• Gloria Dei’s leadership team is dedicated to serving God and His people through Word, music, education, and care for all ages.
• Pastor Jacob Kempfert leads with preaching, teaching, and mission work.
• Rob Kain (Church President) oversees church's overall governing body and the Early Learning Center project.
• Lila Foor directs music and is the Sunday School/VBS Coordinator.
• Melissa Everett leads choirs, youth group, and teaches Pre-K and young children.
• Amanda Doyle teaches Pre-K and young children and serves as interim Early Learning Center director.
• Anna Kempfert teaches youth, directs women's Bible studies, and supports communication and ministry.
• Together, they combine faith, teaching, music, and service to build up the body of Christ at Gloria Dei.

Say hello to our leadership at Gloria Dei. Got questions for them? Contact us.

Originally from Wisconsin (Watertown and Neenah), I spent many years in Mankato, Minnesota. While there, I attended Bethany Lutheran College, graduating in 2007 with a degree (BA) in English. I then obtained a master's degree (MA) in English Literature and fiction writing from the University of Maine (Orono) in 2012.

Following this, my wife Anna and I taught English in South Korea for three years. When asked if I know any Korean, I can only reply, "jogeum" -- a "little bit." However, this wonderful experience helped me discern the call into the public ministry of God's Word.

While still in Korea, I began studying the Biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek). I then returned to Minnesota to attend Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. My thesis focused on pastoral theology and mental illness, in particular ministering to those experiencing bipolar disorder.

Following three years of classroom instruction, I was called to serve as vicar (pastoral apprenticeship) at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota. I received a master's degree (M.Div.) from Bethany Seminary in 2020 and was immensely blessed with a call to serve Gloria Dei here in beautiful Saginaw, Michigan.

I currently am an elected member of the Board for World Outreach (ELS) and a member of the Asia Committee, overseeing our Asian churches. I also serve as the appointed Spiritual Advisor for our Pregnancy Centers in Saginaw and Flint, MI.

I love to read books, and have even finished a few of them. I also enjoy writing, translation, having strong opinions about films, making music and listening to it (Bach and Warren Zevon in particular), baking, getting away to the woods, and hunting for Petoskey stones.

Hello, my name is Rob Kain, and I am a charter member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. I am married to my wife Sue of 29 years, and we have two girls, Marisa and Kayla. I have also recently retired and enjoy spending more time with my family, hobbies, and volunteering. I am currently overseeing our Early Learning Center building project and program with the goal of bringing high-quality Christian childcare to our Great Lakes Bay Region.

I welcome you to come and worship with us at Gloria Dei, a church home we founded because we believe the Bible is God's inspired, inerrant Word. Through the years, God has blessed our congregation immensely with a beautiful sanctuary, fellowship hall, family viewing room, talented vocal and bell choirs, and a young and energetic Pastor. 

I hope you will come and worship with us.

Hello, I am a charter member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, and I am also the organist and bell choir director. I have been a church organist for over 40 years and have directed handbell choirs for over 30 years. I received my Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Music from the University of Nebraska. For many years, I also taught general music and band in elementary and junior high school. 

I enjoy spending time with my husband, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren, and I like to sew, craft, and read in my spare time. 

Hello, my name is Melissa Everett, and I am a charter member of Gloria Dei Lutheran. I am grateful to be part of the friendly and supportive Gloria Dei family. 

At Gloria Dei, I direct the vocal and children’s choir, am a Gloria Dei bell choir member, and teach Sunday school. I also currently run our church's Youth Group.

I hold a violin performance and music education degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Over the years, I have taught orchestra, grades 5-12, in the Grosse Pointe Public Schools and the Saginaw Township Community Schools. Currently, I perform in the Midland Symphony Orchestra and teach private music lessons.

I enjoy being with my family, playing cards or board games, and reading in my free time.

My name is Amanda Doyle, and I have attended Gloria Dei Lutheran Church for 12 years. I became a member after marrying my husband. He has been a member of Gloria Dei his whole life.

At Gloria Dei, I am the Pre-K and Young Children's Sunday School Teacher. In addition, I am a member of both the vocal and bell choirs here at church. I am also the interim director for our Early Learning Center.

I have an Early Childhood Master's from SVSU and an Elementary Special Education degree from Calvin College. I have taught for the past 18 years at Saginaw Public Schools. For the last 8 years, I have been an Early Childhood Special Education Infant and Toddler teacher. I believe that all children should be celebrated no matter their abilities.  

I love spending time with my family and friends, camping, riding bikes, and playing cards!

Hello, my name is Anna Kempfert (the pastor's wife)!

I was born in Minnesota but spent much of my childhood in Iowa and Ohio (I'm an ELS pastor's kid). My extended family is from Michigan, and I feel blessed to now call it my primary home.

While in Minnesota, I graduated from Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School (WELS) in New Ulm. I went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with certification in Language Arts and Communications from Bethany Lutheran College (ELS) in Mankato, MN. Pastor Kempfert and I were married the summer after I completed my student teaching.

Next, I served with AmeriCorps in Orono, Maine, at the University of Maine, where I ran their mentorship program, managed and trained over 50 volunteers, and wrote several grants to help fund programs for underprivileged youth.

Following my year with AmeriCorps, I taught English in South Korean public schools. After that, I joined a private Christian international school in Seoul, where I taught 9th–12th grade Honors English and Literature.

While in Korea, my husband discerned the call to ministry, and we moved back—halfway across the world—to Minnesota. There, I taught composition courses at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and later taught 6th–8th grade Bible, Literature, Math, and Science at Mt. Olive Lutheran School in Mankato.

During our time in Minnesota, God blessed us with our first child. I stayed home with my daughter during her first year of life, and today I am grateful to be the mother of two beautiful children. I now work as an editor for a large media company.

Currently, I teach Sunday School classes for youth (6th–12th grades), manage the church's social media pages, lead women's Bible studies, and more. It is a privilege and an honor to serve Gloria Dei and her people.