Our Staff
Rev. Zachary Thornton
Pastor
Pastor Zach was born in Richmond, Virginia and grew up worshiping at Grace Lutheran Church. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary, where he became involved with college ministry and led small-group Bible studies as well as off-campus outreach. He connected with King of Glory Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, and began to attend regularly with his future wife, Kim.
After completing his degree, Pastor Zach enrolled at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri to begin pursuing his Master of Divinity degree. During his time at seminary, he would marry Kim. Pastor Zach also worked part-time in the on-campus Hasse Memorial Library, which is one of the largest Lutheran libraries in the world. He served his one-year vicarage internship at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Garden City, New York before returning to the Seminary to finish his program and receive his Master of Divinity. Pastor Zach was called to serve at Lake Norman Lutheran Church in 2026.
Rev. Mark Schild
Pastor
Born October 8, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, Mark wa baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Dolton IL. He confirmed his faith at Grace Lutheran Church in South Holland, Illinois in May of 1971. Mark attended various colleges/universities with a concentration in Business Administration/Computer Science. He enrolled in 2006 at Concordia University Wisconsin in the Theological Education by Extension program to pursue Lay Ministry certification. Mark has been a Lay Assistant active in many aspects of ministry at Lake Norman Lutheran Church for over 16+ years. Specific Ministry Pastor status was granted by the LCMS in December 2018. His call to Lake Norman Lutheran Church is as Assistant Pastor.
Mark currently serves as the IT Director at Lincoln Charter School in Denver, NC. In addition to serving as IT Director, he coaches cross country/track & field programs and sponsors the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the school. Mark married Patricia on August 30, 1997 in Mooresville, NC. They are blessed with a son, Kenneth, born on May 19, 2000.
Jenna Creque
Music Director & Organist
Jenna Creque grew up on a farm in Wauseon, Ohio, with her parents and three brothers. She was baptized and confirmed at Saint James Lutheran Church in Burlington, Ohio, where her love for church music first began.
Jenna earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Toledo in 2008. She and her husband, Scott, were married in 2007 and soon moved to Denver, North Carolina. They are blessed with three children: Jayden, Clairissa Jo, and Lincoln.
Music has always been an important part of Jenna's life. She began piano lessons at age six, flute at age ten, and later studied organ, piccolo, and saxophone. During her high school years, she accompanied the adult choir at Saint James Lutheran Church on the piano and enjoyed participating in the church's handbell choir. One of her favorite memories was teaching her Grandpa Gene and several other members how to read music so they could play in the handbell choir. While in high school, Jenna also began teaching piano lessons to children at her church to help pay for organ lessons. She was soon asked to serve as organist at Saint James Lutheran Church in Burlington, Ohio, beginning her lifelong ministry in church music.
Jenna has served as Music Director and Organist at Lake Norman Lutheran Church for the past 12 years. She directs the music ministry, accompanies worship, and enjoys helping lead the congregation in song each week. Throughout the years, she has also served in many other areas of church life, including teaching Sunday school and organizing and directing the children's Christmas programs from 2017 to 2025.
In addition to her ministry at Lake Norman Lutheran Church, Jenna teaches piano lessons from her home to more than 35 students ranging in age from 5 to adult. She is thankful for the opportunity to use the gifts God has given her to serve both her church and her community through music.