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PASTOR PAUL STUNKEL

Pastor Paul Stunkel was born in Chicago and raised on a farm in central Illinois. While Paul was majoring in Secondary Education, he felt called by God to "minister to my people." So he decided to do just that.  He changed schools and attended the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, earning a Masters degree of Divinity. While serving at a congregation in Pennsylvania, Paul married and had 3 children, Tim, Joy and Christy. It was with great sadness Paul was later widowed. Paul found love for a second time in Karen, who is also a Reverend, while serving at a congregation in Ohio. They were married and had their son Joshua. In 1996 Paul, Karen and their children moved to Lake in the Hills to begin a new Presbyterian congregation which became Joy Community.

Pastor Paul at Joy ground breaking.

In 1996, five families gathered together with a vision for a new congregation who would worship and serve God with a refreshed faith and unified purpose.  Today, God has added to our numbers those who worship God and serve the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills communities and beyond. Jesus, others, you (joy)

Joy Community is a place where mature Christians are nurtured in faith, new Christians have an opportunity to grow, and seekers have the space to ask questions that encourage faith.

From a school to a storefront. . . and soon to Lakewood and Algonquin Road in a building designed to serve the community as we serve Jesus Christ. We affirm that God's love is for all people.  Jesus transforms life in a personal way.  We believe that Jesus' presence in our life will help us to learn to love each other. 

Prayer is important.  Prayer is more than a source of help.  Prayer is a doorway into God's presence.  It is the construction site of our personal life with God.  We have 60 families outside of Joy Community praying for the growth of the congregation.

Worship is the center of our community.  In worship we celebrate grace (God's unconditional love).  We re-focus our priorities and we listen to God. The purpose of the Church is to make disciples.  We believe that in personal interaction people grow as disciples of Jesus.

Good news is for sharing.  The Good News of God's love is for all people.  It is not ours to horde, but ours to give away.  We value sharing what God has done for us with others.