Pastor Chris Matthis has been our shepherd since 2011. Pastor Chris is a graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin (B.A.) and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (Master of Divinity). He and his wife Lisa have three children. His interests include writing, reading, strategy board games, LEGO, playing guitar, exploring the National Parks, and camping. Pastor Chris’s articles, essays, and sermons have appeared in several print and online publications. You may listen to his sermons in our sermon archive.

Kristin Highley is our Director of Christian Education (DCE) and has been part of our team since 2019. She works primarily with children, youth, families, and women. Kristin has a professional background in elementary and pre-school education. A graduate of Biola University, she holds a Master of Education degree from Biola and a Master of Arts in Theology degree from Concordia University, Irvine, California. Kristin grew up in southern California and lived for 10 years in Georgia. She is a long-distance runner and voracious reader. She is married to Colten.

Cindi Ellison serves as the Children’s Choir Director and the Adult Choir Accompanist. A South Dakota native. she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in vocal and instrumental music and a Master of Music degree in music education from the University of South Dakota. She has taught elementary and middle school band and chorus in South Dakota and Minnesota, as well as serving as a private piano and adjunct college instructor and director/manager of a community girls’ chorus. Church music has been her love from an early age, with participation and direction of a variety of pre-school through adult age instrumental and vocal ensembles. Cindi also loves to cook, especially Scandinavian goodies, and spending time with four daughters and their families.

Dave Ellison serves as the Adult Choir Director, Worship Accompanist, and Accompanist for the Children’s Choir. Dave is originally from South Dakota and spent the last 18 years in Minnesota before moving to Colorado. Dave holds degrees in music from Texas Lutheran University (Bachelor of Music Education), the University of South Dakota (Master of Music), and the Institute for Worship Studies (Doctor of Worship Studies). He has taught music at all levels from Kindergarten through University. The last 37 years he served as a full time Director of Worship and Music in three different congregations. Dave enjoys cooking and spending time with family. His adult daughters and grandchildren live in the Denver area.

Debbie Stewart is our accounting specialist and a life-long Lutheran. She oversees our church’s payroll, bookkeeping, accounts payable, and benefits plan.

Kirk Anderson is our Director of Video and Digital Media. Kirk holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History with a minor in Marketing. After interning at the Denver Art Museum, he was principal Graphic Designer at Heritage Title Company in Denver for almost 18 years. He left that position to spend more time with his growing family. Kirk and his wife Lindsay have two children and enjoy traveling, camping, hiking, riding bikes, working on cars, music, and photography.

Timothy Horton is our new Sound Engineer. Timothy is a singer-songwriter, guitar instructor, and model with experience performing and mixing live music. He has an Associate of Arts degree from the College of Lake County, Illinois.

Evelyn “Ev” Dawson is our church nursery attendant. She has more than 30 years of professional childcare experience and is certified in First Aid and CPR.