Trinity Podcast: Recent Episodes
Trinity Podcasts
The Trinity Podcast exists as a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church in order to tell the stories of God’s people and what the Holy Spirit is up to in our community. As followers of Jesus, we believe our faith calls us to action, so we’re going to be sharing conversations with you of Trinity members and people from the Owatonna community about how the Holy Spirit is at work in and through them, and what they are for.
Elizabeth Malo has lived in Owatonna most of her life. She loved staying home and raising her 3 children while also enjoying volunteering and substitute teaching. She is grateful for her time at Trinity as the Hospitality Coordinator and most recently, the interim director of Beds For Kids before her husband retired. She enjoys spending time with family and friends in Owatonna and at the cabin, boating, reading, traveling, bike riding, and playing pickleball.
Jolayne Mohs and her husband Scott have 3 sons, Jake, Luke & Quinn. Jolayne recently began her position at Trinity as Director of Outreach where she will coordinate Beds for Kids and other programs as part of Trinity’s strategic plan moving forward. They have been members at Trinity since 2006. They enjoy being active within the community and supporting their kids in the variety of sports and activities they have at this stage of life.
Emily Hagen is a senior at OHS. She is involved in many different clubs and plays volleyball. In her free time you can usually find her drinking coffee and hanging with friends. Emily is planning on attending Luther College to major in environmental science. She will also be playing volleyball and singing in choir next year.
Eli Knutson is a junior at OHS. He is involved in baseball, soccer and kicks for the football team. In his free time, you can find him doing literally anything outside especially playing ultimate Frisbee with “The Boys.” Eli is currently finalizing his ranking of Eagle Scout and looking forward to enjoying Senior year at OHS starting fall of 2021.
Marla Holt is a freelance writer who has been a member of Trinity since 1997. Her family includes her husband, Jon, and their two children, Evan and Julia. She sings in the Trinity Choir, often plays her flute during worship, and has been an adult leader on multiple youth service trips. She is the author of Let Us All Be Builders, a book about Trinity’s 100-year history.
Robin and her husband Dave are members at Trinity and serve on a Meals of Hope Team and as ushers. She is employed at the Owatonna Public Library as an Executive Administrative Assistant. She is the proud mother of four grown children, their significant others, and six grandchildren. She grew up in a large family in Austin, MN with seven siblings. Her hobbies include horseback riding, hiking in Arizona, volunteering, camping, and spending time with her six grandchildren.
Anissa and Josh Williams have been active members at Trinity since 2000. Anissa has served on various boards and commissions involving youth ministry. Anissa educates Kindergarteners by day and by night helps families simplify meals. Josh is an elementary physical education teacher and a basketball coach. They have three children: Kinzie (20), Brayden (17), and Leyton (15).
Laura Jensen is the proud mom of Corrina (14) and Porter (10) and wife to Cory Jensen. She also is the owner of Natural Beauty Salon in Owatonna. Corrina is in 8th grade and enjoys being outside and active, hanging out with friends, and watching Greys Anatomy.
Sarah Kingland is a senior at OHS and involved in numerous activities. She spends her non-school hours as a bagel craftsman at Old Town Bagels and is planning to attend Minnesota State University Moorhead and major in Elementary Education starting fall of 2021.
Greta Korbel is a senior at OHS. She is involved in soccer and golf. In her free time, you can find her making your drinks at Starbuck in HyVee. Starting fall of 2021, she plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa and major in Accounting.
Grace Linders is a senior at OHS. In her free time, you can find her out on the golf course, participating in many school clubs, and making your drinks at Caribou Coffee. She plans to attend the University of Minnesota Duluth and major in Biology starting fall of 2021.
Day 8 of our 8-part Holy Week Deep Dive: Take a Breath, featuring insights and stories by all four members of Trinity's pastoral team. Follow Jesus' last days on earth, his death, and his resurrection. The next part of the story examines the questions: what are Easter and the resurrection of Jesus?
Day 7 of our 8-part Holy Week Deep Dive: Take a Breath, featuring insights and stories by all four members of Trinity's pastoral team. Follow Jesus' last days on earth, his death, and his resurrection. The next part of the story examines the questions: what happened after Jesus' death, and how does the church observe that time?
Day 6 of our 8-part Holy Week Deep Dive: Take a Breath, featuring insights and stories by all four members of Trinity's pastoral team. Follow Jesus' last days on earth, his death, and his resurrection. The next part of the story examines the question: what happened when Jesus died on a cross?
Day 5 of our 8-part Holy Week Deep Dive: Take a Breath, featuring insights and stories by all four members of Trinity's pastoral team. Follow Jesus' last days on earth, his death, and his resurrection. The next part of the story examines the question: what was the betrayal of Jesus, and what happened at his trial?
Day 4 of our 8-part Holy Week Deep Dive: Take a Breath, featuring insights and stories by all four members of Trinity's pastoral team. Follow Jesus' last days on earth, his death, and his resurrection. The next part of the story examines the question: what is the Last Supper?
Day 3 of our 8-part Holy Week Deep Dive: Take a Breath, featuring insights and stories by all four members of Trinity's pastoral team. Follow Jesus' last days on earth, his death, and his resurrection. The next part of the story examines the question: what is Maundy Thursday?
Day 2 of our 8-part Holy Week Deep Dive: Take a Breath, featuring insights and stories by all four members of Trinity's pastoral team. Follow Jesus' last days on earth, his death, and his resurrection. The next part of the story examines the question: what is Palm Sunday?
Day 1 of our 8-part Holy Week Deep Dive: Take a Breath, featuring insights and stories by all four members of Trinity's pastoral team. Follow Jesus' last days on earth, his death, and his resurrection. We start with the questions: What is the church season of Lent? And what is Ash Wednesday?
Mike and Tammi have made Owatonna their home for the last 33 years. They raised three children here, all of whom are married and have children of their own and call Owatonna home. Owatonna has had much to offer the Ferches, both professionally, with long and rewarding careers, and personally, often around their love of music. Both lifelong musicians, they have been involved in community-focused musical events, including the annual Hometown Sampler benefit for the Steele County Foodshelf (Community Pathways), giveHOPE benefit for Transitional Housing of Steele County, Music In Owatonna Music Series, and the Music Boosters of Owatonna fundraising concert. They are long-time members of Trinity Lutheran Church, where you’re more than likely to find them on the worship team, providing special music, or directing youth choirs.
Tim and Andrea Van Gelder live on an acreage just west of town with their children, Carson, Brendan, and Erin. They have been part of the Trinity community since moving to Owatonna in 2010. Tim is a family medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic Health System and Andrea is Trinity's Music, Worship and Arts coordinator. They love the arts, especially music and theater, as well as building relationships and investing in the community.
Elise Egbert is a senior at OHS. She is very involved with the music program, performing in concert band, jazz band, marching band, symphony orchestra, and pit orchestra. Elise is a member on the SEMN ELCA Synod Council. She plans on attending the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire and majoring in Actuarial Science.
Erin is a wife, mom, and educator. She moved to Owatonna for her first teaching job in 1999 and has been here ever since. She is currently the assistant principal at OMS. She is married to Mike, who has been a member of Trinity since birth. Mike and Erin have chosen to raise their children in Owatonna and as part of the Trinity community. They have two boys, Will (12) is a 7th grader at OMS, and Owen (10) is a 5th grader at McKinley.
Will loves sports and plays football, basketball, and baseball. He also likes to sing, plays percussion in the band, and takes piano lessons. He is active in the OMS student council and he enjoys volunteering and helping people. Some of his favorite experiences have been at Ingham Lake Bible Camp
Addison Andrix is a junior at OHS. He enjoys golfing, playing baseball, and talking with friends. He was baptized at Trinity, has participated in many trips, and has served as a peer minister on confirmation retreats. Addison is enjoying his new role as Media Staff Assistant.
Dylan Meiners is a junior at OHS and is now a Media Staff Assistant at Trinity. Beyond the church, he is involved in Cross Country, Robotics, Tennis, NHS, Student Council, Knowledge Bowl, and Boy Scouts.
BONUS episode! We'll be taking a short break until January 2021 so please enjoy our conversation about holiday traditions.
Wes McMains and his wife, Jodi, have been members of the Owatonna community and Trinity Lutheran Church for 22 years. He is the proud father of Ava, Jacob, and Jenna. Wes manages the IT Network Services team at Prime Therapeutics. Wes enjoys everything outdoors, especially baseball/softball, and traveling as an adult leader on Trinity’s Youth Ministry trips to Colorado. Ava McMains is a sophomore at Owatonna High School. She manages the OHS football teams, participates in band, choir and color guard, and also dances at Jill Hoggard Dance Academy. But what Ava really loves most is baking and cooking. She is the proprietor of Ava Dee's Bakery and usually seen at the Owatonna Farmer's Market. Ava was recently confirmed at Trinity, and she has participated in several Trinity Summer trips, including the Colorado adventure trip and the Camp Noah trip to Rockport, Texas.
Abby Bendorf grew up in Owatonna, involved at Trinity and at OHS. After graduating from UW-Platteville in 2019, Abby took a manufacturing position in Madison, WI. Abby enjoys adventures, especially when they involve returning to her second home, Sky Ranch Bible Camp, outside of Fort Collins, CO where she spent three summers on staff. Abby would tell you she’d rather be in the mountains.
Dave Chatelaine and his wife Kathy have been members of Trinity for 34 years. Dave is a retired industrial tech teacher and coaches cross country and crack at OHS. He also works part time at Trinity and is on the Properties commission. Dave’s wife, Kathy, is Trinity council President and is an assistant to the bishop in the SE Minnesota Synod. Dave and Kathy have three adult children and their son in-law and daughter in-law are all involved in vocational ministry. Dave and Kathy enjoy their granddaughter Junia!
Dom and his wife, Sarah, have been Trinity members since 2002. They have two children, Griffin (20) and Greta (17). Dom is the Chief Operations Officer at Fernbrook Family Center and is involved in numerous community organizations. At Trinity, the most likely place to find him would be teaching confirmation classes for Trinty U.
Katie Wanous and her husband Doug have been members at Trinity for 28 years. They have two adult children, Luke and Mille. Katie has been a counselor for 26 years in area schools and now is in her second year as a counselor in the OHS REACH Classroom. Katie is a breast cancer survivor and now mentors and leads other Survivor Sisters in our community.
Todd Walkingstick moved to Owatonna in 1987. He and his wife, April, have 4 daughters and 6 grandchildren. He hosts the show Beyond The Game and has interviewed over 730 guests over five years.
Lindsay Thompson is a wife, mother of two awesome kids and the Young Life Area Director here in Owatonna. She and the family love to camp, ski, mountain bike, skate and hike. You’ll find her with high schoolers doing the same things. Lindsay’s passion and love is to share Jesus with others!
Lisa Lehrer is the Director of Wyldlife, YoungLife’s middle school age program. Lisa is a wife and mother of three young adults. She enjoys substitute teaching, being creative with kids, her two dogs and two cats.
Maureen is one of the Directors at Community Pathways (formerly Steele County Food Shelf and Clothesline). She has been fortunate to work in the non-profit world for most of her adult life. The favorite part of her job is working with and getting to families – they are truly a blessing in her life.
Ashton Jensen & Lane Versteeg are both currently seniors at OHS. Ashton and Lane both serve in different leadership roles in the classroom and through multiple activities outside of OHS. They each would tell you they would rather be outside exploring creation, meeting new people, and having deep conversations surrounding faith and life.
Brad Meier and his wife Heidi are members of Trinity Lutheran Church. They have 5 children ages 20, 16, 14, 10 & 9. Much of their free time is spent attending one of their kids' many extracurricular events, including sports, cheer, and choir. Brad is the President/CEO of the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce.
Sydney Hunst and Lily Sampson are both seniors at OHS. They each hold leadership roles as team captains and have been active not only in classroom leadership but leadership around OHS. Lily and Sydney both love outdoor adventures, strive to love God, and to love people.
Jake Torrez has been an active volunteer in youth ministry at Trinity for over 26 years on trips and retreats. He loves getting to know young people! Jake and his wife Kim enjoy their Costco membership, hosting dinner parties, and traveling to Mexico for vacation every year.
Nancy Keller is the mother of three amazing kids. Nancy and her husband Mike enjoy actively participating in ministry at Trinity. Nancy currently serves on the Trinity Staff as assistant financial director and has a passion for serving families experiencing food insecurity.
Trinity is launching a new ministry: a podcast designed to tell the stories of God's people and what the Holy Spirit is up to in our community! Listen and learn how we are #ForOwatonna. Come, join the conversation.