Staff
Joe Johnson, D.Min., Senior Pastor
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 to emphasize the points of the Gospel. Pastor Joe has a passion for rural and small-town ministry.
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. He became Reverend Doctor Joe Johnson when he attained his Doctor of Ministry at Luther Seminary. His doctoral thesis was titled Invisible Poverty: Awareness, Attitudes, and Action.
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. Pastor Joe is also the head football coach of the Hillsboro-Central Valley Burros.
Joy McSparron, Visitation Minister
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 sponsored through the Eastern North Dakota Synod.
Brenda Stallman, Parish Nurse
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 runs the 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.
Cindy Doeden, Office Administrator
Cindy Doeden’s is the voice you hear when calling Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. As the office administrator, she assists the ministerial staff, leadership, and members with a wide variety of tasks. She is also the editor of the monthly newsletter, Steeple Talk, and assembles the weekly bulletins.
Amanda Johnson, Education Pastor
Pastor Amanda coordinates all the activities involved with education at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. A native of California, Pastor Amanda earned her Master of Divinity from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa in 2024.
Pastor Amanda is a trained pastry chef and founded 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.
She and her husband, Pastor Joe Johnson, have two children, Wyatt and Charlotte (Charlie). Amanda loves caring for her family, playing music (she’s an accomplished banjo player), and having fun! She also sings and plays with The Fire, Joyful Noise, and Norwegian Sweater.
Jason Lovas
Treasurer
Dustin Nagel
Financial Secretary
Karen Alfson
Organist
Beth Christianson
“The Fire” Director
Phyllis Leraas
“Our Savior’s Light” Director