His wife, Julia, also served in South Africa and they have been married since 2012. Together they have three children, Hannah, Zachariah and Abigail. Pastor Mueller served Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri from 2012-2024 when he accepted the call to Hope. <\/span>Pastor Mueller enjoys model railroading, cycling, and occasionally teaching classes on Romans at the Lutheran Theological College of Uganda.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”2rem||2rem||false|false” custom_padding=”2rem|2rem|2rem|2rem|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_team_member name=”Debra Steiner” position=”Administrative Assistant” image_url=”https:\/\/hopelutheran.org\/church\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/10\/deb-steiner-jpg.webp” admin_label=”Person – Tammy Songer” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”2rem||2rem||false|false” custom_padding=”2rem|2rem|2rem|2rem|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_team_member name=”David Cason” position=”Organist and Music Director” image_url=”https:\/\/hopelutheran.org\/church\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/03\/Screen-Shot-2026-03-17-at-11.18.04-PM-e1774754179529.webp” admin_label=”Person – Tammy Songer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”David Cason” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n David Cason has been Hope\u2019s organist since August of 2023. David also serves as the conductor of the choir, music administrator, and organ technician. As a lifelong student of music, David is currently continuing his education in the Department of Organ and Church Music at KU. Before coming to Hope David served in various locations as an organist, pianist, and choral director.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”2rem||2rem||false|false” custom_padding=”2rem|2rem|2rem|2rem|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_team_member name=”Nancy Strange” position=”Handbell Director” admin_label=”Person – Tammy Songer” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”David Cason” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Nancy D. Strange has been involved with Hope\u2019s handbell choir since 1998 and has served as the director since 2001. Nancy was first introduced to handbells in 1991 through Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC. She was fortunate to gain ringing and directing experience by working with the world renowned community handbell group, The Raleigh Ringers. She has directed children\u2019s handbell choirs at Our Savior and at Hope. She also enjoyed playing in a handbell choir and ensemble for First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL.<\/p>\n Nancy and her husband, Brian, are blessed with two children, Chris and Lauren, and several dogs and cats. She enjoys playing the piano, fostering and volunteering at the Great Plains SPCA, hiking, gardening, and loves to travel with her family, especially exploring the Caribbean islands.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”2rem||2rem||false|false” custom_padding=”2rem|2rem|2rem|2rem|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_team_member name=”Harry Moyer” position=”Facilities Manager” image_url=”https:\/\/hopelutheran.org\/church\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/10\/harry-moyer-jpg.webp” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Mr. Moyer comes to Hope after working at Shawnee United Methodist Church with their facility for 27 years, where he also volunteered teaching adult, youth and children\u2019s Sunday School, and participated in many choirs, band, and youth activities.\u00a0 He grew up in a small town in south-central Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State University Harrisburg with a bachelor’s degree in electrical design engineer in technology. He also went two years to seminary at Lancaster Pennsylvania and volunteered for eight years with A Christian ministry in the National Parks. He loves the outdoors and serves at the district and council level with Boy Scouts of America.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rev. Jacob T. Mueller was born in Le Mars, Iowa and grew up in New Minden, Illinois. He attended Trinity-St. John Lutheran School in Nashville, IL, Nashville Community High School, and holds a B. A. in Religious Studies from Concordia University Ann Arbor, Michigan. After completing his degree, he spent six months as a guest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":51,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Pastor Harries and his wife, Diane, are blessed with three children; Brian, Lisa, and Mark. They also have been blessed with two granddaughters, Anneka and Linnea. Diane has been a teacher for many years, both in Lutheran and public schools, and continues to serve as a substitute teacher. She is also active in children's ministry at Hope.<\/p> Pastor Harries enjoys music, golf, hunting, yardwork, gardening, spectator sports, photography, and travel. He finds joy in communicating and relating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people of all ages and backgrounds. One activity of special interested is providing tractor and hayrides to church members of all ages.<\/p> Diane loves to travel and read, but her favorite indulgence is time with family, husband, children, and grandchildren: Doug, Doug ii, Eric, DeeAnn, Cari, Jessica, David, Penelope, Brogan, Chase, Grayson, Nataly, and Ryan.<\/p> \u201cLet the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.\u201d Mark 10:14b<\/p> Miss LeAnn grew up in the country in Nebraska. For her DCE internship, she lived in Wisconsin. She has three sisters- one older, two younger. All of her immediate family lives in Nebraska. She enjoys books, geocaching, being outside enjoying God's creation, and spending time with family. Her favorite Bible verse is Ecclesiastes 1:2 \"'Meaningless, Meaningless,' says the Teacher. 'All is meaningless!'\" If Miss LeAnn is not pointing to Christ in everything she does, everything becomes meaningless.<\/p> Nancy and her husband, Brian, are blessed with two children, Chris and Lauren, and several dogs and cats. She enjoys playing the piano, fostering and volunteering at the Great Plains SPCA, hiking, gardening, and loves to travel with her family, especially exploring the Caribbean islands.<\/p> President: Jeff Pettijohn Board of Dayschool Education: Sharon HowellChurch Staff<\/h2>
Rev. Thomas H. Harries, Senior Pastor<\/h3>
![\"Rev.](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/pastor-harries.jpg\" "\\"Rev.")
Rev. Thomas Harries has served as Senior Pastor at Hope since 2004. He is a graduate of both Concordia Teachers College, Seward, NE and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Pastor Harries served in ministry as a Lutheran teacher and parish musician for fifteen years prior to entering pastoral ministry.<\/p>Rev. Michael A. Penikis, Associate Pastor<\/h3>
![\"Rev.](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/pastor-penikis.jpg\" "\\"Rev.")
Rev. Michael Penikis has served as Associate Pastor at Hope Lutheran Church and School since 2000. He has a BS in Geology from the University of Wisconsin\u2013Milwaukee, DCE certification from Concordia\u2013St. Paul, and M.Div. (minor in systematic theology) from Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind. He is a native of Milwaukee and grew up in the suburb of Brown Deer. His wife Linda, a native of Michigan, served as a DCE in Illinois. They have been married since 1991 and have one son, Krisjanis. Besides theology, Pastor Penikis' interests include astronomy, birds, hymn writing, vexillology (flags), heraldry, geography, language, sports logos, and graphic design. He is of course a proud Cheesehead and fan of Wisconsin sports teams.<\/p>Mrs. Diane Eichholz, Interim Principal<\/h3>
![\"Diane](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/diane-eichholz.jpg\" "\\"Diane")
Diane M. Eichholz has served on staff at Hope since 1980. Her current ministry position of interim principal was preceded by the position of Hope\u2019s called first grade teacher, as well as the director and teacher of Hope\u2019s early childhood program. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from St. Mary College, a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Concordia University, and a Masters of Arts in Education from MidAmerica Nazarene.<\/p>Miss LeAnn Miller, Director of Christian Education (DCE)<\/h3>
![\"LeAnn](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/leann-miller.jpg\" "\\"LeAnn")
Miss LeAnn has served as DCE at Hope Lutheran Church since August 2014. She graduated Concordia University Seward with a BA in Theology and a Certificate of Director of Christian Education with emphases in Family and Youth.<\/p>Dr. Louis Schuler, Music & Choir Director<\/h3>
![\"Dr.](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/louis-schuler.jpg\" "\\"Dr.")
Dr. Schuler has served as a music and choir director and educator at churches and schools across the United States. He has a BA in Music Education from St. Olaf College, an MA in Choral Conducting from the University of Iowa, and a PhD in Historical Performance Practice from Washington University, St. Louis. His performing specialty was wind instruments of the Renaissance and Baroque, and his dissertation dealt with the music of early German hymnody. He is the editor of the Cantus Christi hymnal and psalter. \u201cDuck\u201d currently serves as Music Director at Hope Lutheran Church, as well as teaching Latin and music at Whitefield Academy in Kansas City, Mo.<\/p>Kim Schuler, Organist<\/h3>
![\"Kim](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/kim-schuler.jpg\" "\\"Kim")
<\/p>Nancy Strange, Handbell Director<\/h3>
![\"Nancy](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/nancy-strange.jpg\" "\\"Nancy")
Nancy D. Strange has been involved with Hope\u2019s handbell choir since 1998 and has served as the director since 2001. Nancy was first introduced to handbells in 1991 through Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC. She was fortunate to gain ringing and directing experience by working with the world renowned community handbell group, The Raleigh Ringers. She has directed children\u2019s handbell choirs at Our Savior and at Hope. She also enjoyed playing in a handbell choir and ensemble for First Lutheran Church in Gainesville, FL.<\/p>Cheryl Stuerke, Administrative Assistant<\/h3>
![\"Cheryl](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/cheryl-stuerke.jpg\" "\\"Cheryl")
<\/p>Executive Committee<\/h2>
Vice-President: Bob Hollman
Treasurer: Bill Mobley
Recording Secretary: Jayne Ritzinger
Financial Secretary: Ruth Happel<\/p>Administrative Boards<\/h2>
Board of Elders: Roger Hill
Board of Evangelism: Alan Glinsmann
Board of New Member Assimilation: Jerry Williams
Board of Parish Education: ?
Board of Parish Fellowship: Alan Miller
Board of Stewardship: Andrew Korte
Board of Trustees: Gary Morris
Board of Youth Ministries: Carmella Groebe<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-71","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n