Peter Luster-Bartz
Director of Youth Ministry

Birthplace: St. Louis

Hobbies/Interests: Hanging out with my wife and daughter, playing with my dog, Basketball, Water skiing, swimming, trying to play the guitar and drums, Thursday Survivor Night with my friends, Chicago Sports (excluding the White Sox), and much more

Favorite Song: Anything Trevor Sings. He has the voice of an angel.

Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, Wayne's World, Christmas Vacation, A Few Good Men, Rudy, Batman (1989)

Greatest Achievement: Getting married to my beautiful wife, helping to make a child :), and Running the Chicago Marathon

Why Youth Ministry: To be an example to young people and give them encouragement to be a light in this dark world. Plus I get to go on great trips and have a lot of fun!

Email: peterlb@trinityl.org
Youth Blog Parents Blog

Pastor Mielke 
Associate Pastor

Birthplace: Danville, IL

Hobbies/Interests: White Sox Baseball (prediction: Sox will sweep Cubs in 2008 World Series and Peter and David will need serious therapy), Basketball, Hiking, Camping, Going on a date with my wife, Wrestling with my kids, Reading, Sushi and other exotic cuisines, Coffee!!!!!!

Favorite Song: King of Rock, Rock Box both by RUN DMC

Favorite Movie: Fletch

Greatest Achievement: 12 years of marriage and 4 kids

Why Youth Ministry: 1 Timothy 4:12 says it all. "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but you set the example for the believers in speech and life, faith and love, and purity." I see this verse happening in our youth and it is an amazing thing.

Chewrocka

Birthplace: Florida Everglades County Hospital

Hobbies/Interests: playing the bass, rocking out, eating fish, throwing stuff, long walks through McNaughton Park, and shopping at Walmart

Favorite Songs: Love Addict, Final Countdown, Thriller, Born to be Wild, and Oh Where is My Hair Brush?

Favorite Movies: Harry and the Hendersons, Star Wars, King Kong, Tarzan, and George of the Jungle

Greatest Achievements: Migrating North, brading my facial hair, brushing my fur, licking my elbow, protecting/wrecking Mr. Luster-Bartz's garage!

Why Youth Ministry: Youth are awesome! Rocking out for God! I have a wild heart!

Beth 

Birthplace: A hospital in Chicago

Hobbies/Interests: sarcasm, coffee, laughter, reading, engaging conversations, being with good friends, exciting travels and adventures

Favorite Song: Of the many, here are a few… “God Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts, “Beth” by Kiss, and pretty much anything by David Crowder Band

Favorite Movie: Of the many…”Good Will Hunting”, “Elf” (it’s not just a Christmas movie), “The Sound of Music”, and “Mary Poppins”

Greatest Achievement: Participating in the Sunburst 5k Race this past June and traveling through Europe

Why Youth Ministry: We are all called to build up the body of Jesus Christ, and I can’t think of a better way than to do it with our own youth. They can become Christ’s feet and hands and touch the lives of many. It only takes a ripple to make a huge wave!

David

Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri (I Hate the Cardinals!)

Hobbies/Interests: Listening to music, watching sports, (GO BEARS AND BULLS!) Playing the bass, working with the youth, I'm a pretty busy guy! 

Favorite Song: A Day Late by Anberlin

Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber and Jaws

Greatest Achievement: Waking up at 6:00 a.m. every morning for school (I'm not a morning person)

Why Youth Ministry: I want to help develop the faith of young people and help them to live out their faith daily.

Heather 

Birthplace: South Bend

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Music, Spending time with my friends, Going to the lake

Favorite Song: too tough to decide

Favorite Movie: Pride and Prejudice (the original)

Greatest Achievement: Helping with the New Orleans clean up after Hurricane Katrina

Why Youth Ministry: To be around teens and to share the blessings God has given to each of us

Trevor 

Birthplace: Elkhart, IN 

Hobbies/Interests: besides music - cycling, tennis, reading

Favorite Song: its hard to say i have one favorite song...but one of my favorites is "Grace" by Jeff Buckley

Favorite Movie: A River Runs Through It

Greatest Achievement: beating Peter L-B in table tennis, spring of 2007.

Why Youth Ministry: There is a certain passion to young people that continuously challenges and inspires me - a passion that I believe can truly impact the world in a substantial way.  It is my hope that, through working in Youth Ministry, I can in turn encourage, challenge and inspire the youth to use their passions for the good of all and the glory of God.

Ty 

Birthplace: Goshen

Hobbies/Interests: Outdoors are a big part of my life. Sports and theatre (teaching and performing) are also things that I am active in almost year round. 

Favorite Song: Too many to list; Crossover (Lecrae), Getcha Open (Ambassador), Free (Cross Movement), Dear Slim (Kj-52), Represent (Pettidee)...

Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings or The Ghost and the Darkness

Greatest Achievement: Everything I have every done through and with Christ in mind are the things I hold as truly great achievements. Probably the greatest is standing for my faith by writing articles my senior year that forced topics to be discussed by my peers. Also looking forward to some day getting married and having a family which is the ultimate earthly achievement. 

Why Youth Ministry: To me a solid youth group never existed, and I now realize how important it is to be able to have a Christian family to be able to come to and just open up to about everything in your life. This is my way to connect with the youth and hopefully let them know that they have someone who has "been there, done that" to come and talk to at anytime. -Who am I to take the breath he gave me and not use it for his glory?!

Derek 

Birthplace: Elkhart, Indiana

Hobbies/Interests: Drumming, watching movies, drumming some more

Favorite Song: Anything by Dave Matthews

Favorite Movie: Big Daddy

Greatest Achievement: Waking up on time in the mornings...

Why Youth Ministry: Youth Ministry allows me to help and work with teens close to my age and rock out at the same time. What could be any better?

Jill

Birthplace: Southern Alabama

Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, sports, outdoors, exploring new media technology

Favorite Song: Cartoon Song by Chris Rice..There is a long story behind this one. 

Favorite Movie: Hoosiers...and people wonder why I'm in Indiana.

Greatest Achievement: Diving face first into a jelly fish.  So it's not my greatest achievement, but it did leave a mark.  

Why Youth Ministry: What an amazing thing we have going at youth! Young and old alike there's nothing like living for today in God's presence.

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Kathy 

Birthplace: Elkhart, Indiana

Hobbies/Interests: kayaking, painting, writing, working out, reading, eating chocolate

Favorite Song: Izzy's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

Favorite Movie: Toss up between What Dreams May Come and Blood Diamond

Greatest Achievement: Raising my kids to be decent human beings. That and my Friday love letters to students.

Why Youth Ministry: Seeing the passion, devotion, and potential in teenagers gives me joy.

Lauren 

Birthplace: Elkhart, Indiana

Hobbies/Interests: Notre Dame football, camping, being outdoors, shopping, travelling, and cleaning people's teeth :)

Favorite Song: It changes all the time...right now probably Viva La Vida by Coldplay

Favorite Movie: Almost any comedy...especially Elf, Sweet Home Alabama, or What Happens in Vegas

Greatest Achievement: So far...graduating college and becoming a real adult

Why Youth Ministry: Well because Peter asked...and I get to interact with younger kids and help them to strengthen their faith in God...while having fun! :)

Pat 

Birthplace: Elkhart, Indiana

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy playing almost any sport especially baseball and golf, spending time with my friends, watching The Office, the Chicago Cubs, Notre Dame Football, Indiana and Valpo basketball, surfing....the internet, reading, video games, and much much more.

Favorite Song: There are so many great songs...but one of my all time favorites is Take Me Out to the Ball Game...as long as its not Ditka or Ozzy singing.

Favorite Movie: All time favorite....Happy Gilmore. Some other favorites are Rudy, the new Batman Series, Tommy Boy, Office Space, Rent (and I'm man enough to admit it), and Rookie of the Year just to name a few.

Greatest Achievement: By far my greatest acheivement so far has been graduating from college.

Why Youth Ministry: I am very greatful to have the chance to help out with the youth ministry at Trinity. I was very blessed by my experiences at Trinity when I was in school and I hope that I can be a part in helping form the memories, friends, and values the next group of youth take away from the youth ministry at Trinity.