Our leadership team recognizes the authority of God, and realizes that we are shepherds who serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We desire to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Our passion and goal is to equip the congregation of American Lutheran Church of Sun City for the work of the ministry until we all attain maturity in the fullness of Christ.

Lowell D. Nelson
Senior Pastor  
l.nelson@alcsuncity.org

Pastor Lowell is enjoying the privilege of serving American Lutheran Church and looks forward to its exciting future ministry opportunities. Pastor Lowell is a second career pastor and is so happy he can share the good new of God in Christ rather than thinking about debt service coverage ratios! His family means the world to him including his wife of 36 years. Deborah, son Andrew and his dog Annie, Jordan and her husband Brent, and son Joseph. He is so fortunate to have his mother, Evelyn living with his sister, Carol, in Indianapolis.

Gary R. Ulrich
Lead Pastor of Care Ministry
g.ulrich@alcsuncity.org

Gary Ulrich has served for over 32 years in child welfare ministries of the church. These ministries focus on youth and family. He also served rural congregations in part-time and supportive roles in Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio. Upon his retirement in 2012, Pastor Ulrich moved to Sun City and became a faithful member of ALC. He joined the pastoral staff in 2013.

Gary R. Garvey
Seasonal Visitation Pastor
g.garvey@alcsuncity.org

Pastor Gary R. Garvey is pedigreed from Concordia College, Moorhead Minnesota and Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota. He served several interims in churches in the northwest Minnesota Synod, co-led missionary trips to Ecuador, and mentored Concordia college future missionaries. His training includes: Clinical Pastoral Education at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul Minnesota, and  as Senior Chaplain at Keesler Regional Medical Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.  He served for 34 years internationally, with the Marines, then with the Air Force Chaplain Corps. Pastor Garvey and his wife, Dianne, spend the summers at their lake home in Minnesota.

Judith Rainforth
Pastor
j.rainforth@alcsuncity.org

Pastor Judith Rainforth is currently serving as one of the pastors at American Lutheran Church in Sun City, AZ. Prior to serving at ALC, she served at churches in Nebraska. She is a second career pastor and prior to her ordination in 2003, her professional life included being an educator, therapist, Hospice Chaplain and business owner. Pastor Judith is the mother of three grown sons who are married and living in NE along with her six teenage grandchildren. Family is very important to her so she returns part of the year to her lake home in NE where she can spend time with family and friends. Her passion for ministry is empowered by the Holy Spirit and she looks forward to serving at ALC.