July Ministry Theme: Meet the Staff – Michelle La Velle

July 2026

The LCMS Northern Illinois District is blessed to have a dedicated, faithful staff in place to serve the needs of congregations, schools, ministries, pastors, commissioned workers, lay leaders, and the many others members of our District. For the July and August Ministry Theme topics, we wanted to take time to introduce (or re-introduce) them to you!

Brandy McCoid, NID Wellness officer, is the most recent addition to the staff, and her introduction in a story from February 2026 can be found here.

We hope you find it helpful to learn a bit more about each of them.

If you have called, visited, or worked with the Northern Illinois District Office, there is a good chance Michelle La Velle has helped make your experience a welcoming and positive one.

As the District President Administrative Assistant (DPAA), Michelle assists in managing and supporting the many responsibilities of the District President, while serving as a key point of contact for congregations and pastors throughout the District. She works to foster healthy relationships between congregations and the District Office, while also helping coordinate the daily operations and hospitality needs that keep the office running smoothly.

Michelle will celebrate seven years on District staff in July 2026, but her ministry journey began long before that. She started serving the Church in 2001 as Church Secretary at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg. After twelve years at St. Peter, she joined Lutheran Church Charities, where she served in a variety of roles. In 2014, she became Church Office Manager at St. John’s Lutheran Church in La Grange before joining the Northern Illinois District staff in 2019.

One of Michelle’s favorite aspects of serving the District is the people she serves alongside each day. She values the strong sense of teamwork among the District staff and appreciates how colleagues consistently encourage and support one another. She also enjoys assisting congregations and ministry leaders by helping answer questions and connecting them with the resources they need.

Family plays an important role in Michelle’s life. She has been married to her best friend, John, since July 2010. Together they share a blended family that includes their three children, Victoria, Shay, and Alanna, along with their granddaughter, Penelope. John has served as an engineer with the City of Chicago for 25 years. When they are not spending time with family, Michelle and John enjoy attending Chicago White Sox games and visiting one of their favorite destinations, Galena, Illinois.

A favorite Bible verse for Michelle is Ecclesiastes 3:4: “A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” She appreciates the reminder that every season of life is a gift from God and that it is okay not to have everything perfectly together all the time. The verse serves as an encouragement to embrace both life’s joys and challenges, trusting that God is present in each moment.

Michelle credits much of her personal and professional growth to the encouragement of a mentor from her years at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Congregation member Frank Donahue consistently challenged her to recognize her potential, both professionally and personally. Whether helping her create a strong resume, listening to life’s challenges, or encouraging her to move beyond fear, his mentorship left a lasting impact. Michelle remains deeply grateful for his friendship, guidance, and belief in her abilities.

For Michelle, serving the District is ultimately about relationships—supporting congregations, assisting church workers, welcoming visitors, and helping others navigate their ministry journeys. Through every phone call, meeting, and conversation, she strives to reflect Christ’s love through service, hospitality, and encouragement.

We are thankful for Michelle’s work with the LCMS Northern Illinois District, and we pray for God’s continued blessings on her and her family.