Staff

Meet the year round staff at Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry! Click on their name to email them or call the VLM office at 800-331-5148.

Joel Abenth, Executive Director

Joel Abenth became VLM’s Executive Director in February 2008. He is responsible for driving the vision of VLM, developing the resources to support the mission, engaging the board of directors and equipping the staff to do ministry. He has also worked at Sugar Creek Bible Camp and Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp.

Favorite cartoon movie: The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) starring Don Knotts as a cartoon fish who serves in the navy in 1941. He would live on a boat if his wife, Amie, would let him.

Gretchen Bachman, Program Director

Gretchen Bachman has been involved in outdoor ministry for 18 years and started her current role as Program Director with VLM in September 2010. She loves many aspects of her job including recruiting, hiring, and training summer staff, spending time with campers and guests, developing retreats, writing Bible studies, working with churches to see how we can best serve them through Day Camp, retreats or other resources we offer, and working with the staff on the ACA accreditation process. Gretchen has also worked at Good Earth Village, Lutherdale Bible Camp, Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center and Green Lake Bible Camp.

Favorite children’s movie: Mulan

Julie Scheuring, On Medical Leave

Visit Julie’s Caring Bridge Site for updates on how she’s doing.

Julie Scheuring has worked with VLM since 1986. She has held many roles here including the office manager and acting executive director. Her current position keeps her busy handling publicity, managing the database and camp stores, producing the annual report and arranging the golf tournament. Julie loves hearing all the positive stories from campers, parents, retreat guests, and alumni that call the office and stay connected.

Favorite children’s movie: The Little Mermaid

Patti Alt, Administrative Assistant

Patti Alt has severed with VLM since 1996. She is often the voice you hear on the phone when you call the office. Patti organizes camper registration, mailings, payroll and bookkeeping. She loves registering campers because she knows they will have a great experience at camp and she looks forward to hearing the all the fun stories.

Favorite children’s show: SpongeBob SquarePants

Marie Kirschstein, Adventure Director

.Marie Kirschstein began at VLM in February of 2010. Her main focus is to continue to develop all aspects of the Voyageurs Canoe Country program and add some adventure-based retreats, but she also helps with marketing and managing the website. Marie loves that canoeing in the Boundary Waters, exploring area hiking trails, going out for coffee with youth directors, pastors, past staff, camper parents, etc. and building snow forts can be counted as work hours.

Favorite cartoon: Scooby Doo because they do so much exploring, they get to meet new people, there is always tons of food around, and they always wear the same clothes and no one cares..

Jan Soltis, Hospitality Coordinator

Jan started as our Camp Hiawatha Lead Cook for the 2001 Summer Camp Season and has worked at many retreats and summers since then. As of January 2010 she joined the year round staff as VLM’s Hospitality Coordinator. Many of you have already had the pleasure of tasting Jan’s delicious food and her caramel rolls all served with love. Jan loves providing hospitable service to all the guests that come to Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry. We hope you have a chance to meet her at camp.

Favorite children’s movie: Veggie Tales

Lori Gordon, Retreat Coordinator

Lori Gordon has worked 13 summers at VLM and joined the year round team in August 2010 as Camp Vermilion’s retreat host. In July of 2011, she became VLM’s Retreat Coordinator. From mid-August through May she hosts retreats at Camp Vermilion. During the summer months, she can often be found teaching campers about woods, wetlands and wildlife as she serves as VLM’s Naturalist. Lori loves to have fresh-baked bread and cookies waiting for retreat groups!

Favorite children’s movie: Mary Poppins

Pastor Lisa Buchanan, Camp Pastor

Pastor Lisa Buchanan joined the VLM staff in September 2010 as the part-time Camp Pastor. She writes for VLM’s weekly devotional “The Knapsack”, helps connect VLM with congregations and assists with theological/spiritual needs. Pastor Lisa also serves as the part-time Associate Pastor at Gethsemane Lutheran, Virginia. She worked several summers at Sequanota and Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center and also served as Program Director at Sequanota.

Favorite children’s movie: Mary Poppins

Rick Scheuring, Camp Vermilion Site Director

Rick Scheuring served as VLM’s Seasonal Site Director in 2002-2004. In 2007, he came back to work full time as Camp Vermilion’s Site Director. He spends many hours caring for the buildings and the grounds that make ministry possible. Rick also helps coordinate the Camp Vermilion Work Day each May. Rick loves working outside at camp almost every day.

Favorite children’s movie: Disney’s Robin Hood

Jim Olson, Camp Hiawatha Site Director

Jim Olson started working with VLM in October of 2009, but he has been involved in various work projects since the mid-sixties. He is sharing his expertise with maintenance and improvements at Camp Hiawatha. All of Jim’s children and grandchildren have have attended camp at some point. He loves the flexible hours at camp.

Favorite cartoon character: Yogi Bear because he was always hanging around the campgrounds looking for the picnic baskets.