What makes our website so great? These wonderful people! Higher Things Internet Services (IS) is for the most part volunteered-powered. These individuals help IS to deploy and maintain the best Lutheran Youth website on the internet. Below you will find our wonderful Staff, and learn a little bit about them. We cannot thank them enough for their hardwork!
The Rev. Mark T. Buetow
The Rev. Mark T. Buetow, S.T.M. serves as the Interim Internet Service Executive for Higher Things Internet Services. He received his Master of Divinity in 1998 but stayed at the seminary to get his Masters of Sacred Theology because he didn't want to graduate until Pastor Borghardt did in 2000. He now serves as the Interim Executive as well as the Editor for the Higher Things Reflections. He served Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in New Orleans for 5 1/2 years until Hurricane Katrina huffed and puffed and blew him up to Kentucky. After a brief stint as a mediocre TV salesman, Pastor Buetow was called to Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin, Illinois. (Du Quoin is in the part of Illinois that is not Chicago). He has been serving there since Decembver of 2006. Pastor Buetow has been married to Susan for 13 years and they have three children, twins Naomi and Anna and Emily. In his free time, Pastor Buetow enjoys playing strategy and boardgames you've never heard of as well as fiddling with computer operating systems you've never heard of.
Mr. Stan Lemon
Stan Lemon has been the webmaster of Higher Things for the last two years. He received his undergraduate degree from Concordia River Forest (Theology with a minor in Theological Languages) in the Spring of 2006. He married his wife Sara on June 17, 2006 in Seymour, IN. He currently lives with Sara in Cheswick, PA where Sara serves as a Deaconess. Stan makes the world go around for Internet Services - programming in PHP and AJAX. We call him “Scotty” because he continues to work miracles for us behind the scenes. He is currently running as fast as he can from seminary. His favorite theologian is Martin Chemnitz and his favorite color is lilac.
Ms. Sandra Ostapowich
Sandra is the IS go-to lady for just about everything and anything. When IS is in need, Sandra is there. She is the god-mother of IS, having helped to develop what is now known as Higher Things Internet Services. That's why we call her "Madre." She is responsible for much of the graphics work on the current Higher Things web site, and has helped greatly in the expansion of Higher Things internet presence. She is also the Content Manager for "The Feast", and is the assistant editor to the new, up and coming HT BAMBI project. Sandra lives in Loveland, CO where she serves as a Christian Education and Youth Director at Mount Olive Lutheran Church. She has one son, Isaac who is an honorary member of the IS team. When Sandra isn't on the internet she enjoys crocheting, cooking, ironing and writing. Madre's favorite color is olive green.
The Rev. Rich Heinz
Rev. Rich Heinz is the senior pastor of Saint John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & School in Lanesville, IN, near Louisville, KY. He graduated from Concordia University in River Forest, IL in 1991, and from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1995. Fearing that his Padawan (a.k.a. Pastor Borghardt) would turn to the dark side of the Force if his duties increased too much pride, Pastor Heinz stepped in and accepted the task of editing the Higher Things Website. (And no one better chime in, “I have a bad feeling about this!”) Yes, this is the project initially unveiled as B.A.M.B.I. And yes, Pastor Heinz is as big of a Disney fanatic as he is a Star Wars devotee. Nevertheless, your friendly Internet Services staff has decided to avoid the possibilities of litigious mice from sunny Orlando, and re-named the latest internet phenomenon “myHT.” Since 1997, Pastor Heinz has been happily married to Kristi, and God has blessed them with one son, Ben (age 9.)
Miss Lynea Sander
Lynea is the content manager for the Higher Things Magazine. She is a member of Pastor Borghardt's church, St. Marks Lutheran Church in Conroe, TX where she lives with her husband Jason. Lynea also serves part time as an assistant to the Conference Staff, helping to organize our annual conferences. Lynea has been an Astros fan her whole life, and is addicted to white chocolate, iced tea and ice cream. This native Texan also enjoys playing the piano and can regularly be found with her nose in a book. Lynea is a long-time Mouth House (MH) groupie, where she has actively participated in e-mail discussion and weekly evening chats.
Miss Rachel Drosendahl
Rachel Drosendahl is the content manager for the Higher Things Daily Reflections, the widely read daily devotions from HT written by Pastors for you! Rachel attends Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wilson NC, and Peace Lutheran Church in Goldsboro, NC where her father serves a dual parish. She lives with her family and is home schooled. She is also taking classes at the community college. She will graduate from High School in 2008. When she's not doing school work or busily handling the day's Reflections she enjoys drawing, which will probably work itself out studying graphic design in college. Rachel loves working with computers, having a number of them stashed away in her room!She has been a member of HT's MouthHouse for roughly two years. When she's not doing any of that other stuff she likes watching her adorable little siblings! Oh, and... She loved the lasagna served at The Feast!
Jon Kohlmeier
Jon Kohlmeier is the content manager for Higher Things Magazine and the Higher Things Website Columns. He is a member at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Greenfield, WI and is a freshman at Concordia University Wisconsin. He is a member of the HT Forums, a HT blogger and a member of Mouth House. When not on the HT website, Jon enjoys singing, listening to music, watching movies and reading. He can't pick just one movie as a favorite but his favorite books are Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth Series! He also occasionally turns on the TV to play Guitar Hero or to watch a Chicago Cubs game.
Karen Jansen
"Pastor Borghardt called for a donkey so ... I am now managing the media page for Higher Things." says Karen, a member of St Paul's Lutheran Church in Grants Pass Oregon with her husband Art (for 45 years) and we are retired. Karen and her husband Art teach beginning computers to senior citizens through their local college and computer club. They try to keep up with family responsibilities and the blackberries and poison oak which grows on their hillside property. They also enjoy to play in IRC chat rooms. They are also owned by two cats who boss them around unmercifully.
Mrs. Kelly Klages
Kelly is the HT Discussion content manager. She facilitates registrations, monitors content on both the HT Blogs and Forums, as well as keeps the discussion fun. Kelly is a pastor's wife living in Winkler, Manitoba (that's in Canada!). When she isn't surfing the HT website, she likes to paint, make jewelry and do other artsy things. Kelly has also gone through Space Mountain at Disney World while playing the harmonica.
Deacon Andy Bates
Andy maintains the audio edition of the HT Daily Reflections, he is the "voice" of the Higher Things Reflections. He is Deacon for Youth and Family Ministry at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waco, TX. Andy is single, and while he doesn't have a cat or a dog, he does have a ferret named Zipporah. Andy's favorite color is dark green and he has a thing for venetian plaster.
The Rev. Matthew Larson
Pastor Larson is a theological editor for the HT Reflections. Currently he is filling vacancies and doing pulpit supply in the Oklahoma City Circuit. He lives in Mustang, Oklahoma. He has been married to his wife, Sheri, for six years. In addition to his pastoral endeavors, he fills the role of Mr. Mom to Jonas (5), Lazarus (3) and Margaret (14months). This is no simple task when one considers who they truly are. Jonas is the thinker. He always wants to know the answer to life's most perplexing ponderings. LazMaTaz is the funniest three year old you could ever imagine. (Let me entertain you!) And last, but certainly not least, Maggie the Marauder. She can escape or climb anything to achieve her aspirations of regional conquest. She is working her way up to global conquest.