Abiding Savior is blessed with dedicated, talented, and caring individuals who support the ministries of our congregation.
Pastor Ryan Brodin, Senior Pastor
Ryan Brodin – x2004 – Senior Pastor – Click here to contact Pastor Ryan
Rev. Dr. Ryan Brodin came to Abiding Savior in August of 2009. He was born and raised in Anoka, Minnesota, where he was active in Zion Lutheran Church and many school activities including football, tennis, basketball, choir and theater. Pastor Brodin graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and received his Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, and his Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also has received his Certificate in Pastoral Leadership from Augsburg College. Before coming to Abiding Savior Pastor Ryan had served as Co- Pastor of St. Philip’s Lutheran Church in Fridley, Minnesota. His wife, Kendra, is an attorney and Founder and CEO of EsquireWell, a coaching and consulting company dedicated to lawyer success and well-being. Pastor Ryan and Kendra live in Shoreview with their 2 daughters and their son. Pastor Ryan loves to fish, play golf, cheer on any Minnesota sports team, watch movies and visit family and friends in his free time.
Pastor Katie Hendrikson, Associate Pastor
It is with great joy and anticipation that we announce the calling of Kaitlyn (Katie) Hendrikson to be the new Associate Pastor at Abiding Savior. Katie’s call was approved at our special congregational meeting on Sunday, May 4. After a fifteen-month search, the Call Committee was eager to present Katie to the congregation and gave their resounding approval. As our pastor, Katie will fit in perfectly with the Abiding Savior community and has the exact skill set and areas of interest we are looking for in our next Associate Pastor. Pastor Katie will be joining the staff in the first half of June and will be working in a ¾ time capacity. Welcome, Pastor Katie! To learn more about Pastor Katie, please watch her introduction video.
Josh and Alex Ertz, Youth Mentors
Josh & Alex Ertz – Youth Mentors – Click here to contact Josh & Alex
Josh and Alex are both long-time members of Abiding Savior and have been members of the Reigning Grace Worship Band for several years, which is actually how they met. They both grew up being very active in the youth program at our churches, Alex at Abiding Savior and Josh at St. Philip’s in Fridley where Pastor Ryan was his Confirmation Mentor. The relationships they formed as youth with their peers and their youth leaders have meant so much to them throughout our lives. Some of their fondest memories are from participating in church activities when they were younger.
Josh and Alex have carried their love for youth programs into adulthood through volunteering. Alex was a small group leader for confirmation and they both have chaperoned many trips including to the Boundary Waters, the Ox Lake High School Retreat, and the most recent trip out to the Black Hills. Josh and Alex value the relationships they have formed with the youth and their families and look forward to growing those relationships.
In this interim time, Josh and Alex will continue hosting youth events. They look forward to seeing how the youth and family ministry programs transform in the coming years and hope to provide valuable feedback to help shape the future direction of the program. In the meantime, they look forward to continuing to have a lot of fun and creating meaningful experiences together!
Alex Ertz, Interim Office Manager
Alex Ertz – x2003 – Interim Office Manager – Click here to contact Alex
Connie Clausen, Office Assistant
Connie Clausen – x2002 – Office Assistant – Click here to contact Connie
Connie and her family have been members of Abiding Savior since 2008. She grew up in Western Wisconsin where her father served as pastor of a 2-point parish for 36 years. Connie attended Augsburg University in Minneapolis and worked for Portico Benefit Services (ELCA Board of Pensions) for 17 years prior to making the decision to concentrate on being a full-time wife and mom to her 4 kids. Shortly after leaving her full-time job, she began working part-time at Abiding Savior as well as at a law firm in St. Paul. She loves spending time with her husband Andy, and children Adam, Aaron, Ryan and Rachel. She enjoys watching her kids participate in their sporting events, spending time outside, DIY woodworking projects, and reading.
Mary Larew, Vocal Choirs Director
Mary Larew – Vocal Choirs Director – Click here to contact Mary
Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, Mary and her family moved to Minnesota in June 2020 when her husband Sam began residency in Emergency Medicine at Regions Hospital. They are delighted to be here – closer to Mary’s family in Iowa, and in such a welcoming area with a vibrant arts community. Mary and Sam have two sons, Pascal and Luca.
Between Iowa and Minnesota, Mary took a detour through Ohio to complete a B.M in Music Composition from Oberlin Conservatory, then on to York, UK where she completed a MA in Ensemble Singing and a PhD in Directing Medieval Music Dramas. Next, Mary and her British husband Sam moved to Connecticut where they lived in 3 different parts of the tiny state for a total of 10 years and Mary worked as a violinist, singer, teacher, music director, and arts administrator while Sam completed graduate studies in Political Science, Sociology, and finally medicine.
Since moving to Saint Paul, Mary has joined an Eastern European folk rock band, SLOVCZECH, and in June Mary began her tenure as Executive Director of the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music.
Mary is thrilled to be part of the team at Abiding Savior in her role as Choir Director, and enjoys getting to know more about our members and our relationship with music! Whether you are returning to choir, or considering joining for the first time, Mary looks forward to working with you!
Paul Weller, Bell Choir Director
Paul Weller has been teaching elemental movement and music for more than 20 years to grades K-5 at Jefferson Elementary in Blaine. He earned a B.A. from St. Olaf College, M.A. in Education from Saint Mary’s University and Orff Schulwerk Levels training at University of St. Thomas. He is a sought after presenter for elementary music and is an Orff Schulwerk Level I and Level II teacher trainer. In addition to conducting groups across the metro area he was also instrumental in creating the education curriculum for Twin Cities Bronze. In his free time, Paul enjoys reading, biking, drinking tea and is an avid board game fanatic.
Janelle Schauer, Organist
Janelle joined Abiding Savior Staff in 2000 as the organist and choir accompanist. She graduated from the U of M in 1993 with a degree in Music Therapy. She is a musical therapist at Benedictine Living Community in New Brighton. She has lived in the Mounds View/New Brighton area since 1991. She has 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
Lisa Schlotterback, Bookkeeper
Lisa Schlotterback – x2007 – Bookkeeper – Click here to contact Lisa
Steve Hill, Custodian