Our Staff
We're a team committed to sharing God's word with the Joplin area and beyond.
Jordan Bence
Pastor Hello! I’m Pastor Jordan Bence. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to be a pastor. My journey towards that goal began at a Lutheran grade school and high school. I then attended Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota and earned my Bachelor of Arts degree. After college, I attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin, and received a Masters of Divinity. In my third year at the seminary, I served as a pastoral intern at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glendale, Arizona. By God’s grace, in May 2019, I was called to lead a Mission start in Joplin.
Throughout this entire journey, I have been greatly supported by my unbelievable wife, Laura. We have known each other since grade school and were married right after college. Laura currently works as an ER Nurse. The two of us enjoy all things outdoors. Not long after Laura and I moved to Joplin we adopted the perfect chocolate lab puppy named Agnes. She gets us outside and keeps us active. She loves to go for a walk and take a swim with us at Shoal Creek.
My favorite part of the training process is putting it into practice and applying it to everyday life. When the struggles of life inevitably come, the peace of knowing what Jesus has done for me-and for you!-carries me through and motivates me to share that lifegiving message of hope with others.
Someone who had a profound influence on my life and encouraged me to pursue the ministry was my pastor growing up. He genuinely cared about me and my day-to-day life. He was always there to remind me how much my savior loves me and tell me about the unbelievable things he has done for me. I hope to be that kind of pastor to others.
The Vine Lutheran Church is so much more than people meeting together in a building. It is more than a roof and walls. It is a family of believers coming together to serve God and bring the saving message of the gospel to the community of Joplin. We would love for you to be a part of that family and call The Vine your home!
Now that you’ve heard my story, I would love to hear yours. Click on the links below to get in touch.
Justin Hieb
Worship DirectorGreetings! I am Justin Hieb, Worship Director at the Vine. I get to serve God’s people every week by planning and leading the musical portion of the worship service. Ever since I was a child, I have had a deep appreciation for the creativity and skill of hymn writers. Singing and contemplating the words of my favorite hymns became one of the greatest ways for me to grow closer to God. I think one of the greatest blessings in life is how God uses something so touching like music rooted in His Word to work within people’s hearts.
My passion for art and music has always been a driving force in my life. For a while I studied to be a pastor at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, but after a few semesters I decided to pursue music full time in an all original alternative rock band. The people I’ve worked with and the experiences I’ve had over the last few years have led me to Joplin as the Vine’s first worship director. I’m excited to lead and serve you in this role.
If you’re interested in joining our church, talking about Jesus, or just want to geek out about your favorite band, please reach out!
