Meet our Staff
Say hello to the leadership team at High Plains Community Church. Got questions for the lead team at HPCC? Contact us by clicking here.
Dan Morgan - Senior Pastor
Raised in Oregon, he began his pastoral ministry there followed by pastorates in Michigan and Indiana. He came to Gillette in the fall of 1999. He holds the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Divinity degrees and has over 30 years experience in the ministry. Pastor Dan's family includes his wife Liz, three children, and three grandchildren.
“I am grateful that you have chosen to find out more about High Plains Community Church. Our church family exists to serve God by introducing people to a right relationship with Jesus Christ, leading believers to purity of heart and nurturing all in a life of Christ-likeness. Here the Bible is treated as the very Word of God and our aim is to know it and obey it because, in God’s Word, we find the way to heaven. God is doing wonderful things in hearts and lives within our congregation. We invite you to be a part of that. Our welcome to you is based on the fact that we exist to serve you, not to be served by you. Jesus freely gave Himself for all of us; we can do no less than freely extend our hearts and hands to you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, if I can be of help to you spiritually or answer any questions you might have about our church." - Pastor Dan MorganDan Knust - Youth Pastor
Dan Knust worked in the mining industry for 26 years. In addition to his career in the mining industry, Dan served as the volunteer Junior High Youth Director at High Plains Community Church for 8 years. Before that he volunteered as a small group leader in the Junior High ministry for 5 years. In September 2014, Dan left his career in the mining industry to follow God’s call on his life to move into full time ministry as a Youth Pastor. Dan is married to Rachael and has three grown children, daughter Jennifer and two sons Tyler and Taylor. He also has a granddaughter and grandson, both born in 2018. Dan earned a Certificate of Ministry from Pacific Evangelical School of Ministry in March 2014.
"I'm going to state the obvious - high school is hard. Monday through Friday students deal with anything from peer pressure, the temptation of drugs, dating, sex keeping up their grades, college level classes, relationships with parents, demanding schedules, school activities, along with other countless issues outside of what I've listed they are learning to maneuver through. My goal at InsideOut is to create an environment that students can come to each Wednesday evening that is safe, encouraging, and maybe just for a moment they can leave the stresses of life outside the room, and along with that be given the chance to learn about the Bible, and Jesus Christ, and what it looks like to begin and/or build a relationship with Him. In addition to coming along side students, our goal is to come alongside their parents as well, by providing parents with up-to-date information in regards to raising students in today's culture. So, my hope is that you and/or your student will consider becoming a part of our high school youth ministry this upcoming school year." - Dan Knust, Youth PastorTanner Sandvick - Jr. High Pastor
Tanner was born in North Dakota, but moved to Gillette when he was 5 years old. He attended our youth programs at HPCC from junior high under Pastor Dan Knust, and on through high school. Tanner went on to attend Hastings College in Nebraska for four years before marrying his wife, Katie, and moving to Montana. Tanner and Katie met and began their relationship while attending HPCC youth group activities in high school. While in Montana, Tanner was employed at a coffee shop/church that met in the downtown area of Missoula for a year before moving into a children’s pastor position. Tanner has felt the call to pastor within the church for a while. He has completed his Master’s in Ministry from Indiana Wesleyan University’s Wesley Seminary. Tanner enjoys drinking good coffee, hiking, playing tennis, and reading in his free time.
Tanner’s hope is to prepare the junior high students for the spiritual and life challenges that they are going through and will go through as they move into high school.
“Junior high is a notoriously tough time for all kids. My hope is to create a space where kids can feel safe, welcomed, and loved. Within this environment we can then teach the truths of scripture and the love of Jesus to these students who are in desperate need for guidance and grace. We will focus on teaching students to have a personal identity in Christ and letting the rest of their life flow from that identity.” - Tanner Sandvick, Director of Jr. High MinistryKylie Brown- Children's Director
Kylie was born and raised in Gillette, Wyoming and started attending High Plains Wednesday Night CHAOS in junior high. After graduating from Campbell County High School she began volunteering in the InsideOut room on Wednesday Nights and has helped lead our summer mission trips for the last 5 years now. She has completed her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education through The University of Wyoming. Kylie loves spending time with people, drinking lots of coffee, traveling and she has a big heart for children.
“I am so overjoyed that the Lord has led me into children’s ministry. I have loved working with kids over the last few years and I am so thankful that I get to continue to do so in a ministry position at High Plains Community Church. My hope is that I am able to help create a fun, warm and inviting space where children are able to build a foundation in their faith and get to know the Lord a little more each and every day.”
Jessica Urman - Worship Leader
Jessica has been serving as HPCC’s worship leader since 2017 but has been involved with worship ministry since she joined her youth group band in junior high. This sparked an interest in worship ministry that God has graciously allowed her to pursue. After high school she went on to get a degree in vocal performance, mainly opera. In 2011 Jessica married her high school sweetheart, Casey. They are self proclaimed coffee addicts and enjoy quiet evenings at home with their two brittany spaniels, Copper and Annie.
“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” – Psalm 104:33
“I feel like it has become common in today’s views of worship that we assume God is the prompter of the stirrings of our hearts, we on the stage are the participators in worship, and you in the congregation are the audience members. But my hope in serving in worship ministry is to turn that idea on it’s side. To allow us on the stage to be the prompters, for the congregation to be actively involved in worship, and for all the praise to go to our Heavenly Father, an audience of one.” - Jessica Urman, Worship Leader