Tree of Life Lutheran Church sits along North Loop 336 West on the southwest side of Conroe, Texas, a member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a long-standing neighbor in Montgomery County. Its doors opened in the mid-1980s with about sixty people gathered in a local water district meeting room, and four decades later the congregation still describes itself with the same three-word rhythm: inviting, inspiring, and including all in Christ's love. Members and newcomers alike arrive each Sunday to find a friendly greeting, a worship bulletin with room to participate as much or as little as they wish, and a community that bills itself plainly as a "come as you are" church.
Sunday Mornings at the Tree
Worship is offered twice on Sunday in the sanctuary, at 8:00 am and 10:30 am. Both services are in English and follow a traditional liturgical format, with hymns led most weeks by the choir. Members and visitors take part through responsive readings, congregational singing, and prayer for the community, the nation, the world, and one another. Once a month the 10:30 service shifts to a more contemporary format led by the praise band, while the 8:00 am service keeps its earlier, quieter character.
The 10:30 am service is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, so members who are traveling, homebound, or simply feeling under the weather can stay connected. Children are warmly welcomed into the flow of worship. The nursery opens at 8:00 am, and Children's Church begins at 10:45 am during the later service. Adult and child Sunday School classes meet between services at 9:15 am.
A Blend of Hymns and Praise Music
Music is one of the most visible ways Tree of Life shares its faith. The Music Ministry, led by Music Director John Burkwall, brings together three groups that often rotate through Sunday worship:
- Choir. Most Sundays the choir fills the sanctuary with a range of voices from bass to soprano. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm during the school year, taking the summers off. All ages are welcome.
- Handbell Choir. The handbell choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary, with all skill levels invited to take part. The bells ring out at several worship services across the year.
- Contemporary Band. A volunteer praise band leads worship one Sunday each month, with a Saturday morning rehearsal in the days leading up to that service. Instrumentalists interested in joining or filling in can contact the church for more information.
Sacraments for the Whole Community
Holy Communion is a central act of worship at Tree of Life. The congregation teaches that Christ is truly present in the bread and wine, which is offered as a means of grace that forgives sin and strengthens faith. Communion is open: all baptized Christians are welcome at the table, with the elements of loaf and individual cups (wine or juice) shared each time the sacrament is celebrated.
Holy Baptism is likewise offered to people of every age, from infants to adults, as the entry point into the Christian community and a lifelong covenant with God. Those interested in baptism for themselves or a child are invited to contact Pastor Chris Lake through the church office to begin preparation.
Youth and Family Ministry
Family ministry is a defining feature of the congregation's identity. Diana Frederick serves as Director of Family Ministries and Bogart Nomad serves as Youth Director, working together to support children, youth, and the families who walk alongside them. Programming emphasizes spiritual growth, fellowship, and community engagement, with activities running throughout the week and special events through the year. Sunday School classes for children and adults gather at 9:15 am, Children's Church meets during the 10:30 service, and the youth calendar connects middle and high school students with regular opportunities for Bible study, fellowship, and service.
Caring for One Another
Two lay-led ministries keep the congregation attentive to the practical and emotional needs of its members:
- Stephen Ministry. Tree of Life hosts the well-known one-to-one lay caring ministry of the ELCA. Trained Stephen Ministers walk alongside people who are hurting, offering confidential, Christ-centered care over time.
- Care Team Ministry. Volunteers provide practical help to people going through hard times, from meals and errands to other forms of support. The Care Team works closely with the church office and the Welcome Team to make sure no need falls through the cracks.
A dedicated Care email (care@treechurch.net) gives members and visitors a way to reach the Stephen and Care teams, and prayer requests can be sent in through the prayer line during worship.
Forty Years on Conroe's Southwest Side
Tree of Life's story begins in the 1970s, when the Texas-Louisiana Synod of the Lutheran Church in America held open the option of planting a new congregation on Conroe's southwest side. In June 1984 the denomination's Division for Mission issued a call to Pastor Gerald Kline to start a new community of faith. The first worship service was held on February 12, 1985, in the West Fork MUD building at 206 Scarborough, with roughly sixty people present. The congregation was officially organized on June 6, 1985.
Land for the current campus was purchased in 1986, ground was broken on April 10, 1988, and the first worship service in the new building was held on December 18, 1988. By 2004 the congregation had outgrown the original sanctuary; a new, larger sanctuary was built and the former space was converted into a fellowship hall with a renovated kitchen and education wing. That same year, Pastor Kline retired and Pastor Luke Bouman was called, serving until 2007. In 2008 a member's gift funded a large playground and picnic area, and in September of that year Christopher Lake was called as the congregation's pastor. He continues to serve.
The years that followed brought steady growth. In 2012 the church hired Ryan Dockery as its first full-time director of youth and family ministry. Bunny Stoutes (later Dillard) joined as Media Manager in 2013. Retired Methodist pastor Larry Smith came on as a part-time associate in 2015 and served until his death in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced the building to close for several months, but Pastor Chris, staff, family members, and volunteers kept weekly worship going online until in-person gatherings could resume. The congregation rebounded, and in 2022 welcomed more new members than it had in several years. Two of the church's own, Ryan Dockery and Bunny Dillard, are now ordained ELCA pastors serving their own churches.
An ELCA Congregation with a Wider Reach
Tree of Life lives inside a much larger Lutheran network. The congregation is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a denomination of more than five million members in over ten thousand congregations across the United States, and falls under the care of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. The congregation actively supports several affiliated Lutheran organizations, including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Upbring (formerly Lutheran Social Services), and Water to Thrive. Beliefs follow the ELCA's teaching: the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is confessed, Jesus Christ is proclaimed as Lord and Savior, and the Gospel is trusted as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.
Weddings, Funerals, and the Building
Tree of Life hosts weddings, funerals, and other community gatherings on its campus. Couples wishing to marry at the church begin by submitting a Wedding Date Request form, followed by a Wedding Plans information form and a meeting with Pastor Chris Lake. The full Wedding Policy is published as a PDF, as are separate policies for funerals and general building use. Outside groups may request to use the facility for personal or business events by submitting a Building Use Request form; stewardship of the building's utilities is built into the policy. A separate online directory connects active members with one another through an instant church directory platform.
Becoming Part of the Tree
Anyone who would like to put down roots at Tree of Life is invited to a new-member class offered throughout the year. The membership form can be printed, completed, and brought to New Member Orientation or emailed to the church office. Background documents, including a brief history of the congregation, a primer in Lutheran theology, and a side-by-side comparison of Christian traditions, are posted on the website to help newcomers decide whether the ELCA's teaching matches their own convictions. Members then receive access to the online directory and the church's monthly council minutes and financial statements, which are posted in the members section as part of a longstanding commitment to openness and good stewardship.
Pastors and Staff
The leadership team includes Pastor Chris Lake, who has served the congregation since 2008; John Burkwall, Music Director; Bogart Nomad, Youth Director; Diana Frederick, Director of Family Ministries; and Jill Waldrop, Office Manager. The office at 3201 North Loop 336 West is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, and can be reached at 936-539-9530 or officemail@treechurch.net. Visitors and newcomers can introduce themselves through the I'm New page and explore the giving options at the donate page.