Pastor Stephanie Espinoza

Role at VBS: VBS Coordinator

Current Workplace: Pastor at Cross of Peace Lutheran Church in Shakopee, MN

Community Activities and leadership: I have written VBS and other educational materials for Augsburg Fortress. I enjoy working in bilingual ministry for the past 15+ years!

About me: I live on a 140 acre farm with my husband, Jorge, and our two kids, Simon (10) and Scarlett (7).

Grace Harrison

Role at VBS: Outdoor Activities Coordinator and POI Representative

Current Workplace: Completing my Master’s degree in Public Ministry

Community Activities and leadership: Secretary - Board of Directors of Prairie Oaks Institute

Fun Fact: I moved back to MN at the end of May and I’m looking forward to diving into VBS!

Pastor Jorge Espinoza

Role at VBS: Crafts

Current Workplace: Pastor at Cristo Obrero in Shakopee, MN

Community Activities and leadership: Cristo Obrero is a ministry that serves Latino families in mobile home parks in Shakopee and Chaska.

Fun Fact: I work bi-vocationally as a Pastor and as a farmer at Dodge Nature Center.

Pastor Hierald Osorto

Role at VBS: Bilingual Worship Planner

Current Workplace: St. Paul’s/San Pablo Lutheran Church in St. Paul

Community Activities and leadership:

Fun Fact:

Pastor Hans Peterson

Role at VBS: Music

Current Workplace: River of Hope Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, MN

Community Activities and leadership: I’ve worked as a youth director and worship leader, lived with homeless men in a Catholic Worker House, and a full-time song leader with Dakota Road Music for 25 years.

Fun Fact: I was born and raised in Alaska!

Krysta Flaherty

Role at VBS: Planning Team

Current Workplace: Director of Children’s Ministry at Crown of Glory Lutheran Church in Chaska, MN

Community Activities and leadership: I help organize lessons for our SPARK program, have led VBS in the past, offer childcare and activities for church events.

Fun Fact: I love purple and jogging!

Pastor Adam Teske

Role at VBS: Games

Current Workplace: Pastor at West Union Lutheran Church in Cologne, MN.

About me: I am a husband to a wonderful wife, Kara, and three awesome kids - Nicholas & Jack (5), and Addison (2). Together, we love playing games, hiking, telling stories and discovering God’s great big world!

Wendy Martinez

Role at VBS: Bible Station Leader

Current Workplace: Kindergarten & 1st Grade Teacher at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion for Eden Prairie School District.

About me: I absolutely love working with kids, and I cannot wait to be a part of this experience!

Pastor Ben Hilding

Role at VBS: Behind-the-scenes helper (with a number of HTLC folks!)

Current Workplace: Co-Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, New Prague

Community Activities and leadership: President of the Board of Directors at Prairie Oaks Institute

Fun Fact: I don’t know Spanish, but our daughter is enrolled in a Spanish-immersion school and loves it!