Pastor Phil Hirsch

Pastor Phil Hirsch was born in Nebraska, raised in southern Minnesota, went to college and then seminary in Wisconsin, served as a vicar in Puerto Rico and has served in college towns his entire ministry (Boulder, Colorado; Watertown, Wisconsin; New Ulm, Minnesota; and now Manhattan, Kansas). He was blessed to marry his "prairie rose" Kristi, in 1991. God blessed them with Mychal, Emma, Samuel, Ella and Ida, David and Joseph -- all of whom attended USD 383 schools (Woodrow Wilson Elementary and Eisenhower Middle School). As their "babies" begin college next year, Pastor Hirsch and Kristi are clearly in a new phase of life.

"It is a privilege to live each day as God gives it. It is a privilege to live in the certain hope of God's love in Christ. It is a privilege to give that hope in Christ away, to any and all who will hear it."

Pastor Dan Schmidt

​Pastor Dan Schmidt is the pastor at Hope Lutheran Church. He and his wife Camryn moved to Manhattan in August 2023. Dan graduated from Martin Luther College in 2017 with a bachelor of arts degree that prepared him for his studies at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Dan studied for four years at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, including one vicar year (internship) at Faith Lutheran in Sharpsburg, Georgia. He graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2021 with a masters of divinity. From the Seminary, Dan was assigned to Luther Prep School in Watertown, Wisconsin, a high school owned and operated by our national church body. For two years he served at Luther Prep as a dorm supervisor, religion teacher, and campus pastor. Pastor Schmidt and his wife Camryn are excited to be here in Manhattan! In their free time they enjoy reading, exercising, and traveling. And now they are looking forward to getting familiar with the area and serving the people of Hope and the community!