Our Team

I was raised across North Dakota as the son of United Methodist clergy. I met my wife, Barb, in seminary (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, outside Chicago).

My first appointment in 1995 to at the Elmwood and Rock Elm United Methodist Churches was dynamic, as within five years worship attendance doubled and both congregations took on significant building projects. My son, Thanael, and daughter, Julianna, were born there.

In 2000, I was appointed to Faith United Methodist Church, a downtown congregation in Superior. During my 21 years there, we grew the worship attendance and many outreach ministries, such as the Noah’s Ark Day Care, the Tuesday food pantry, and the Meals Outreach Ministries (free Sunday suppers to the neighborhood). God led Faith Church in launching a slew of ministries, including: Harbor House, a ministry to homeless women and families (started and directed for a while by Rev. Barb, and grew to two crisis shelter locations and two apartment buildings); the annual Wildfire! Youth Mission Event; the community garden project; the Grace Korean worship service; and, for a short while, the Safe Harbor Youth Drop-In Center (in collaboration with the city). My other two daughters, Hannah and Hope, were born while we lived in Superior.

In 2021, I was thrilled to receive a new venture with an appointment to Trinity United Methodist Church in Elk Mound and Iron Creek United Methodist Church rural Menomonie. I know God has great things in store for this rural, but growing area! Interestingly, within three months of my appointment here, through a series of Holy Spirit action, the Iron Creek Church took steps in launching a Korean worship service in Menomonie.

Even as we forge on through the COVID pandemic, we experienced a record attendance at the 2021 Christmas Eve worship service!

Currently, Barb continues with her appointment as the district superintendent of the North West District of our Wisconsin Conference, and so facilitates ministry of 90 churches in the district. Thanael is in his final year at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois and is a student pastor at Bethany- Calvary United Methodist Church in Milwaukee. Julianna took a nursing position at Advent Hospital in Durand, Wisconsin. Hannah is attending UW LaCrosse, and is considering a future as a physician’s assistant. Hope is a student at United Methodist related Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. She is considering a future in the medical field.

I would love to learn more about you - maybe with a visit over coffee (my treat)! I know that you will be as excited as I am about engaging with all God is doing through Trinity and Iron Creek churches!