Meet Our Team
Rooted in Christ. Serving Together.
Church Team
Church Leadership
Rev. Nicholas Schram
Coming Soon…
Rev. Carl Lehenbauer
Pastor Carl came to Trinity in 2008 and has served as Senior Pastor since from 2013 to 2024. His previous ministry experience includes service as a camp counselor and summer program director (Camp Lakeview, Indiana), student teacher (Walther High School, Melrose Park, IL), and vicar (St. Paul’s, Decatur, IL). Pastor Carl is a devoted student of the scriptures who knows firsthand the transforming power of God’s Word and seeks to communicate that Word in creative and engaging ways. His goal in ministry is to provide opportunity for the people God loves to encounter their Savior, Jesus Christ, and to discover life abundant and eternal in Him, with an emphasis on living out that abundant life within marriages, families, and our extended family, the church. He is the author of Bible studies published by Concordia Publishing House and an upcoming book on Song of Songs (Morgan James Publishing). He loves to spend time with his wife, Katie, and his five children (Lydia, Esther, Elizabeth, Ruth, and Silas). His interests also include camping, reading, basketball, and do-it-yourself projects around the house.
Rev. Daniel Reh
Daniel Reh became a pastor at Trinity Freistadt in July of 2023. Daniel graduated from Concordia University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Seminary Studies in 2019. While completing his undergraduate, Daniel served as a volunteer interpreter for his Karenni church. He also served as a liaison between his community and various entities such as doctors, judges, attorneys, caseworkers etc. Daniel began his seminary studies in St. Louis in the fall of 2019. While at the seminary, he continued to serve as an interpreter for the local Burmese refugee community. He began his convertible vicarage (internship) at Trinity Freistadt in the summer of 2022 and graduated with a Master of Divinity in the summer of 2023. He now serves as the mission/youth pastor at Trinity. His ministry focus is introducing Jesus to nonbelievers, nurturing the faith of new believers in the Karenni community through faithful teaching and reaching of the Scriptures, and helping young people to see how Jesus is relevant in their lives today. He also seeks opportunities to help his non-Lutheran Karenni friends who are without a pastor by bringing gospel-centered message to them in person as well as through social media. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Joleen and his son, Ira and the Karenni community. He also enjoys a few hobbies, including reading, camping, hiking, biking, playing soccer and volleyball, and kickboxing.
Rev. Philip Hillenbrand
Pastor Philip Hillenbrand grew up in Philadelphia PA. Though he never knew them personally, both his maternal grandfather and great-grandfather served as pastors in the LCMS. He also has a brother and a cousin who shepherded LCMS congregations. Pastor Hillenbrand was ordained in 1985 and spent his first ministry years in two Connecticut congregations from 1985-1998. In 1998, he received the call to be pastor at Beautiful Savior in Mequon and spent the last 26 years there until he retired at the end of 2023.
Pastor and his wife, Amy, have three grown and married children: Becky (Clay), Michelle (Tristan) and David (Emma). They also have four grandchildren who live locally. Pastor Hillenbrand serves Trinity as Visitation Pastor — specifically to help in caring for our sick and homebound members. He loves to be with people and is excited to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Trinity.
Becky Hohnstadt
Becky was called back to Trinity in 2023 to serve as Director of Worship. She had been Trinity’s Director of Music from 2000-2004, and then served at congregations in Michigan and Missouri as classroom teacher and Director of Worship and Music. She is very glad to be back at Trinity!
Becky enjoys working with people of all ages, from Sunday School through Adult Choirs, and of all levels of musical skills, providing opportunities for them to serve God with their talents in both traditional and contemporary worship services. She also feels blessed to oversee the many other worship volunteers who are key in making sure our worship services run smoothly.
Becky has a teaching degree in Music and Math (Concordia Ann Arbor), with continued studies in the Master of Church Music Program (Concordia Chicago). Her son, Kevin (former Trinity student, now LCMS pastor), his wife, Liz (teacher, Concordia Seward) and her three beautiful granddaughters live in Portland, OR. She is grateful to be able to visit two or three times a year and worship with them every Sunday via their live-streamed service. Besides spending time with her family, Becky loves taking drives along Lake Michigan or just watching the wildlife around the lake in her backyard, making puzzles, reading or watching historical fiction, the Green Bay Packers, and her cat, Plato.
Becky looks forward to being a part of Trinity’s worship and music, and continues to pray that the Lord will use her to help inspire new generations of musicians and volunteers to join our efforts in making a joyful noise unto Him!
Elders
The Board of Elders is an elected body that serves to maintain the spiritual welfare of the Pastor and the congregation. Elders serve renewable two-year terms.
Want to connect? Use this form to reach out—our team is ready to help!
