“Pastor Paul truly does all he can above and beyond what is even imaginable,” says Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman, who nominated Krueger to receive the award. “He has a desire to help all who need and has an extraordinary ability to lead, which has shined through in all the residents who have returned to their homes with the help of Hope Village.” In the aftermath of the 2011 flood, Pastor Krueger lead the charge to create Hope Village, a center for distributing relief and rebuilding supplies, and housing and coordinating the efforts of thousands of volunteers from across the nation. Since it opened on May 13, 2012, Hope Village has housed over 3,300 volunteers who have contributed more than 100,000 hours of volunteer service to citizens of Minot.
To help make the incredible endeavor of Hope Village possible, Pastor Krueger coordinated the efforts of countless community organizations and programs. He also worked with the Red Cross efforts before, during, and after the flood to house and feed displaced families.
“Pastor Krueger’s enthusiasm for his, and the enthusiasm he can bring out in others, is just incredible,” says Lyndsay Ulrickson, Executive Director of the Souris Basin Planning Council. “We are truly grateful to have people like this active in our community.”
Rev. Krueger has served in pastoral ministry for the twenty-six years, the last twenty being at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Minot. On top of his duties with the church and Hope Village, Pastor Krueger servers as the Senior Trainer for Tentmaker’s Leadership Training, through which he has conducted training with members of over thirty denominations and organizations.
The Council oversees a professional staff that provides a wide variety of technical assistance, project planning, development resources and programs to counties and communities throughout this area, including economic development, community development, business development and infrastructure development activities. Economic and community development grant and loan programs are available to businesses, cities and counties within the planning region.
