Get to Know the New Member of Faith’s Staff:
Wendy Toops
Director of Children and Family Ministries
Thank you all for welcoming me into the Faith Lutheran Church family. I was born and raised in New London, Minnesota, an hour northwest of Hutchinson, and graduated from New London-Spicer High School in 2008. I then embarked on my college journey at Minnesota State University Moorhead. After growing up in a family of teachers, I graduated with a major in Health and Physical Education, a minor in Coaching, and a certificate in Developmental Adaptive Physical Education. In my last semester of college, I student taught in the Fargo area and realized I love working with youth and children.
After graduation in 2013, I chose to take a leap of faith. Instead of spending my summer at home preparing for my teacher licensure exams and applying for teaching positions, I worked for YouthWorks! Ministries in Wanblee, South Dakota, on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (my second summer there). That community taught me what it truly means to bask in God’s creation, how to love unconditionally, the true value of relationships, and that the definition of family has no boundaries. My passion for children’s ministry came from my time spent with the community kids in Wanblee. I could talk for days about my time in South Dakota. If you ever want to hear about it, just ask! When summer ended, I returned from South Dakota and moved to Minneapolis, where I worked for Delta Airlines as a Gate Agent for 6 months. One Sunday I attended the 8:00am service at Faith and heard an announcement about the opening for the Director of Children and Family Ministries. I just knew in my heart I should at least apply.
I am honored to be part of Faith Lutheran and to get to know my new and vibrant church family. I love to sew, knit, crochet, do carpentry, play Frisbee, drink tea, bake, craft, journal, etc. Feel free to visit me at church, set up a time to go to coffee, or surprise me with an adventure. I desire to get to know you and create lifelong friendships. I often joke that as a child your parents tell you to ask, “Will you be my friend?” so I argue that in adulthood that that doesn’t have to change. So, let’s be best friends!
