Hello! I’m Mark, one of the pastors at Hosanna, and I am glad to be with you! After serving churches in Detroit, MI and Medford, MN, I arrived with my family to the Mankato community in 2022 and truly love the experience of it all. My wife Joni and I have been married for 20 years and have been blessed with three kids: Kristen, Andrew, and Lauren. We are so humbled and grateful that God has called us as a family to be here!
My own calling is to share God’s Word in worship and disciple life ministry and to love and serve people with the relational joy that comes from Jesus. You’ll find me in flannel shirts most of the time, and you’ll also hear me share my long-time favorite verse in the Bible: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24)

After serving as a pastor for 3 years in Michigan, I accepted the call to be a part of Hosanna’s pastoral team in 2024. From the start, my family and I realized how grateful we were to be connected to Hosanna’s amazing team and disciples!
My wife Claire and I have been married since 2016 and have 3 boys, Jaime, Elijah, and Seth, along with our Blue Heeler named Opie. I’m a native Michigander and an avid Detroit sports and Michigan fan (Go Blue!). I also enjoy cooking, running, reading, and talking long walks on the…sidewalk with my wife, kids, and dog.
One of my favorite Bible verses is John 3:17, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

I am the Director of Ministry Operations at Hosanna. I started my here on June 1, 2018, in the Student ministry and started my current role in 2022. I have served in congregations in Richfield, Rosemount, Afton and Prior Lake before coming to Hosanna.
I married my amazingly supportive wife, Kelly on December 28th, 2002. We have four children: Cadison, Brayden, and twins Kailyn and Taryn. In addition to my family, music is another area of passion in my life, and I have a BA in music ed from Concordia University, St. Paul. I actually began my ministry at Minneapolis Lutheran High School directing band and choir prior to becoming a youth director.

Greetings! My name is Melisa Rothenberger and I am the Office and Event Coordinator here at Hosanna. I am married to Adam Finney, who serves as a pastor at St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Vernon Center. Prior to moving to Minnesota, we lived in the Chicago suburbs where I ran my own chiropractic clinic. I believe that I am proof that God can move you to unexpected places and have you do things you would NEVER imagine.
In our free time, Adam and I enjoy traveling, reading, hanging out with people (usually around good food), playing games and walking our dog, Gatsby.

I am the Facility Director for Hosanna and have been in my role since November 18, 2017.  Prior to working at Hosanna, I worked in construction for 20+ years and retired from the national guard in 2007. I graduated from Minnesota State University in Mankato, with a BST in physical education and a minor in coaching. I have especially enjoyed coaching volleyball throughout the years. I have been married to my wife, Paula, since December of ‘99, and we have two daughters: Emily (20) and Katelynn (17). We look forward to our family vacations every summer and playing volleyball.

Bio coming soon!

After 47 years in the banking industry, I took a leap of faith to step into a new career as Hosanna’s Advancement Director. I’m excited to be able to serve in this capacity to support Hosanna’s mission of connecting more and more people to Jesus.
My husband Kevin and I live in North Mankato. For the first 36 years of our married life, we lived in rural St Peter. We loved the farm life as we raised our family.  We’ve been blessed with three children and five grandchildren.
Growing up on a farm, I grew to love gardening. Specifically flower gardening. When we moved from the farm, much of my garden came with me to our new home. The beauty of creation is truly a wonder. It’s a reminder of God’s artistry and it inspires me with a sense of awe, gratitude, and joy.

Hello! I’m Jess and I am the Communications Director here at Hosanna. I started in this role in September of 2020 and have been blessed to be welcomed into the Hosanna family. I absolutely love every moment I spend here with the rest of the staff and disciples and I know this is exactly where God has called me to serve.
I am from Mapleton, Minnesota and have lived in the southern MN area for my entire life. I attended  Rasmussen College and received my Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. In my free time I enjoy baking, crafting, fishing, sitting around the fire, being involved in a sand volleyball league, and having game nights with my friends. I also enjoy spending time with my rescue pup, Jack.

Hello! My name is Danielle Burley and I am the Adult Life Director. My husband Max and I have been married for five years. We have one son, Braxton, and two of the cutest dogs at home. I love to fish, hunt, read lots of books, and spend as much time outdoors as possible! In my previous jobs, I have worked throughout various grade levels in public education and have my Minnesota teaching license in Elementary Education and Communication Arts and Literature. I have been a part of Hosanna’s congregation for around 10 years and sincerely look forward to this wonderful opportunity of continuing to work alongside adults of all life stages and colleagues who share the same love of Jesus that I do.
“I run in the path of Your commands for You have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32

Hi! My name is Shelley Leenhouts, and I am honored to be the Celebrate Recovery Lead here at Hosanna. Though I had volunteered in Celebrate Recovery for many years, I joined this amazing Journeys team as staff in June, 2023. My life’s desire is to love and encourage people and to connect them to Jesus, so serving here is indeed a pleasure.
My husband Marty and I have been married for 42 years, and God has blessed us with  one daughter, one son, and three grandchildren. We have been privileged to serve in Christian schools in MN, SD, WI, and overseas with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Indonesia. My past 15 years were spent teaching through Adult Basic Education right here in Mankato at the Lincoln Community Center and at the Blue Earth County Jail.
I just love Celebrate Recovery because it is for everyone…we all have hurts, habits, and hang-ups and going through the 8 Principles based on the Beatitudes and applying the 12 Steps based on Scripture allows us to come clean, commit our lives to Christ, work on ourselves in His strength in loving community, and to be set free from the sins that entangle us so that we can truly live for Christ, shining like stars in this dark world while holding out to others the Word of life. (Philippians 2: 15-16.) If you are ever interested in more information on if Celebrate Recovery is the place for you either as a participant or as a volunteer, please call or drop me an email so we can get together to visit!
We stay busy as entrepreneurs, with Marty running his online carving business and hosting people at Red Barn Retreats right on our property in rural Garden City. While he’s the artist in the family, I do enjoy dabbling in watercolor, quilting, and scrapbooking. And I love being out in nature through walking, camping, and gardening. God has been so good to us! “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever!” Psalm 136:1

Hi there! I have the awesome and fun adventure of being the Next Gen Life director and the 6th-8th Grade Family Life Lead here at Hosanna. Hosanna has always had a special place in my heart because it is where I grew up and found my passion for youth ministry. After high school I went to Concordia University in Nebraska to get my DCE (Director of Christian Education). After that I served at a congregation in the Twin Cities for 8 years as their director of youth and young adult ministries.
My wife Kelsie and I were married here at Hosanna 10 years ago and now we’ve got three beautiful kiddos: Jordan, Carly, and Bailey. I enjoy watching Twins baseball, being outside, playing numerous sports, playing board & card games, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family!

Bio coming soon!

I am blessed to serve Hosanna as their Parent Life Director. I joined Hosanna staff on September 14th, 2020.   I am excited to share the love of Jesus with Hosanna’s disciples as we walk together through the seasons of life.
I have been a life-long lover of Jesus, and connected to the LCMS since birth!  After graduating from Concordia University with my BA in Elementary Education and Early Childhood, I’ve taught in the classrooms of Lutheran Schools for 20 years.  I have served as an educator of grades K-4, PE and Technology teacher, high school and Jr. high volleyball coach, athletic director, and recently served as Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry at Trinity Lutheran in Janesville, MN.   I married a hometown boy from Janesville, Andy Dimmel, in 2002, and we live on the family farm with our four beautiful children:  Steven, Hope, Morgan, and Oliver.  God has richly blessed us with surrounding family, golden retriever fur-babies, and a love of the outdoors and sports.

I was excited to join the staff at Hosanna in 2019 after serving as a musician since 2016. I have been so honored to help lead music worship through the years while living in 6 different states and 2 European countries!
Our family moved to Mankato for my husband’s Paul’s work in 2015 after having served in the Air Force.  We are finally putting down roots and are proud to now call Mankato “home.” In between my time spent as my daughter’s Vivian’s and Clara’s chauffeur and activities/ household coordinator, you’ll find me immersed in worship music, spending time with my family outdoors, and planning our next travel adventure.

Hi! I'm Leah Christensen and I am the Worship Volunteer Coordinator. I joined staff in December 2022 and I schedule all of the volunteers who serve at the 5 weekly Worship Services at Hosanna Main. These include: Communion Servers, Coordinators, Pro-presenters, Greeters and more! It is a pleasure to work with so many willing & faithful volunteers - without whom Hosanna could not do what it does! I also enjoy encouraging others who haven’t volunteered before to give it a try! It is truly a privilege and a joy to be a server during worship & also a great way to get connected at Hosanna! I also love to find and repurpose old things, have deep conversations, and hot humid weather!

Hi, I began my trek at Hosanna as a technical intern in 2016. I now serve as theWorship Tech Assistant! I feel extremely blessed every day to be a part of the family and congregation at Hosanna. I’m always striving to grow myself in knowledge and spirit to best follow what God’s plan is for me. You can mainly find me upstairs in the tech booth mixing audio for our livestream and jamming along to the praise band! Once in a while I get to sit behind the drumkit and worship along with the congregation playing drums! Outside of church you can find me fishing, biking and going on walks with my dog Zula. I also love to nerd out and drive remote control cars, planes and drones.