PARKLAND LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL - Key Persons

Mr. Brent Sorn

Job Titles:
  • Principal / Computer Teacher
Mr. Sorn grew up in Cincinnati, OH and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. He began teaching at Parkland Lutheran School in 2005. He has been principal at Parkland Lutheran School since 2012. He is married with two children.

Paul Trapp

Paul Trapp spent most of the first 18 years of his life in Madison, Wisconsin. He studied in Minnesota, Italy, Wisconsin, and Illinois. This resulted in multiple letter combinations after his name - most notably an M.F.A in 2011. He taught at the university level from 2006-2020. Married the love of his life in 2004. Blessed…

Samuel Gullixson

Job Titles:
  • Leadership Staff Member
  • Pastor
  • Support Staff Member
Pastor Samuel Gullixson grew up in southern Minnesota. He received his BA at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN in 2003. After graduation, he taught English for a year in both North Korea and Chile. He graduated from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in 2010 and was called to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bishop, CA. He served there from November 2010 to April 2016 when he accepted the call to serve at Parkland. He and his wife are blessed with seven children.

Steven Sparley

Job Titles:
  • Leadership Staff Member
  • Pastor
  • Support Staff Member
Pastor Steven Sparley was born in Minneapolis, MN. After attending Bethany Lutheran College, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Classical Greek in 1977, and went on to Graduate School in the interdisciplinary Department of Ancient Studies, where he was also an instructor of Sumerian language. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Bethany Lutheran Seminary in 1984. He has served as a parish pastor in Minnesota and Oregon, as a home missionary in Colorado and a foreign missionary in Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic, where he and the Rev. James Krikava founded St. Paul Lutheran Church and Martin Luther Elementary (Základní) School. Additionally, he has served as a visiting seminary professor in Ukraine (1996-2005) and India (2006). He and his wife are blessed with five children.