Staff
Pastor Sonja Gerstenberger (She/Her)
Pastor
pastorsonja@standrewsames.org
515-412-4233
Pastor Sonja Gerstenberger joined the St. Andrew’s ministry team in March 2021. She is passionate about making the love of God in Jesus known to the world through ministry, service, and relationship. Pastor Sonja has her B.A. from Wartburg College in English education and is a 2020 graduate of Luther Seminary’s MDiv Distributed Learning program. Pastor Sonja’s ministry is informed by careers in education, human resources, communication, and finally lay ministry. She served for seven years as faith formation director in an ELCA congregation, where she heard and answered the call to ministry. Pastor Sonja and her husband, Scott, have three children (Lucas – 2006, Nikki – 2008, and Analise – 2010), and most anything that can be considered a hobby involves caring for or spending time with them.
Heidi LoRash (She/Her)
Office Administrator
office@standrewsames.org
515-292-2131
Heidi graduated from Trinity Seminary with a degree in Theology in 2009. She is also a graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Heidi has worked in a variety of Lutheran organizations, including colleges, seminaries, churches, and a nursing home. She has also delivered phone books, been a census taker, worked as a GED teacher, substitute PK-12 teacher, paraprofessional, and custodian. However, her full-time position for the last 24 years has been as mom to two sons, Ben and Dylan. Heidi moved back to Iowa in the spring of 2024 to be close to her parents. She lives in Huxley, Iowa, with her mom and brother and is a member of Fjeldberg Lutheran Church. She is very happy and grateful to be a part of the ministry of St. Andrew’s.
Dave Krumm (He/Him)
Business Manager
businessmanager@standrewsames.org
Dave has been around St. Andrew’s a long time and has been a part of a lot of things that have happened here over the years. He has served on a variety of committees and Council, and been both Treasurer and President of this congregation. Dave works extensively with the People of Pine Ridge on housing and workforce development issues, and heads three non-profit/ philanthropic entities. When not engaged in those and working at St. Andrew’s, Dave enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, music, and fishing.
Steve Hoifeldt (He/Him)
Director of Music Ministries
shoifeldt@standrewsames.org
515-509-7093
Steve Hoifeldt directs the adult choir at St. Andrew’s and is well-known in central Iowa for his excellent choral directing. He grew up in Iowa and has lived here most of his life. He received a BA in Vocal Performance from Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, and an MA in Vocal Performance from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He has been teaching in Ames as a private voice instructor and choral conductor for over 30 years. He teaches Applied Voice, Music Appreciation, and World Music and directs several choirs in the area.
Connie Sweeney (She/Her)
Choral Accompanist & Instrumental Ensemble Director
cmsweeney.mus@gmail.com
Connie serves St. Andrew’s as the choir accompanist and instrumental ensemble director. Her music background includes 25 years of teaching vocal and general music at schools in Illinois and Iowa. Besides music, Connie enjoys gardening, traveling, sewing, and reading. Connie has two grown children—Joe in Pennsylvania and Megan in Colorado.
Isaiah Walsh (He/Him)
Organist
isaiahrwalsh@gmail.com
Isaiah supports St. Andrew's as a service musician, providing piano and organ leadership that enriches worship and praise. With around 15 years of piano practice and performance, Isaiah has served congregations in his hometown of Maquoketa, IA; his college town of Ames, IA; and Quincy, IL where he lived for a year as he began professional interior design practice after receiving his BFA. Pursuit of a graduate degree in interior design has brought Isaiah back to central Iowa and, with great enthusiasm, back to St. Andrew's! Alongside his leadership at St. Andrew’s and graduate studies at Iowa State, Isaiah is an organ scholar at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Downtown Des Moines, IA, where he is developing skills to enhance his musical versatility.