OUR STAFF
Rev. Dr. Thomas Thorstad STS, MDiv, Th.D.
Pastor Tom, our Senior Pastor, is originally from Minnesota. Prior to coming to First Lutheran, he served at St. Peter’s Lutheran in Sanborn NY. He also served as a missionary for eight years in a small communist country with his wife, Rev. Vongdeuane (Deuane or Moon in English) who is a native of Laos. Pastor Tom and Pr. Deuane has three boys, Abraham, David, and Joseph. Pastor Tom has a Master of Divinity (TCU) and also a Master in Theology in Biblical Studies (GTS) from schools based in East Asia, and a Doctor of Theology in Pastoral Theology (TECU) and in the process of working on his Ph.D. in Historical Theology. He is an NALC Clergy and dual rostered with LCMC as a Certified Lutheran Minister as well as UNTCI, an Evangelical Body. Rev. Deuane holds a B.Th from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hong Kong and a Master in Theology from GTS. In the fall of 2022, he became a member of a Lutheran Order, the Society of the Holy Trinity (STS).
Dianna Wittwer, Church Secretary
Dianna has been the office
secretary and receptionist since October 1, 2017. She is married to Tim, and they have two
children, William and Alicebeth. William is married to Jamie. Dianna’s responsibilities
are many and varied; they include preparing the weekly worship bulletins,
editing and publishing The Messenger (our
monthly newsletter) and Annual Report booklets, maintaining our offering
records and membership database, email communications, issuing contribution
statements and preparing mailings and certificates.