Rev. W. R. Rains

Rev. W. R. Rains was born July 17, 1949, in Lamesa, Texas, to Rosa Nell (Lane) Rains and the late R. T. Rains. Pastor Rains was raised in Monahans, Texas, where he completed his elementary and high school education. From 1967-69, he attended Odessa Junior College, Odessa, Texas. He attained a B. S. in Business Administration from California Coast University, Santa Ana, California, in 1996. Pastor Rains enrolled in the Lay Ministry program of Concordia University, Mequon, WI, in partnership with the Oklahoma District of the LCMS, in January 1995 and received his certification in July 1999. In January 2005 he was awarded a diploma of vocation from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO that qualified him to be ordained into the pastoral ministry of the LCMS.

On December 23, 1977, Pastor Rains married Rita Ann Hovend at Grace Lutheran Church in Ft. Worth, Texas. Mrs. Rains was born August 1, 1949. She is a 1971 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington. She worked for over 35 years for the Social Security Administration. Rita began her career for the agency as a service representative and was working as a claims representative when she retired in January 2009.

Prior to his calling into the ministry, Pastor Rains began working during 1960’s in the movie theater business for the late Wayne and Amalie Long, of Monahans, Texas. It was during those years that he was introduced to the Lutheran faith by Amalie. He continued working in the movie theater business and later the banking business while living in El Paso, Texas. He resumed working for the Longs in 1971. It was at that time that he began attending St. Paul Lutheran Church and was baptized and confirmed in 1972. From 1972-94, Pastor Rains worked in the oil and gas industry throughout the U. S., Canada, Central America, South America, and the Middle East. From 1994-97, he worked as a district representative for Lutheran Brotherhood, and from 1997-99, he worked as a sales representative for Liberty Mutual Insurance. On October 3, 1999, Pastor Rains was commissioned and installed as the lay minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City to serve in Word and Sacrament ministry as he continued his studies toward ordination.

Working through Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Missouri, Pastor Rains completed his studies toward ordination through DELTO (Distance Education Leading to Ordination) and received his certification from the seminary on January 14, 2005. He was ordained and installed as the pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City on January 23, 2005. In addition to serving the people of Faith, Pastor Rains also served as visiting pastor for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma from April 2004 to April 2005 and from May 2008 to October 2008. He also served as vacancy pastor of Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Bethany, Oklahoma from April 2005 to November 2006, and as the vacancy pastor of Zion from June 2007 to October 2008 before accepting the call to serve as Zion’s called pastor. Since becoming the called pastor of Zion in November 2008, he has also served as the vacancy pastor of Zion in Stillwater from May 2016 to September 2016 and Redeemer in Cushing from January 2017 to January 2019 and currently serves as the vacancy pastor at Faith in OKC. In addition to serving as the vacancy pastor at Faith, he also serves as the supervisor for the SMP vicar assigned to Faith (August 2020 to present).

Pastor is also active in circuit and district activities of the Oklahoma District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.  He currently serves as the Oklahoma District Secretary (April 2009 to present).

 Rev. W. R. Rains - 405-282-3914, extension 10, faithokc@aol.com

Kurt Primuth

 grew up in the Lutheran faith. He was baptized June 2nd , 1963, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Racine Wisconsin and was confirmed May 15, 1977, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Cupertino California. From age 16 he has always aspired to enter into Lutheran Church worker service. This call has allow him to continue to follow this dream. In December 2022 Kurt received certification from Concordia University Wisconsin as a Director of Church Ministries. 

I give thanks and praise be to God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that I have been called and claimed through the means of Grace to serve Zion Lutheran Church as a Director of Church Ministries. I am honored and humbled to see His great plan for me. I give thanks to the
members of Zion Lutheran Church for supporting me and extending this calling to me. I am excited about the opportunity to continue His work at Zion Lutheran Church. 

John 15:16- You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He
may give you.

To reach any of the officers or volunteer staff you may leave a message at 405-282-3914 - extension 10 or an e-mail at faithokc@aol.com.

Elders

Head Elder - Leon Anderson, Jr.

Liaison Elder - Kurt Primuth

Administrative Elder - Jeffrey Maltz

Worship Elder - Zane Maltz

Congregational Officers

President - Ray Beck

Vice President - Conan Maltz

Secretary - Rita Rains

Financial Secretary - Kay Murray

Treasurer - Sheila Briesch

Education and Youth – Brenda Nivens 

Membership and Outreach - Marilyn Miller

Trustee - Aaron McDonough

LWML Officers

 President - Cynthia Taylor

Vice President - Brenda Nivens

Secretary - Rita Rains

Treasurer - Marilyn Miller

 Sunday School Staff

 Adult Bible Study - Pastor Rains

Sunday School Superintendent - Cynthia Taylor

Primary - Brenda Nivens

Secondary - Linda Anderson