The desire of each staff member and ministry leader is to help people grow in their relationship with God. Because everyone is at a different stage in their faith journey, our team is here to help each person connect and progress in their relationships with each other, and ultimately with God.

Pastor Rex Rinne

Pastor Rex and Linda Rinne come to Golden Valley after serving various parishes throughout the Midwest.  They have served in Phillips and Kennan, WI, Lawrence, Kansas, and Appleton, WI.  As recently as the 2005- 2006 school year, they served as LCMS Volunteer Missionaries at the Evanjelicke Gymnazium in Tisovec, Slovakia. 

Pastor Rex led short term mission trips in the early 90’s to help renovate the school in Tisovec.  He also was part of an outreach mission trip to India in the late 90’s.  Pastor Rex and Linda led a short term mssion team to work on a church construction project in Panama in 2004.  He recently returned from a teaching mission trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand in November 2007 as part of an ongoing LCMS Hmong Seminary curriculum to educate native Thai Hmong men for the Pastoral Ministry.

Pastor Rex graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL in 1975 after completing his pre-seminary training at St. John’s College in Winfield, KS 1967-69 and Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, IN 1969-1971.

Pastor Rex and Linda were married on June 11, 1972 and lived in Baltimore, MD during his vicarage in 1973-1974.  They have been blessed with three sons; Nathan and his wife, Sheila, and their three sons; Samuel (5), Simeon (3), and Micah (6months) who live in Columbia Heights, MN.    Their second son, Joel, who lives in Appleton, will be married to Mandy McCarthy of Oshkosh, WI on July 4, 2008.  Their third son, Josh, and his wife, Miranda, live in El Paso, TX. 

Pastor Rex and Linda come to us from Celebration Lutheran Church Ministries in Appleton, WI.  In 1995, after serving at Faith Lutheran Church in Appleton for eleven years, he was called by the North Wisconsin District as a Missionary-at-large to start Celebration.  He served as Celebration’s Administrative Pastor until February 10, 2008.  Celebration Ministries includes a worshiping community, a Christian Day School, and a Christian Child Care.

The Rinnes are excited to become part of the Body of Christ at Golden Valley Lutheran Church.  Together we will minister to people, here and abroad, sharing the love of God and proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior to those who do not know Him, so that they might know his forgiving love and that He has prepared a place for them in heaven.

Pastor Rex can be reached at 763.544.2810 X11, or at Pastor@gvlc.net

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Jennifer Hall - Director of Family Ministries

Jennifer is our Director of Family Ministries. Jennifer oversees our ministry to families with children from birth through grade 6. She coordinates and plans all education (e.g. Sunday School, mid-week activities), creates and facilitates parent education, provides spiritual growth opportunities through music, drama, studying scripture, activities, arts and crafts, and plans fun family-based activities throughout the year that foster relationships with others and most importantly, with Jesus Christ.

Jennifer can be reached at 763.544.2810 X12, or at DFM@gvlc.net.

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Cindy Inselmann - Director of Care Ministries

Director of Care Ministries

Cindy is our Director of Care Ministries. Cindy visits members of the GVLC community who are hospitalized or homebound. She also provides grief counseling, baptismal preparation, and assimilation visits. Cindy coordinates our Encouragement and 3rd Pair of Hands ministries, and partners with The Sending Place for short-term missionaries and our Service Deacon to plan service volunteer opportunities. Cindy also coordinates spiritual and social activities for our confirmation age youth.

Cindy can be reached at 763.544.2810 X13, or at DCM@gvlc.net.

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Nicole Hayenga - Youth Ministries Coordinator

Youth Ministries Coordinator Nicole Hayenga is a student at Concordia College in St. Paul working on her DCE education.  As a daughter of this congregation, she is connected with youth and their parents, directing Sunday night House Parties, Rock Solid Bible studies on Wednesday nights, and keeping our post-confirmation youth connected with God and each other.  Nicole can be reached at 763.544.2810x21 or YMC@gvlc.net

Diane LaFontaine - Office Manager

Diane is our Office Manager. She oversees the day-to-day operations of our office by greeting guests, directing phone calls, answering questions and providing information about our church, preparing the weekly bulletins, creating the monthly newsletters, and a variety of other projects.

Diane can be reached at 763.544.2810 X10, or at info@gvlc.net.

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Norma Schuldt - Assimilation & Wedding Coordinator

Norma leads our Spiritual Gifts Discovery Class, and connects members with areas of service based on their God-given spiritual gifts and talents. In her role, Norma assimilates new and current members into pathways of connection, allowing people to grow in their relationship with God, other people, as well as to find places to serve. Norma also directs the Occasional Choirs and the GVLC Flute Group. She also participates in worship planning and serves as our Wedding Coordinator.

Norma can be reached at 763.544.2810 X10, or at Assimilation@gvlc.net .

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Kathy Mueller - Contemporary Music Worship Leader

Kathy organizes the musicians and leads the music for our contemporary worship services. Kathy coordinates rehearsals and focuses on providing worshippers with music that is powerful and relevant to the sermon. Kathy has added several new music groups over the past few years including a high school Praise Band and a Gospel Choir. She also leads the music for Vacation Bible School every summer.

Kathy can be reached at 763.544.2810 X10, or ContemporaryMusic@gvlc.net .

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George Berglund - Sanctuary Choir Director

George directs our Sanctuary Choir and Brass Ensemble. In addition, George participates in worship planning, directs major Sanctuary Choir presentations (e.g. Christmas services), and arranges for exchanges with other church choirs.

George can be reached at 763.544.2810 X10, ChoirDirector@gvlc.net .

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Spencer Schuldt - Organist

Spencer became our organist in 1965, and has since played for nearly all of our regular and special services, weddings and funerals at the church. He has composed and arranged many choral and instrumental pieces for performance at GVLC and elsewhere. He has also published with Selah Publishing.

Spencer can be reached at 763.544.2810 X10, or at Organist@gvlc.net .

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Brenda Lovhaug - Director of Loving Shepherd Early Learning Center

Brenda is the Director of our Early Learning Center. Brenda oversees the day-to-day operations of the center. Brenda spends much of her time interacting with staff, parents, as well as with prospective families by giving tours and sharing information about LSELC. Brenda also hires, trains, and supervises all staff.

Brenda can be reached at 763.544.0590 or at LSELC@gvlc.net.

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Howard Johnson - Custodian

Howard is our meticulous and responsible custodian. He oversees the day-to-day upkeep and cleaning of the church's interior, ensuring a spic-and-span appearance.

Howard can be reached at 763.544.2810 X10, or Custodian@gvlc.net

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Wendy Danko - Graphic Arts

Wendy is the creative talent behind the graphics and media used in our worship services. Wendy's expertise ranges from logo/identity projects, to package design, communication materials, and photo direction.

Wendy can be reached at 763.544.2810 X10, and GraphicArts@gvlc.net .

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