Our Savior Lutheran Church has gathered on Horizon Road in Rockwall, Texas for fifty years, growing from a small group of believers who first worshipped at First Presbyterian in June of 1974 into a multi-staff parish that calls itself family as readily as it calls itself church. The congregation is now marking its fiftieth anniversary as a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, with two Sunday services, an active music ministry, programs for every age, and a mission that compares the parish to a lighthouse for a stormy world.
Half a Century on Horizon Road
The roots of Our Savior run back to the first service held at First Presbyterian Church in Rockwall on June 2, 1974. Four months later, on October 6, 1974, the congregation formally joined the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The first baptism followed in December of that year, and the first confirmation was celebrated on May 4, 1975.
The Horizon Road property that anchors the parish today was purchased on October 31, 1976. The first Thanksgiving service on the new land was held outdoors on November 25, 1976, and the new church building was dedicated on December 3, 1978. From there the campus grew in stages: a portable building was added on July 10, 1984, a slab and patio were poured on July 8, 1992, the patio was enclosed into a kitchen on August 2, 1994, a larger sanctuary with offices and classrooms was built in 2000-2001, a porte-cochère was added in November 2011, the Fellowship Hall was renovated in November 2015, and the sanctuary itself was renovated in 2019-2020.
Eight pastors have shepherded the parish over those decades. Rev. Frederick Mattil served from June 1974 to February 1976, followed by Rev. Paul Stricker (1976 to 1984), Rev. Stephen McClintic (1984 to 1986), Interim Pastor Rev. Walter Huber (1986 to 1987), Rev. John Ellington (1987 to 1993), Rev. Melvin Symmank (1993 to 1995), and Rev. Richard Mayerhoff (1995 to 2010). Rev. Paul Ferguson has served since January 2008, and the current pastor, Rev. George August Ruwisch, V, accepted the call to OSLC in August 2026. Rev. Matthias Dinger served as assistant pastor from June 2010 to December 2013, and Rev. Dave Bangert has served as vicar and assistant since February 2020. Kim Holdeman has served as Director of Christian Education since May 2013.
A Lighthouse for the Storms of Life
The mission of Our Savior Lutheran Church borrows the image of a lighthouse. The parish aims to help people locate stable ground in the storms of life, guide them on a safe course, rescue them when storms rage, and display the light of Jesus Christ in a world that can be very dark. The work of connecting people with Jesus runs through Christ's gifts of Word and Sacrament, and that grace is meant to overflow into the surrounding community of Rockwall and beyond.
That spirit of welcome shows up the moment a visitor steps through the doors. Members describe the parish as a family, and newcomers are met with warmth and inclusion. The building itself has been shaped over five decades to serve that calling through a steady rhythm of expansions and renovations.
Two Sunday Services, Two Styles
Two Sunday services offer the same Lutheran content in two different settings: a 9:00 AM traditional service and a 10:45 AM contemporary service. Between them, at 10:10 AM, Bible Study and Sunday School meet for children and adults.
The Lutheran tradition shapes both services. Sacraments are held in high regard as tangible expressions of God's grace, with Holy Baptism and Holy Communion celebrated regularly. Sermons are thoughtful and rooted in the Lutheran heritage while remaining relevant to daily life. The early service leans on hymns and the adult choir, while the later service is led by the Praise Band with guitars, keyboard, drums, and voices.
What to Expect on a Sunday Morning
From the moment visitors walk in, they are met with warm hospitality. Ushers help with seating, the sanctuary is prepared each week by the Altar Guild, and members are ready to greet newcomers. Bible Study and Sunday School run between the two services at 10:10 AM, so families with children can settle in for the full morning. The dress is whatever feels respectful and comfortable; the congregation ranges across ages and styles, and guests are invited to come as they are.
Music in Three Ensembles
Music is central to worship at OSLC, with three ensembles serving the congregation:
- The Adult Choir is an audition-free ensemble of about 20 singers, open to high schoolers and adults, and sings several times a month in worship.
- The Handbell choir rings on three octaves of Malmark Handbells and Handchimes, with 11 ringers performing monthly in worship.
- The Praise Band leads the contemporary service with voices, guitars, keyboard, and drums, and is open to anyone who feels led to use their musical gifts.
Soloists and instrumentalists also contribute to worship, and members are encouraged to add their voices and talents to the music of the parish. Children who play instruments or sing are warmly welcomed into the ensembles appropriate to their age.
Walking With Teens Through the Twists and Turns
Our Savior Youth serves middle school, high school, and college students, meeting them in the years that can be both the best and the most difficult. The youth ministry helps young people grow closer to God and to one another through weekly Bible studies, monthly events, and yearly mission trips. Programming is tailored separately for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college young adults, with the aim of arming each student with the Word of God and the friendships that carry them through the years ahead.
Bible Study at Every Age and Stage
Bible study is woven through the rhythm of the parish. On Sunday mornings at 10:10 AM, adult classes gather alongside children's Sunday School. Throughout the week, a variety of adult Bible studies meet on current topics, alongside weekly youth and young family classes. The Bible Study program at OSLC values time in God's Word at every age and stage of life, and the church building hums with small groups from Sunday morning through the end of the week.
Life Groups for Every Season
The Life Groups program matches members with peers for fellowship, service, and study. Some groups are study-oriented, some are service-oriented, and many blend the two. Current groups include:
- Altar Guild, preparing the sanctuary for worship each week.
- Cookies for First Responders, baking and delivering treats to first responders in the Rockwall area.
- Empty Nest Owls, for retired "Older Wiser Lutherans" who gather for activities and fellowship.
- The Weekenders, for empty nesters who have not yet retired.
- Knit Knots, a women's group that knits and crochets items sold to support nearby Christian charities.
- Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), supporting ministries around the United States and the world through quilting, fundraising, and assembling health ministry kits.
- Lesson Readers, reading scripture in worship each week.
- OSLC Fellowship, raising funds for mission outreach and church worker scholarships.
- Ushers, assisting in worship each week.
- Young Family Ministry, for families with younger children meeting for Bible study and fellowship that includes both kids and parents.
A Week of Bible School Each Summer
Vacation Bible School brings the parish together for four days of music, crafts, games, snacks, and active learning in late June. Children who will be in Preschool 3's through 5th grade in the fall are invited to attend, while students in 5th grade and older and adults are encouraged to volunteer. The week provides hands-on ways for kids to explore their friendship with God while building relationships that carry back into the rest of the church year.
Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone
As a Lutheran congregation, Our Savior stands on the pillars of the Reformation: Grace alone, faith alone, and Scripture alone. Salvation comes through God's grace alone, received by faith alone, and the Bible is the ultimate and authoritative source of faith.
The parish celebrates the diversity of God's creation and welcomes people from all walks of life into God's family. The Gospel is not just a set of doctrines but a lived experience of love and support. Through fellowship events, small groups, and outreach, members build relationships that extend beyond Sunday worship into the daily life of Rockwall and the wider world.
Meet the Team
Rev. George August Ruwisch, V has served as pastor since August 2026, having previously served congregations in Minnesota and New Hampshire. He holds a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Virginia and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He and his wife Jennifer, married in 2014, have four children: Caroline, Iva, Anastasia, and George VI. They make their home in Rockwall.
Kim Holdeman has served as Director of Christian Education since 2013. A lifelong Lutheran raised in the Dallas area, she attended Our Redeemer Lutheran School and Dallas Lutheran School before earning a BA in Psychology and her DCE certificate at Concordia University in Nebraska. She began her ministry career in southeast Michigan, where she met her husband Ryan. They married in 2010 and returned to Texas in late 2012.
Jan Dodson serves as church secretary, handling the administrative work that keeps the parish running smoothly week to week.
Staying Connected Throughout the Week
For those who cannot attend in person, services are livestreamed on YouTube, with recordings of recent services archived on the church's livestream page. A weekly newsletter, along with the parish's Random Ramblings blog, shares stories of members living out God's plan to share His love with neighbors near and far. The OSLC Mobile App, available in the App Store and Google Play, keeps the congregation connected to events, news, and giving.
Giving is available online, and the office at 3003 Horizon Road in Rockwall is open throughout the week to welcome visitors and members who want to stop by in person.