Staff

Pastor Joe has been the Senior Pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church since July 2011. He is a dynamic preacher who uses stories and real-life experiences, like being a college football player, living in Alaska for a year during internship, riding a horse from South Dakota to the West Coast and playing music along the way with his buddies, building a log cabin with his wife, and writing music in Nashville, to emphasize the points of the Gospel. Pastor Joe has a passion for rural and small-town ministry but knows that rural doesn’t mean boring – he values creativity and contemporary Christian music. The missional church energizes Pastor Joe with a focus on what God has done for the world through Jesus Christ calling for our participation in God’s mission.

A native of Gonvick, Minnesota, and an alumnus of Bethel College, Pastor Joe graduated with degrees in speech communications and physical education and minored in health. He worked for ten years in youth and family ministry and as a music minister. He earned his Master of Divinity with a concentration in children, youth, and family from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

Pastor Joe spent some time in Nashville pursuing a career in music. While there, he met his wife, Amanda, when she was buying a banjo. They have two children: Wyatt and Charlotte (Charlie). The Johnsons enjoy doing activities as a family, including kayaking, horseback riding, playing and singing music, and construction projects. They’ve built a log cabin together and also renovated an historic building in downtown Hillsboro.

Cindy Doeden's is the voice you usually hear when calling Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. As the office administrator, she assists the pastors, leadership, and members with a wide variety of tasks. She is also in charge of the monthly newsletter, Steeple Talk, and assembling the weekly bulletins.

Amanda Johnson coordinates all the activities involved with education at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. As a trained pastry chef and founder of Our Town Bakery in Hillsboro, she fed people’s bodies with great food. Now, she feeds the souls of the members of OSLC by enhancing their spiritual lives.

Amanda and her husband, Pastor Joe Johnson, have two children Wyatt and Charlotte (Charlie). Amanda loves caring for her family by making wonderful food, playing music (she’s an accomplished banjo player), and having fun! She also sings and plays with The Fire and Joyful Noise. 

Joy McSparron is the visitation minister at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church but helps in a number of other areas, too, including youth ministry. She has taken classes at Luther Seminary as part of the GIFTS (Growing In Faith Through Service) program, a lay leadership training program sponsored through the Eastern North Dakota Synod.

Joy is also a Deacon and serves the church in a number of ways, like visitation, Hillsboro Medical Center services, and communion.

Parish nursing is the cornerstone of health ministry at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Brenda Stallman ministers to individuals and families to promote wellness of body, mind, and spirit. She is an RN and also works at Traill County District Health Unit.

Activities sponsored by the parish nurse committee include prayer shawls, home and hospital visitation, home communion, health promotion activities, and the prayer chain.

Members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and our community who know of someone with unmet needs in relation to their physical, spiritual, or emotional health are encouraged to contact Brenda. She welcomes involvement in the parish nurse program from volunteers who are interested in health ministry.

Jason Lovas has been the treasurer for Our Savior’s Lutheran Church since 2006. He keeps the lights on, ensuring the bills get paid! Jason is always available to help with any financial questions that arise.

Jason is a farmer in the area and knows the meaning of hard work. A lifelong member of Our Savior’s, he helps with many projects, from donating the use of his land and equipment for OSLC’s Annual Harvest Party for Foods Resource Bank to putting up signage for the church. An all-around helpful guy, he also keeps the dishwasher running when special occasion breakfasts are served at the church!

He is a member of the Church Council and also serves on the Stewardship Committee.

As the financial secretary for Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Justin Grinde keeps track of all the donations and offerings given to the congregation and issues quarterly statements. As the branch manager for Ag Country Farm Credit Services, his work as financial secretary for the church is a great fit!

Justin is an easygoing guy who is eager to help with various projects around the church and community, including hosting the OSLC Annual Harvest Party for Foods Resource Bank. 

Karen Alfson has been enriching the worship experience of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church since 1976! She learned to play the organ when she was just 13 years old in her home church in Grandin, ND. When she and her family moved back to Hillsboro from California, she was at a service and Pastor Savereid prayed that God would send an organist into their midst…the rest is history!

Karen has a love of music and knows that church is important. As church organist, it is fun to be able to combine the two and add to worship. She feels music is powerful. She loves playing for weddings and picking out music with the brides to personalize this special day for them. She also is honored to play for funerals. It is nice to work with families and try to comfort them during sad times.

Beth Christianson-Melby has a passion for music and a love of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Fire is the newest band to form at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. The Fire provides modern Christian music for a contemporary worship experience.

The musicians and singers in The Fire are so enthusiastic about sharing their gifts to add to the worship experience of the congregation. Singing since she was in high school, Beth once considered making a career of music. She feels blessed to be part of the family of faith at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church!

Phyllis Leraas and Our Savior’s Light band lead contemporary worship two times each month. Phyllis’ energetic style keeps this band and the congregation moving! She is amazed at the talent of Our Savior’s Light! The band pick's up new music so quickly. It is fun to work with a group that is so awesome, willing, talented, and gifted.

For Phyllis, music is number one. She grew up in a musical family that entertained at nursing homes. She has a passion for sharing music! Her talent is a gift from god. It is the stewardship that is most important for her to give God and the congregation. Phyllis feels blessed to have been brought a community that has the same feeling about music as she does.