Learn More about Dani Vogel
It’s safe to say Trinity Lutheran Church loves “Dans,” so our new Youth Director, Dani Vogel should fit in just fine. Vogel grew up in Spring Valley, MN on an apple orchard. She remembers going to church from the time she was very young, and befriended all ages of people…many of whom she invited to her 4th birthday party. “I invited my favorite church people to my birthday party and my future stepdad was one of them!” she said. “I picked out my own stepdad in church!” she laughed.
Vogel comes to Trinity not only with a youth ministry background, but also one in Education. A Wartburg College alum, Vogel had a double major (Secondary Education and English) and a double minor (Speech/Theatre and Creative Writing). After graduating, she moved to Colorado and taught in Denver and Grand Junction. Vogel moved back to the Midwest to be a youth and family ministry person, and since then has lived all over (CO, NC, SC, CA, MN and IA). She decided that wherever she is, she “likes living near a body of water!”
Why the switch from teaching to youth ministry? Vogel explained: “In public education, I couldn’t make sure I could help kids enough, for example, help them have safe places to be,” she said. “That’s why I went into youth and family ministry!” She had volunteered at the YMCA in college and loved kids, so it was a natural fit. “I wanted something where I could still teach ONE book of literature…and I never have to flunk anybody!” she laughed.
Her teaching background comes in handy with being a youth director. “I know the school environment and where to pop up and support kids,” Vogel said. She absolutely LOVES being in youth and family ministry. “I love it! 10 out of 10!” she exclaimed. “I still use curriculum development and milestones (such as standards and benchmarks). My Education background has uniquely prepared me for it!” What’s in store for Trinity as far as having a new Youth Director? “We’re approaching this position differently than before,” she explained. “I want to figure out what our kids need and what our community of faith needs and then go from there!” She continued, “Because no two congregations look alike and no two groups of students need the same things, I want to adapt to what kids need and not what I think they need.”
Vogel also has a great perspective on what it’s like to be a woman in the church…especially in youth ministry. A lot of her good friends also work in churches and she said, “It’s fun to have friends who understand!” She belongs to an organization called Women in Youth Ministry and has met many friends there. “We help each other out and have become good friends. We brainstorm Vacation Bible School decorations together and do things like watch a Royals game together,” she said. What began as a Facebook group has now turned into a group that has been around for ten years and has even held an annual conference the last three years. It’s a huge support group, according to Vogel, and it includes all sorts of denominations.
Another group in which Vogel is involved is the Youth Ministries Network, known simply as “The Network.” They host an ELCA Extravaganza where she serves as the online programmer and host who helps increase engagement among online attendees. It’s through “The Network” that her director helped her learn of the Trinity position, as he happened to be a friend of Pastor Dan’s. And all of a sudden, Vogel found herself moving to Iowa from her position in California. “The cost of living is MUCH more manageable on a church salary here,” she noted.
Pastor Daniel also shares a commonality with Vogel, as for many years they crossed paths as youth leaders and planned trips such as The Gathering in Houston in 2019. Orange and black must be two of their favorite colors as Pastor Daniel and Dani are both Wartburg grads as well.
Vogel added some last-minute tidbits that the congregation should know about her as she is officially onboard the Trinity staff. “I don’t believe Maid-Rites should be as world-renowned as they are in Iowa,” she said. Along with that, “It’s nice to be back in a place where I don’t get questioned about wearing MN Vikings attire!” Vogel is very much looking forward to “the stuff that kids are involved in…like sports, music, theatre, and video gaming.”
Welcome Dani to Trinity when you see her!†
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