SENIOR PASTOR
Pastor Ogrodowicz graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2003 with a music performance degree in percussion. Following a brief stint in the music business, he matriculated in Concordia Theological Seminary in the summer of 2007. His first Divine Call after seminary was to Victory in Christ Lutheran Church of Newark, Texas, where he served as sole pastor from August 2011 to December 2017. He was installed as Associate Pastor and Headmaster at Grace Lutheran Church on January 7th, 2018. After serving at Grace for five years and with the retirement of Pastor Jacobs, Pastor Ogrodowicz was installed as the Senior Pastor on August 6, 2023.
Pastor Ogrodowicz is married to his beloved wife Audra, and is the proud father of five great kids, Elias, Elise, Everrett, Everly and Eleanor. Along with being a pastor, husband and father, his hobbies include woodworking, camping and outdoor cooking. He’s grateful to serve in the Office of the Holy Ministry and counts it a privilege to preach, teach, and administer to God’s people the gifts of Word and Sacrament. 
ASSOCIATE PASTOR – VISITATION
Pastor William Howard Holzer was born September 23, 1956 in Decatur, Illinois to Howard J. and (Constance) Joanne (Dunkel) Holzer and was baptized December 2, 1956 in Pilgrim Lutheran Church of Decatur. He was confirmed on May 17, 1970 at Pilgrim. His confirmation verse is John 3:16. He attended J.J. Pershing Elementary School and Mound Middle School. Pastor Holzer graduated from MacArthur High School on June 4, 1974. While in high school he worked as a newspaper boy, at a movie theater, at a Dairy Queen and as a busboy and food carrier at the Brown Jug Restaurant in Decatur.
Pastor Holzer attended Army Basic ROTC summer camp at Ft. Knox, Kentucky in the summer of 1974. In the fall he enrolled at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico. He graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute on May 15, 1976 with an Associate of Arts degree. He attended the Army Advanced ROTC summer camp at Ft. Riley, Kansas in the summer of 1976 where he completed his Army ROTC training. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University on May 13, 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity and served as president. During his college years Pastor Holzer worked as a construction laborer and helped build the Herald and Review Newspaper building, parts of Interstate 72 around Decatur, Stephen Decatur High School, the library at Millikin University, an addition to Decatur Memorial Hospital (where he was born), and the sewer treatment plant in Forsyth, Illinois along with several other projects.
Pastor Holzer was commissioned in the United States Army as an Armor second Lieutenant on May 26, 1978 at the University of Illinois. He entered active duty in March 1979 at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and completed the Armor Officer Basic Course in June. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead) located in Frieberg, FRG and served as a tank platoon leader, company executive officer and battalion motor officer returning to the USA in December 1982. He completed the Armor Officer Advanced Course at Ft. Knox in July of 1983. He was assigned to the Material Management Center, Headquarters, Division Support Command of the 2nd Armored Division (Hell on Wheels) at Ft. Hood, Texas in September 1983 as the Force Modernization Officer. He commanded the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 3rd Battalion, 66 Armored Regiment from August 1984 until July of 1985. He served in the active reserve from 1985 to 1987 in the 520th Maintenance Battalion at St. Louis, Missouri. In the summer of 1987 he completed the resident course of the Combined Arms Services Staff School at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1990 he was promoted to major and completed correspondence course of the Command and General Staff Officers College. He remained in the inactive reserve until his retirement in October of 1998.
Pastor Holzer began his theological education at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO in September 1985. He served his vicarage at Trinity Lutheran Church, Denver, CO from 1987-8. He graduated from Concordia Seminary with a Master of Divinity in 1990. He was ordained at King of Kings Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas on January 7, 1990 and installed as Assistant Pastor. He served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Mart, Texas from 1991 until 1997. In April of 1997 he was installed as Associate Pastor of Grace, Brenham. He has continued his theological education through numerous extension courses offered by Concordia Theological Seminary.
Pastor Holzer married Tina Marie Dunn on February 1, 1991 in San Antonio. Tina came equipped with two sons: George John Daniel (Danny) Baugh and Robert Michael Baugh. They have been blessed with four additional children Howard William, Emily Marie, Karl William, and Mary Katherine. Tina completed work on her Masters Degree at Texas A and M and works in the Financial Aid Office of Blinn College here in Brenham.
Although his health is better now, Pastor Holzer has struggled with numerous health challenges over a number of years which have resulted in limiting his ministerial duties. He serves faithfully as a Visitation Pastor and helping with the liturgy in worship services.