Joe Gawel began serving as a pastor in Saginaw, Michigan, in 2013 as an instructor and wrestling coach at Michigan Lutheran Seminary. In 2015, Joe was reassigned to Victory Lutheran Church in Lexington, Kentucky, and served there as pastor for almost eight years. Joe began his service to Mount Olive in January 2023 as the pastor of the school and family ministry.
“God has equipped each of his children uniquely to be his light in this world by doing his will. It has been a humbling honor to meet so many of God’s children and, as their pastor, see the way God has equipped, blessed, loved, grown, forgiven, and worked through them exactly as they are. Mount Olive has been blessed with many people and opportunities to serve those who know the Lord and those who don’t. My prayer for Mount Olive, myself, and God’s people around the world is that we grow in our appreciation and knowledge of the Word then do the loving work of equipping one another for service so that we might build one another up in Jesus.”
Pastor Gawel’s wife, Jackie, teaches Spanish at FVL. Joe and Jackie have two wonderful children, OJ and Luca. Joe enjoys hanging out with this family, music, movies, novels, and running in the woods.