Our TeamStaff

Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard, Pastor
Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard, started at St. Paul's in July of 2018. He was previously a Pastor in Gwinner, ND; a Senior Pastor in Sidney, MT; an Associate Pastor in Williston, ND; and an Associate Pastor in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
He received his undergraduate degree in Finance and Economics from Minot State University in North Dakota. After a short career working as an Investment Representative for a company of AIG, he moved to Minnesota to obtain his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Brethren Seminary. In 2005, a year after graduating from seminary, he was ordained into the ministry by the CLBA. In 2013 he was certified for ministry in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Furthermore, in 2013 he obtained a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis MO. His doctor of ministry thesis was on exploring the journey of American Evangelicals into Confessional Lutheran thought.
Pastor Richard is married to Serenity and they have three children. He enjoys fishing, pheasant hunting, watching movies, writing, golfing, spending time with his family, and a good book with a warm latte!

Rev. Carlyle Roth, Associate Pastor
Rev. Carlyle Roth started at St. Paul's in December of 2019 as the Associate Pastor of Visitation. He was previously a long-standing Pastor at St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Minot, ND for 30 years. Prior to St. Mark's Lutheran, he was a pastor in Carrington and Sykeston for 13 years.
He is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois.
Pastor Roth is married to Geneal. He enjoys fishing and makes excellent BBQ! He considers it a joy to serve God's saints.

Joanna Kruzel, Administrative Secretary
Joanna has been a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church since 2021. She graduated from Alexandria Technical College with a degree in Communication Art and Design. She has been a Paraprofessional for four years to three different schools before coming to St. Paul's.
Joanna is Married to Nate with three children. She is creative by nature and loves to draw digitally and sketching. She loves hiking and paddle boarding and being outdoors.

Jennifer Larsen, Choir Director
Hello! My name is Jennifer Larsen, and I’ve been directing the St. Paul Choir since 2001. I graduated from UND in 1999 with a degree in music education, with a vocal emphasis, and taught one year of elementary music at a local school before I began directing the choir at St. Paul's. I love my dedicated group of musicians!
When I’m not directing the choir, I am chasing after my 3 kids and running to
their various activities. I’m also a Sunday School teacher and volunteer with a
local moms’ group. I enjoy singing
(obviously!), gardening, crocheting, exercising, baking, and the outdoors in my
spare time. If you’re interested in
joining the choir, I’d love to visit with you!

Peggy Hilson, Accompanist
Peggy has been an organist with St. Paul's since 2003. She has been playing organ since 1970 and has great joy in serving the church through the ministry of music. She also is the organist for St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Sawyer, ND.
Besides playing the organ, she loves to bake and has been known to make 'epic' Rice-Crispy Bars.

Beth Sorensen, Organist
Beth played her first church service in 1989, after being taught by Gloria Schmidt (St. Paul's longtime former organist). During college at Concordia Seward, she took classes on piano and organ. In 2008, Beth started playing for St. Paul's Lutheran and later began to be the accompanist for the St. Paul's Choir. The gift of music is in her family, as she follows in her mother's footsteps in serving the Lord's church in music.

Emilie Phillips, Accompanist
Emilie has been playing piano and organ at St. Paul’s since September 2019. She previously played services at multiple churches in St. Charles County, Missouri.
Emilie graduated from Concordia University, River Forest in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Church Music. After graduation, she played for services, directed choirs, and coordinated church music activities and resources before marrying her husband Joshua. The two have moved several times following his career in the Air Force from Japan to Korea, and now North Dakota.
Besides music, Emilie enjoys cooking, quilting, reading, and PC-gaming!
Officers
St. Paul's elected officers perform a variety of lay leader functions within the church. These positions are all on a volunteer basis with term limits.
Congregational Offices and Elected Officers
St. Paul's elected officers perform a variety of lay leader functions within the church. These positions are all on a volunteer basis with term limits.
Congregational Offices and Elected Officers
Chairman - Scott Pfennig
Dean of Elders - Darren Kabanuk
Elders
Elder Area #1 - Brian Lokken
Elder Area #2 - Scott Marschner
Elder Area #3 - Mark Schaefer
Elder Area #4 - Ellis Haake
Elder Area #5 - Darren Kabanuk
Elder Area #6 - Bo Thorson
Elder Area #7 - Chandler Braaten
Elder Area #8 - Joshua Phillips
Elder Area #9 - Ryley Plesuk
Finance Chairman - Amanda Shappell
Financial Treasurer - Nathan Livingston
Financial Secretary - Alex Larsen
Vice Chairman - Ray Schwarz
Chairman of Education - Danielle Plesuk
Chairman of Evangelism - Vicki Steinke
Chairman of Stewardship - Dana Larsen
Chairman of Social Concerns - Celeste Simmons
Chairman of Trustees - Wayne Smith
Trustees
Craig Eraas
Les Pierson
Gail Schmidkunz
Lyle Shappell
Wayne Smith
Wade Behnken
Council Secretary - Rhonda Schmidkunz
Sunday School Teachers
Pre-school
Celeste Simmons
Helpers: Desi Pierson, Kiya Plesuk
Kindergarten
Amanda Shappell, Joe Shappell
1st & 2 Grade
Becky Richards
3rd & 4th Grade
Christina Larsen
5th Grade
Jennifer Larsen
Confirmation
Scott Pfennig
Opening
10:30 Elder
Music
Pre-school thru 5th Grade
Peggy Hilson
Jennifer Larsen
LYF
President - Destinie Pierson
Vice President - Anya Richard
Treasure - Jason Shappell
Secretary - Joseph Shappell
Christian Growth Chairman - Dezzi Sutton
Youth Advisors - Diane Pierson, Amanda Shappell