Our History
Emmaus Lutheran Church was organized on January 1, 1900 located on Broadway Street in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
The following year the school was opened upon completion of the building. In 1923 the congregation opened a
branch school 1.5 miles south of the parish building. The school was for people residing in that area. It contained
grades one through four.
In 1948 additions were added to the north side of the church and school housing the gymnasium, classroom,
music room, offices and ladies aid dining room. The branch school closed in 1948 and the students relocated to
the Broadway Street campus.
In late 1995, the church purchased a site on Covington Road in southwest Fort Wayne and built a new school. The new school building dedicated in 2001 has preschool through grade eight classrooms, computer lab, music room, art/science room, cafeteria/stage, kitchen, library, resource teaching room, gymnasium, and offices. After being unable to sustain both campuses, the congregation voted to sell the downtown campus and move the entire ministry to the Southwest Fort Wayne campus where the school was already meeting, to continue to preach, teach and reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Emmaus Lutheran has been a vital part of the Fort Wayne community throughout the years. It was instrumental in the formation of the Lutheran Hospital and also of Lutheran Social Services. Years ago, while still at the Broadway location, people would drop off their unwanted babies at the doorstep of the church. At the beginning of the service the pastor would hold up the baby before the congregation and ask, "Who would like to give this child a home?" At which time someone would take the child and adopt them for their own.
Through the church and the school, Emmaus has a long history of reaching out into the community and we are continuing to find new ways to reach into the Fort Wayne community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Location
Visit us at Emmaus Lutheran Church, a confessional, liturgical LCMS church, school, and preschool in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
8626 Covington Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Hours
Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
Our Staff
Rev. Roy C. Olsen, III
Pastor
revolsen@emmausfortwayne.org | Phone: (260) 459-7722 ext:1001
Rev. Roy C. Olsen, III was born in Florida and graduated from Concordia University, Chicago where he completed the Director of Parish Music Program which included an Elementary teaching degree. Before entering Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Rev. Olsen served as a teacher, music director, organist, and principal.
Pastor Olsen and his wife, Joann, have two children: Kirsten, who is married to Cameron and they have Pastor's first granddaughter, Elaine; and Erik, who is a student at Concordia Lutheran High School. Pastor hopelessly roots for the Chicago Cubs and Miami Dolphins and also enjoys photography, anything technology, and outdoor activities.
He currently serves as Circuit Visitor and is a fieldwork supervisor of students from Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort
Wayne.
Elizabeth Berg
Administrative Assistant
Phone: (260) 459-7722
Elizabeth and her husband Andrew are recent transplants to Fort Wayne, moving here from Seattle for Andrew to attend Concordia Theological Seminary.
Elizabeth grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College. She later earned her master’s degree in digital media from the University of Washington. She spent most of her career holding various roles in Marketing and Communications.
Elizabeth and Andrew are parents to two adult children who live in Seattle. Outside of work, you can find Elizabeth volunteering, taking a weekend jaunt to visit loved ones, or reading a book for the next book club meeting.
Tim LaCriox
Music Director
Timothy LaCroix works at Emmaus as church organist and director of the Adult Choir since 2001. With degrees in choral music and German from Concordia University–Chicago (B.A.), and Ball State University (M.Mus.), he is also a faculty member at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne since 1987.
He enjoys exploring, preparing and sharing the treasures of liturgical worship with the members of Emmaus, and partnering with the Adult Choir singers of the congregation in presenting music throughout the liturgical year to both edify the listener in worship and to bring glory and honor to Father, Son and Holy Ghost – rejoicing in God's gifts of music to the Church.
In addition to leading the Emmaus Adult Choir, for eighteen years he directed five choral ensembles at Concordia Lutheran High School including the A Cappella Choir with annual concert tours from coast to coast, and with numerous appearances as a State Finalist in the ISSMA contests. He has also taught religion and humanities courses at Concordia. He currently instructs six German classes per day at the school; coordinates a German exchange program for students from Concordia Lutheran High School with a school in Lüdenscheid, Germany; and advises the school chapter of the National Honor Society.
He has also been adjunct music instructor for Concordia University–Wisconsin; interim director and accompanist for the Fort Wayne Children's Choir program; former director of Opus 18, Inc; past state coordinator, state newsletter editor and divisional chair for the American Choral Director's Association, and choral director for the Higher Things summer youth gatherings of the LCMS. Prior to work in Fort Wayne, LaCroix was teacher and director of church music in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He has also regularly appeared as clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor for choral music festivals and contests. He holds professional membership with the American Choral Director's Association (ACDA), and the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG).
LaCroix and his wife, Susan are parents of three near-adult daughters – all musicians. Together they enjoy summers of travel and relaxing at Minnesota lakes. LaCroix enjoys month-long visits to Germany; genealogy discoveries; IU basketball; and fine music, fine food and drink.
