STAFF
Rev. Cory Estby
Pastor Cory Estby was born in Pipestone, Minnesota and raised throughout the Midwest in Missouri, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Indiana. He attended Ball State University in Muncie, IN and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education, specializing in choral/vocal ensembles. Cory met Christena at Ball State, and they were married in 1999. They lived in Warsaw, IN for two years as Cory worked as an elementary school music teacher before entering seminary. Cory and Christena are blessed with four children: Gabriel (full-time EMT in Kankakee County), Kaleigh (studying dance/choreography at Hope College in Michigan), Samuel and Josiah (homeschooled).
Cory earned a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2005. His first call was to Zion Lutheran Church in Grant Park, Illinois, where he has served for his entire parish ministry of 20 years. Cory has been active throughout the Northern Illinois District serving as chairman and treasurer of pastoral conferences, circuit visitor, and currently as NID 1st Vice President of the South Region.
In his spare time away from the parish, Cory volunteers as a driver for Meal on Wheels, works as a substitute teacher among four school districts, and enjoys listening to music, tap dancing, and spending time with his wife and children.
Aaron Heldt
Organist
Aaron is a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church. In 2006, he first started playing organ at Zion on rotation while assisting many other neighboring congregations. Aaron has been Zion’s main organist since 2019 and restarted Zion’s choir shortly after the covid-19 pandemic. In addition to Zion, Aaron serves occasionally at Peace Lutheran Church in Beecher and St. Paul’s Lutheran in Kankakee. “It is an honor and privilege to lead the congregational singing on the organ and sing praises to His name.” ~A. Heldt
