Lutheran Pastor Bramwell returns to Wyoming

Rite of Installation Service will be Saturday at 11 a.m.

Three days after arriving in town, new Lutheran pastor Tyrel Bramwell was still sleeping on an air mattress. The moving truck had not yet arrived, and the Bramwells were living out of boxes and making quick trips to the store for essentials, but the circumstances had done little to dampen his enthusiasm.

This Sunday, Bramwell will begin his ministry at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lovell, marking a return to Wyoming after nearly two decades of ministry out of state.

“We got here three days ago,” Bramwell said Thursday. “Our stuff isn’t even here yet, but we’re thankful to be here. This feels like coming home.”

Bramwell is replacing the Rev. Jacob Benson, who has moved on to Casper, where he has been appointed Chief Advancement and Admissions Officer at Luther Classical College. During the college’s first semester, Benson also served as an assistant professor of humanities.

Pastor Bramwell is a Sweetwater County native who grew up between Rock Springs and Green River and graduated from Rock Springs High School. It was there he met his wife, Jessica.

“We started dating when we were 15,” he said. “We just celebrated our 25th anniversary last summer.”

The couple has two children, Jonas, 22, who was recently married, and Bethany, 20, who is attending Luther Classical College in Casper. Jonas and his wife, Lily, also made the move to Lovell and are temporarily renting from a church member while they wait for their belongings to arrive, as well.

“They’re on air mattresses, too,” Bramwell said with a laugh.

Before entering the ministry, Bramwell spent nearly 10 years working in the oil fields of Wyoming and surrounding states.

“I worked in the oil field for almost 10 years,” he said. “During that process, I was just getting deeper and deeper into my faith.” Eventually, he felt called to pursue pastoral ministry, despite not seeing himself as a likely candidate at first. “I asked my pastor what it took,” Bramwell recalled. “He said you need a master’s degree, and I thought, I barely graduated from high school. How is that going to work?”

Bramwell explained that in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, a pastor’s assignment is referred to as a “call,” reflecting the belief that “God is working through the local congregation to call a man to be their pastor.” He said a newly ordained pastor is initially sent where needed, but “once you’re in the field, you have a call, a location, and if you get another call, the view is that God’s saying you can serve either one of these places,” making the decision a season of careful consideration rather than a simple transfer.

After committing himself to school, Bramwell earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Concordia University and later completed seminary training at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His ministry has taken him to congregations in California and Utah, along with work in Christian radio, recruitment and writing. He is also the author of several faith-based and fiction titles available through Amazon and other outlets.

Family considerations played a major role in his decision to return to Wyoming. Bramwell’s father lives in Green River, while his mother and stepfather are in Rock Springs. Health concerns made distance a growing factor.

“It’s different when a visit is a 16- or 17-hour drive,” he said. “Now it’s more like four or five. That matters.”

Despite his Wyoming roots, Bramwell had never been to Lovell until this week. Rather than arriving with plans for immediate change, he said he intends to spend his first year learning.

“I’m just going to get to know the people, get to know the town,” he said. “Every town has a culture and a history that needs to be respected.”

Outside of church life, Bramwell enjoys camping, hiking, hunting, fishing and photography, and he is eager to explore the outdoors the Lovell area offers. He also hopes to find ways to serve the community beyond the pulpit, including possible involvement with local emergency services.

“I’m not just here to be blessed by what other people have already done,” he said. “I want to give back.”

As he settles into Lovell and prepares to begin his ministry, Bramwell emphasizes gratitude and optimism. “We’re thankful to be here,” he said. “Wyoming has always been home to us, and we’re excited to be part of this community.”

A lighthearted comment on an article about his departure from the Ferndale, California, congregation noted that Ferndale’s population was 1,398 compared to Lovell’s population of 2,243. As the commenter joked, Bramwell is clearly “moving up in the world.”

This Saturday will feature a special Rite of Installation for the new pastor. The worship service will be led by the Rev. John Hill, president of the Wyoming District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, who will officiate and formally install Pastor Bramwell into his new call. Other lectors at the Divine Service will include the Rev. Needham of Thermopolis, the Rev. Korb of Worland and the Rev. Mars of Cody. The preacher will be the Rev. Daniel Hothus, a pastor and longtime friend of Bramwell, who catechized him many years ago.

Everyone from the community is welcome to attend Saturday’s Rite of Installation Service, which begins at 11 a.m.

Bramwell will begin to fulfill his new role as Lovell’s pastor the next day, Sunday, Feb. 1, when he will lead the regular Divine Service. Regular Sunday hours will continue with Bible study at 9:15 a.m. and worship service at 10:30 a.m.