MEET OUR STAFF

SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR

Spencer grew up in a small town in northern Minnesota but once he went to Bethel University and got a taste of city life, he was hooked. There he met his best friend and partner in ministry and they were married a few months after graduation. Spencer and Amy have three kids: Charlie, Esther, and Jack. They love our beautiful yet broken city, talking theology and mission, reading, consuming media (film, tv, articles, magazines), grilling out and having campfires with friends, sports, and traveling. After 6 years teaching second grade at a Latino charter school in St. Paul while also earning his Masters in Education from Concordia University, God called him to vocational ministry at Hiawatha Church in the summer of 2013. As Pastor of Community Life, he’d love to take you out for coffee or lunch sometime, get a chance to hear your story, and answer any questions you might have about faith, Jesus, or Hiawatha Church.

PETER CARLSON / WORSHIP PASTOR

Peter loves Minnesota and has lived here his whole life. He grew up in Rochester before venturing to the Twin Cities to attend Northwestern College (now University of Northwestern St. Paul) where he earned degrees in Biology and Biblical Studies. He spent 4 summers working at Inspiration Point Christian Camp and met his wife Becky there. Now Peter works as the Director of Quality Control Laboratories at a global prestige beauty company and enjoys watching tv and movies, reading, hiking, listening to and playing music, and spending time with his two sons Elliott and Zachary. His staunch support of the long-suffering Minnesota sports teams is well documented. Peter desires that Hiawatha Church be a community that worships and glorifies God — not just on Sunday mornings, but every day.

EMILY KLEIBER / COUNSELING DIRECTOR

Emily is a Minnesota farm girl who headed for the city and never looked back. She and her husband Pete have lived in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul since 2005. She is the proud mom of Gabriel, Liv, and Leo who keep her days busy and full of (usually good) surprises. She enjoys impromptu dance parties, live music, cooking new recipes with her family, hiking, and exploring fun spots around the cities with friends. Emily serves as the counseling director for Hiawatha, providing counseling services without cost to our members and regular attenders. She’s always up for meeting up to talk about life’s ups and downs and what God is doing in our hearts.

BECKY CARLSON / OFFICE MANAGER

Becky has lived in Minnesota her whole life from Duluth to Aurora to Northfield to South Minneapolis. She graduated from St. Olaf College with degrees in Mathematics and Family Studies. Besides keeping track of Hiawatha’s finances, Becky spends much of her time raising her adorable sons Elliott and Zachary. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband Peter, hanging out with friends, playing soccer, watching movies, learning more about Jesus, reading and volunteering.

LEAH MILLER / WOMEN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR

Leah grew up outside of Chicago and graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a degree in International Ministries. She married her best friend right out of college after 12 years of being wooed by his sarcastic sense of humor and sacrificial kindness. Their family has moved around a bit, but now call Minneapolis their home. Leah is passionate about women using their gifts and passions in the church and connecting people into our community.

BECCA ROBBINS / KIDS MINISTRY LEADER

Becca was born in Hungary while her parents were doing missions work, but she spent most of her childhood growing up in Chanhassen, MN. She graduated from Bethel University with degrees in Elementary Education and Spanish Education, then went on to get a Masters in Elementary Education from Minnesota State Mankato. Becca met her husband Matt on a trip to the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. They got married in 2017 and moved from Northeast Minneapolis to their home a few blocks from Hiawatha in 2019. Matt and Becca have a daughter, Alice, and have another baby on the way. Becca works part time as a STEM specialist at Minnehaha Academy and enjoys teaching, rock climbing, traveling with her family and friends, and eating really good food. Becca is excited to use what she knows about education to help the kids at Hiawatha learn more about how much Jesus deeply loves them!

DAVID FERNANDEZ / FACILITIES MANAGER

David was born in Cuernavaca City located in Morelos state Mexico. He met his wife Donelle in 1999. She was in Mexico volunteering and helping small communities of indigenous Mexicans. In 2001 they moved to Minnesota to start a new family together and now are blessed to have four beautiful girls. David then went to school for two years to learn English as a second language. He enjoys the outdoors all year: camping, hiking, and traveling. David has worked for Hiawatha church for close to 10 years as our Facilities Manager. He enjoys working on new improvements to keep the building a comfortable, hospitable place. He is blessed to be part of Hiawatha Church!