Pastor Nathan Allen came to Tulsa from Chicago, Illinois where he received his Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC).  At LSTC he completed a Biblical Studies Emphasis, a one-year pastoral internship at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and also interned in the Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations office at the ELCA's Churchwide headquarters.   

Pastor Nathan was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he attended Kalamazoo College (known affectionately by its alumni as "K").  At K-College, Nathan majored in Classical Studies and minored in History and Latin.  He was also active in the music program playing Bass Trombone in the Kalamazoo College Symphonic Band. He served as director and conductor of the student-led Kalamazoo College “Fighting Hornet” Pep Band during his sophomore and senior years.  During his junior year, Nathan studied in Rome, Italy, for a semester at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies.

Preaching the Word of God and administering the Sacraments are at the heart of Pastor Nathan’s ministry at Joy Lutheran Church. Pastor Nathan is active in the Eastern Oklahoma Conference of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod of the ELCA. He has participated on the Synod's First Call Leadership Team, Assembly Worship Planning Team and the Synod's Discipline Committee. He also serves as the Lutheran Ecumenical Representatives Network (LERN) Liaison for the A/OK Synod, is a member of the LERN Board, is Vice President of the Board of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, and has been re-appointed to a four-year term as one of the ELCA's delegates to the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA through 2015.

Pastor Nathan and his wife, Laura, are proud parents of their son born in May 2009.

 

Director of Children's Ministries -- Alicia Stephens joined Joy Lutheran Church on June 1, 2009 as our first Director of Children's Ministires.

Although she was born in Texas, she spent most of her life in the Tulsa area, particularly Broken Arrow. She left briefly to attend college at The University of Kansas, where she earned a bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Life, specializing in Child Care and Development. She then moved back to Tulsa and attended OU-Tulsa to earn a Masters in Human Relations. Currently, she is finishing her Ph.D. in Education at Northcentral University.

Alicia has held many positions in the field of Education, including teaching young children and leading parenting classes. Alicia is also a volunteer with La Leche League, helping with the local chapter and serving on the La Leche League International Grant Committee.

Alicia is very blessed to have a wonderful family. She and husband Aaron have two children.

 

Office Manager -- Cathy Woods grew up on a ranch near Okmulgee where she spent summers driving a tractor for the family’s hay baling business. She graduated from Okmulgee High School then attended OU, majoring in Broadcast Journalism. After graduation, she worked in Oklahoma City for KOCO-TV (channel 5, ABC) and KWTV (channel 9, CBS) in their promotions departments. After developing a small magazine for an oil-related company, Cathy became the Public Relations Director of the YWCA in Oklahoma City. During her 20-plus years as a full-time mom, Cathy volunteered with the Jenks West Elementary PTAG, the Jenks High School Orchestra Parents Group and her church, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal. At St. Dunstan’s, she served as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School superintendent, Altar Guild member, Christmas pageant director, Outreach Ministry member, Feeing the Homeless team member, and has played guitar and sung with DunstanFolk, providing music for Sunday morning services for almost 20 years. Recently, Cathy worked at the Borders at 81st & Yale as a part-time Bookseller/Children’s Specialist.

Cathy and her husband, Barry have three children; her interests are: reading, playing guitar, acting, and creative writing. She appeared in two locally-produced movies and American Theatre Company’s “A Christmas Carol”. Cathy also regularly records written material for the blind at the Oklahoma Library for the Blind in Oklahoma City.

 

Organist  --  Dr. Alice Brook is the Director of Brook Fine Arts Academy, 81st & Harvard, where instruction for most instruments is offered plus sign language, band workshops, dance classes and musical theatre camps. She is also the accompanist for Jenks HS Vocal Music, teaches privately and accompanies and performs in the regional area.

Dr. Brook holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music & Dance and received the coveted Graduate Award for outstanding performance, academic achievement and service. She received a Master of Music degree with full stipend from the University of Tulsa and a Bachelor of Music degree from IL Wesleyan University. Dr. Brook also studied at the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music.
Dr. Brook has taught at UMKC, Millikin University (IL) and TCC, is a nationally certified teacher of piano and theory and is a member of MTNA, OMTA, TAMTA, Hyechka & SAI.

Dr. Brook is married to Ron, has 4 big dogs and enjoys riding her motorcycle.