Pastor Paul Lint | Who is Pastor Paul? It is a gift to be able to share with you all how I self-identify. I am a husband to Brenda, a father to 9 who are stuck with me forever, and many, many more who are a part of my crew because of foster care, being staff at camp, or just through chosen “family” relationships. As a follower and lover of Jesus Christ, I strive to love well all whom God loves (yes, that is everyone.) I am a strong believer in diversity of all kinds. Our world, our communities, and our churches are better when we embrace each person as a unique and beloved Child of God. I am constantly formed and reformed by the messy and beautiful story that is the Biblical Narrative. I strive to be relational, believing that it is through relationship that God works and that the Good News is how far God will go to be in relationship with each of us and all of us together. I love history most richly recognized in hearing your stories and reflecting upon what your story tells us about our world and our God. I am a math geek, a passionate collector and player of board games, a huge fan of great music which I love to talk about and experience with others, a fan of musicals and other theater, a fan of local sports, and an adventurous partaker of foods from around the world. |
 Orvette Stepper Administrative Assistant | Orvette is the Administrative Assistant at the church and has been employed at the church since May of 1998. She has thoroughly enjoyed her position at the church since the very beginning. She loves helping people with answers to their questions and sharing information about events at the church. She joined the Handbell Choir at the church about 13 years ago and has enjoyed learning how to play and perform with the group. Orvette was born in Deadwood, SD and is the oldest of six children. She has three children, Connie, Naomi and Jeremy who are all married and together she has six grandchildren. Orvette has also lived in Las Vegas, NV for over 30 years and in Juneau, Alaska for almost four years but Spearfish has always been home for her. |
 Katelyn Smith Children's Ministries Director | Katelyn Smith is the Children’s Ministries Director at the church, and has been employed since February 2022. You can usually find Katelyn teaching Children’s Sunday School, or putting on seasonal family & child-oriented events surrounding holidays, seasonal family block parties, or Vacation Bible School with the CYFM committee. Katelyn moved with her parents, dogs and younger brother from Ohio to South Dakota in 2020 to be near family in the Spearfish area, and has been thoroughly happy to have gotten to be a part of the Spearfish community ever since. She obtained a Bachelor's of Science in Education at BGSU, and is currently working on her bachelor's degree in SPED/Elementary Education & Educational Technology online at DSU, and when she's not working and studying, she enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her dogs and family. |
 Colleen McKirdy Choir Director Pianist Director of Children's Music | Colleen serves as adult choir director, children’s music leader, and “Gathering” worship pianist. She also teaches private piano lessons and accompanies music students at Black Hills State University. She and her husband Scott have two grown daughters, and have lived in various communities in South and North Dakota. Colleen holds degrees from Northern State University and the University of Denver. Her hobbies include reading, crocheting, scrapbooking, making music, and Star Trek. Colleen is also a certified yoga instructor and leads a yoga class at the church. |
 Mary Tracy, Financial Assistant | Mary was born in Isabelle, SD. Her father was a Methodist minister so her early years were lived in several South Dakota communities; Timber Lake, Faith, Alexandria, Onida, and Hitchcock. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Augustana University in Sioux Falls and later her Masters in Business Administration at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She has held several positions in accounting such as accounts payable, receivables, general ledger and has managed compensation, human resources, payroll and benefits. Her background also includes project management for installation of human resources, payroll and benefit systems. She and her husband Mark recently moved to Spearfish from Windsor, Colorado, which is half way between Mary’s family in South Dakota and Mark’s family in the Denver area. |
 Barry and Jodi Penn Custodians | Barry is from Buffalo, SD. He moved to Spearfish in 1989 after working in construction for 13 yrs. He worked at Pope & Talbot sawmill for 8 yrs. In October of 2013 he started working at the church. If you don’t see Barry inside cleaning, you will find him outside watering the lawn or scooping snow. Jodi is from Martin, SD. She has been in Spearfish since 1994. She cut hair for 3 yrs. and then worked at the High School and Middle School for 15 yrs. as a lunch lady. After that she worked in the Hickory House kitchen for 2 yrs. In June of 2020 she started working at the church. She enjoys seeing and talking to all the people coming to the church. She likes the day-to-day cleaning of the church. |
 Carrie Swanson Nursery Supervisor | Carrie is a graduate of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD. She received her babysitter's certification when she was twelve years old and has enjoyed working with children ever since. She started babysitting her younger cousins and has been involved with children and youth ever since. Frequently she helps out on Wednesdays with the youth group and enjoys helping out with Vacation Bible School in the summers.In her free time, she likes spending time with her family and watching her nieces. She enjoys doing crafts, everything from painting to knitting, to embroidery. Carrie always looks forward to spending time with your children on Sunday mornings and sharing God’s love with them! |
 Kevin Nakajima Church Technology Coordinator and Handbell Choir Director | Kevin holds the positions of Church Technology Coordinator and Handbell Choir Director, but also serves the church with his voice, both in the choir and through solos. Born in Prescott, AZ, he moved to Vale, SD just before high school, then attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD for Vocal Music and History. He came to Spearfish in Early 2017 to take care of his parents. He participates in the Northern Hills Chamber Chorale and the Black Hills State University Community Band. In his free time, he enjoys movies, television, reading, and walking in nature. |
 Emma McKirdy-Wilsey Organist | Emma is a musician and teacher here in Spearfish, serving in many roles around the community. As a pianist and organist, she holds the “Sanctuary” organist position here at the church and accompanies in many other places around the Black Hills. She also teaches piano lessons from her home and from The Music Room. As well as teaching piano, she is a literacy paraprofessional in the local kindergarten, Mountain View Elementary. She holds Bachelor and Master degrees in piano performance from Simpson College and the University of South Dakota. Emma enjoys participating in local music ensembles, reading, and cuddling with her cat, Rachmaninoff. She is happily married to Benjamin, and together they have a beautiful daughter. |
 Sue Cole Choir Accompanist | Sue Cole, our choir accompanist, attended the University of Wyoming earning a B.A. in Music K-12 and K-8 Elementary Education. Her Masters work was in Guidance and Counseling. She taught third grade and music in several places in Wyoming as boom and bust cycles affecting schools RIFd the arts first. She started accompanying choir in junior high and accompanied choirs and played for churches in several communities in WY. She has sung in Walk Festival Hall in Teton Village, WY and in Carnegie Hall with the Wyoming State Choir. She sings with the Northern Hills Chamber Chorale and is a member of the Quilters and Crafters of our church. |
 Michelle Jennings Blue Jeans Worship Leader | Michelle currently leads the worship team at the Saturday night Blue jeans service which she has been a part of since it first began in 1995. She also enjoys the style of taize and brought it to Spearfish UMC in 2016, what started out as a few services during advent and lent, has now become a monthly service. She enjoys the opportunity to play and sing with the many talented musicians at both services. Most of her childhood was in Pennsylvania, eventually ending up in South Dakota at SDSU where she received her pharmacy degree and also met her husband, Eric. They were married in 1987 and were able to move back to the ranch in 1988. And are currently living in the house Eric grew up in. She is a pharmacist in Belle Fourche at Lynn’s Dakotamart where she works part time. In addition to playing music at church, she enjoys playing music with a gamelan group, helping out on the ranch, gardening and biking. |