LIGHT OF THE DESERT LUTHERAN CHURCH - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Co - Director of Children 's Ministries

Bio Hello! I am Kate Gotschall and I am the Co-director of Children's Ministry at Light of the Desert since October of 2018 My husband, Matt and I along with our two girls, Lauren and Emily relocated to the Valley of The Sun in March of 2016 from Ankeny, Iowa. When we first landed in Cave Creek, we visited a few different churches and always came back to Light of the Desert because it felt like home! Teaching is a true passion of mine. I graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. I taught 3 years in Des Moines at Christ the King Elementary and then made the move to corporate life, working at Nationwide Insurance. When I came on board at Nationwide, I thought I would become a corporate trainer and ended up in the project world, which I absolutely love! Since my oldest was 2 years old, I have taught Sunday School in one capacity or another and upon joining Light of the Desert I started to volunteer as a teacher. I was absolutely thrilled when asked to join the staff and work alongside my amazing peers, helping to share God's light and Word with others! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family exploring all this beautiful state offers! I love to cook, bake, hike and enjoy the pool! I am thrilled to be driving distance to the ocean as well as the northern pines! One of my favorite Bible verses is John 13:34, "And now I give you a new commandment: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Pastor

Bio Joining the Light of the Desert family in August 2019, Bill Miller has been serving in church leadership in various forms since 1993 when he accepted the role of Campus Coordinator for the Canterbury Community at Arizona State University. In those years Bill supported various lay ministries varying from college groups to high school youth programs, as well as ecumenical renewal movements throughout Arizona and Southern California. Always aware of God's call in his life, Bill and his family began the journey for ordination in 2008. Graduating from Arizona State University in 1996 (B.S. in Environmental Resource Sciences), Bill has concurrently served in the church while working as a wildlife biologist throughout Arizona primarily with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He completed his Masters of Divinity from Luther Seminary in 2018. In additional to his current role as the Discipleship Pastor at Light of the Desert, Bill continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Regulator, Leadership Development coach and as a Master Resilience Trainer. Bill and Judy (his incredible wife and partner in the Gospel since 1996) enjoy camping, sailing and generally being together. They have two amazing children: Isabella, enrolled at Grand Canyon University; and Billy, a student at Desert Edge High School.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Pastor

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Administrative Assistant to the Pastor

My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." This verse has certainly held true at many times in my life but especially as the Lord led me to worship at Light of the Desert. Thirty years of service in the corporate world was enough for me and God called me to "trust" him for my future - and to devote more of my time to his work. I have served him here at LOD as a volunteer: teaching, leading small groups, and as the Director of Adult Ministries; when the opportunity came to work alongside the staff as Administrative Assistant to the Pastor - that was just icing on the cake. Every day I look forward to seeing what "new plan" God has for me and I am blessed to be a part of this church family.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Worship and Student Pastor

Bio Hi, my name is Sarah! I am the Worship and Student Pastor at Light of the Desert. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve! Light of the Desert has been my church home since 1995 and I am grateful for my second family here. I attended Grand Canyon University for my undergraduate degree (Lopes UP!) and completed my graduate program at Fuller Seminary. In my spare time, I love spending time with my friends and family, playing the piano, and taking every opportunity to be outside...especially to hike. I cannot wait to see how God continues to use those at Light of the Desert to accomplish His great plan in Cave Creek and the rest of the world. He is so faithful! One of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 3:8, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Co - Director of Children 's Ministries

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team
• Director of Music Ministries at Light

Hello, I am Tamra Duncan, the Director of Music Ministries at Light of the Desert Lutheran Church. I began my ministry here in 2007 but have been involved in church music ministry for the majority of my life.