Pastor John Walter Schwartz
Deaconess Alene Kidd
John was born in Detroit, MI on October 27 th , 1955, and adopted by Walter and Marcella (Sally) Schwartz at the age of two. He was baptized at St. John Lutheran Church in Taylor MI shortly after being adopted in 1957. He attended elementary school at St. John until the eighth grade and was confirmed in May 1969 by the Reverend Albert Firchau.
John attended John F. Kennedy High School and graduated in May of 1973. In the fall of that year, he left for Bowling Green State University where he received a scholarship to play baseball. After leaving BGSU he went to work for Heather Products, Inc., where he spent the next 24 years.
John met his wife Susan, also employed at Header Products, and they were married on December 22nd , 1979. Susan went on to earn an associate degree in nursing from Henry Ford Community College and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Governors University.
John and Susan have three children: Chad, Chris, and Audrey. Chad is married to his wife Melissa, and they have three children: Celia, Colin, and Olivia. Chris is married to his wife Stacey, and they have one daughter, Lily. Audrey is married to her husband the Reverend
Micah Brooks and they have five children: Abigail, Alyssa, Nolan, Mallory, and Amelia.
John attended Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN in the summer of 1999 and graduated with his MDiv in May 2003. He served Immanuel Lutheran church (Frankentrost) Saginaw, MI from 2001-2002. John served St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Shelby, Michigan from 2003-2007; Peace Lutheran Church, Warren, Michigan from 2007-2015; St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Boston, Michigan from 2015-2025 all before accepting the Call to Prince of Peace Lutheran in Pineville in 2025.
John LOVES to play golf and challenges anyone in the congregation to a match any time!
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church is happy to have Deaconess Alene Kidd on our staff!
Alene Kidd completed the Online Deaconess Studies (ODS) program at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Alene entered the ODS program after serving as a church musician since she was 14. Over the years, she had expanded her service work to include Sunday School Music Teacher, Choir Director, and Mission Activity Coordinator. In 2013, she also served LCMS as a Short Term Missionary to the Korean Lutheran Church in Seoul, South Korea, leading a summer English music camp for local children.
Alene’s ministry focus areas are teaching, worship through music, and women’s and family outreach. She has a strong desire to provide the Lord’s care to people in need, helping them turn towards Christ in all of life’s situations.
Alene’s hometown is Peoria, IL. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and continues to work full time as a Project Manager in the Oil and Gas Industry while she completes the ODS program. In her spare time, she enjoys a variety of hobbies, especially gardening, crocheting, and baking.