Staff
Grant
Director of Youth Ministries
grant@firstlutheranchurch.com
Grant’s my name, youth group and confirmation (and LOTS more, too…) is my game! Wow, that was cheesy… I am the youth director here at FLC, and let me tell you, there’s nothing that I love more than hanging with you guys and gals, eating some ‘Za (that’s what we call pizza now… ya heard?!), and talking about faith in Christ. We’ve always got a ton of activities going on here; everything from movie nights, Bible studies, Breakfast Club, and TGIF, to weekly Confirmation, retreats, lock-ins (or outs!), dinners, and Earl’s Espresso!
Vision for First Lutheran Youth: My vision for the youth here at FLC is summed up in these words by Marty Haugen:
Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard
And loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace,
Let this house proclaim for floor to rafter:
All are welcome! All are welcome! All are welcome in this place!
Beth
Director of KidsFirst Preschool
bethg@firstlutheranchurch.com
I am a native North Dakotan, originally from Rolla, ND and am a graduate of North Dakota State University with an early childhood education degree. My husband, son and I moved to Detroit Lakes in 1994. I worked as a Parent/Child Educator for the Detroit Lakes school district after we settled here and have now been the Director/Head Teacher at Kidsfirst Preschool for the past 12 years. I enjoy my summers off to garden, landscape, work on home improvement projects, and golf. My family and I have taken trips to several major league ball parks so we are indeed baseball fans, especially Twins fans. During the winter and spring, my time is spent watching my son wrestle and play baseball at DLHS. Most of my extended family lives in north central and western North Dakota so there are several trips to and from during a year. My husband and son are catholic and belong to Holy Rosary Catholic Church and I am a member of First Lutheran Church. We make it work for us!
Mary T
Custodian
mary@firstlutheranchurch.com
Erin
Administrative Assistant
erin@firstlutheranchurch.com
I live on my family’s century farm with my fiancé, Nate, and my three children; Faith, Seth, and Anna. My favorite thing about working at First Lutheran are my co-workers, who are like a second family to me, and all the people in the congregation I have gotten to know. It’s amazing to see God working in so many lives. Some of my hobbies and interests include spending time with my family, going to the lake, gardening, going for walks, and working on the farm.
Favorite Bible Verse: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body ,what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30Bu tif God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34 So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34
Pastor Dave
Worship and Administration
pastordave@firstlutheranchurch.com
Pastor Dave Peterson came to First Lutheran in 1993. Under Pastor Dave’s leadership First Lutheran has become a church that lives out its mission to "Open Doors to Life in Christ" by encouraging, supporting, leading, directing, and coaching those who have been given the vision and passion for each of the ministries we do in the name of Jesus. Prior to moving to Detroit Lakes in 1993, he served Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd, Minnesota for 9+ years.
"I’m excited about what God is doing in the hearts and lives of God’s people on an everyday basis. It is my hope and prayer that every person who comes to First Lutheran will experience the joy and peace that only Jesus can give. It is my vision that, as a church, every follower of Jesus will find their purpose and meaning in life as a servant of Jesus Christ. If you have an idea for a ministry that God has placed on your heart, I welcome the chance to visit, to pray, to discern, and to encourage as God leads us together."
In addition to leading the ministry of First Lutheran, Pastor Dave enjoys being with his family, playing the tuba, scuba diving, golf, biking, camping, woodworking...and the like!!
Joy
Director of Children’s Ministry
joy@firstlutheranchurch.com
Joy Peterson directs all of the children’s ministries at First Lutheran: Sunday School, Faith Friends, Vacation Bible School, Nursery care, FaithFriends and more. Children’s Ministries include all young ages through 5th grade.
Her Vision for Children’s Ministry at First Lutheran is to always be inviting and welcoming children and families in to the church. Also, teaching God’s Word through programs, activities and opportunities that are interactive, meaningful and fun. And, helping children grow in their relationship with Jesus and in their service to others.
Susie
Business Manager
susie@firstlutheranchurch.com
I recently returned to Minnesota after 20 years in Tennessee and I am looking forward to getting to know my new church family. My background has been in finance, management, sales and was a church administrator in Tennessee.
I look forward to serving the members of First Lutheran and welcome all to worship with us and find your place at First.
My interests include reading, horseback riding, mission work, friends and family, especially my 2 grandchildren, Elle and Will.
Pastor Wade
Education and Spiritual Growth
pastorwade@firstlutheranchurch.com
Pastor Wade Dutton is a third generation “resort kid,” who grew up on the family resort on Lake Washburn, north of Outing, MN (follow Hwy 6 north of Crosby). He was nurtured in faith by his family and the community of believers at Our Savior’s of Outing. After graduating from High School in Remer, Pastor Wade decided to attend Concordia College in Moorhead largely because teams of young people from the college came to his youth group and shared their own faith life as followers of Jesus. At Concordia, he studied biology and chemistry, but really majored in Outreach Teams and had wonderful opportunities to travel in many parts of the United States, and the South Pacific Islands as a part of teams telling the good news of Jesus through song and drama and personal witness. It was as a part of one of these teams that he also met and later married his wife, Holly.
Hearing the call to pursue ordained ministry, Pastor Wade and Holly attended Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA. Upon graduation in 1984, he was called to American Lutheran in Adams, NE, a small, but lively farming community south of Lincoln. After 11 years, he and Holly and their family moved to Ankeny, IA, a growing suburb of Des Moines, where he served as co-pastor at Holy Trinity for six years of ministry in a young, growing congregation. In 2001, Pastor Wade accepted the call to First Lutheran in Detroit Lakes and he and his family returned to the land of lakes! It has been a joy to be a part of the vital Christian community that is First Lutheran ever since!
Pastor Wade’s passion is communicating the good news of God’s love and grace in Word and Sacrament. Serving with music ministries and ministries directed to youth and children are particular joys, but he enjoys teaching and care ministries with all ages, and has hosted a weekly men’s breakfast Bible Study and an annual men’s canoe trip to the Boundary Waters ever since arriving in Detroit Lakes.
Tanzy
tanzy@firstlutheranchurch.com
Betty
betty.gunderson@gmail.com
Denise
Parish Nurse
pnurse@firstlutheran.com
I have worked as a nurse for 30 years, hard to believe that it has been that long! I have experience in many areas including Orthopedics, Neurology, Newborn Nursery, Long Term Care, Consulting, Quality Assurance and now as the Parish Nurse here at First Lutheran. I am enjoying being part of the family here at First Lutheran. As the Parish Nurse I not only provide support to our parishioners regarding their physical health but also provide spiritual support. A Parish Nurse is a licensed Registered Nurse who integrates faith and health practices, provides health education, becomes a personal health counselor, and is a referral agent. I work closely with the Parish Health Cabinet. The mission of the Health Cabinet is to empower the members of First Lutheran Church to reflect God's love by promoting holistic Christian health within and outside the congregation.
Please call the church office if you would like to visit or speak with me.
In God's name, Denise
Jenny
jenny@firstlutheranchurch.com
MY NAME IS JENNY I AM MARRIED TO DARCY WE HAVE 4 WONDERFUL BOYS AUSTIN, BRODIE ,CARTER AND DERRIK. I RECEIVED MY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEGREE IN 2003 AFTER 10 YEARS OF BEING A CHILDCARE PROVIDER. I ENJOY WORKING WITH CHILDREN. I STARTED AT KIDSFIRST 3 YEARS AGO AND LOVE BEING APART OF THE CHILDREN’S LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND WATCHING THEM DEVELOP AND GROW AS LITTLE INDIVIDUALS. I AM BLESSED TO BE APART OF A GREAT TEAM AT FIRST LUTHERAN. I ENJOY PLAYING VOLLEYBALL, SKIING, SNOWMOBILING, JUST BEING WITH MY BOYS.
Lori
Service Ministry Coordinator
lori@firstlutheranchurch.com
My husband John and I moved to Detroit Lakes in 1994. I was a School Social Worker at the time in Sabeka and Menahga. I was a stay-at-home mom for several years with my children Emalee, P.J., and Lily. There are many things I love about being the Service Ministry Coordinator but most of all I love all the people I am getting to know. I have learned so much and impressed with the knowledge and giving hearts people have here at First Lutheran.
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