799-3211 ext. 102
Email: PastorHesse@splcwaco.com

Deaconess - Dcs. Suzanne Krahn, RN
Dcs. Krahn was born in St. Ansgar, Iowa. She received an Associates Degree of Nursing 1980 from North Iowa Area Community College and an Associates Degree of Business Administration from American Intercontinental University 2011. She received a Master's Degree of Art in Deaconess Studies from Concordia Theological Seminary-Fort Wayne in 2013. She and her husband, Ron, joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in August of 2016.

Phone: 254-799-3211, ext. 105
Email: DCSKrahn@splcwaco.com

Office Administrator - Cindy Byrd
Mrs. Byrd joined the family of St. Paul on Oct. 4, 1999. In her time here, she has attended several seminars to help improve the appearance of publications for the church, as well as attended courses at McLennan Community College. She has greatly enjoyed her time serving at St. Paul and looks forward to many more years of meeting new people and helping to spread God's love. She and her husband, John, live in Temple, Texas. They have 4 children.

Phone: 254-799-3211, ext. 101
Email: WeCare@splcwaco.com

Vicar - Rory Fry
Vicar Fry was born and raised in a Christian home in Campbell, California. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in addiction studies from Mid-American Christian University in 2020. In 2021, he, his wife Christina, and their two children Rowen and Audrey moved to Harker Heights to be near Christina’s family. They hope to move to the Waco area soon. In 2023, Vicar Fry was accepted into the SMP Program to begin seminary studies under the mentorship of Pastor Hesse, his vicarage supervisor. Lord willing, Vicar Fry will serve as Pastor at Gathering Lutheran Church in Robinson once he is ordained.

Phone: 254-799-3211, ext. 103
Email: VicarFry@splcwaco.com

Additional Staff Members of St. Paul Lutheran Church:

Music/Choir Director - Steve Randolph
Nursery Director - Robin Reinke
Bookkeeper - Linda J. Jander
Maintenance - John Banta

Contact information for the other staff members of St. Paul may be obtained through the church office.