The congregation of the Leland Community United Methodist Church welcomed Pastor Christopher Hintz on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Prior to that along with his wife, Kristi he co-pastored Marquette Hope, a multi-site United Methodist faith community with four locations, two in Marquette, one in Negaunee, and another in Skandia in the Upper Peninsula. Reverend Kristi Hintz continues to serve the United Methodist Michigan Conference as Superintendent of the Northern Skies District from their new home in Leland.

Pastor Chris grew up in New Jersey and attended college and seminary in Ohio. He served several churches in that area over many years. Following that he spent seven years working for Apple Inc. in multiple locations throughout the country. When he accepted the opportunity at Marquette Hope United Methodist Church in 2014, he and his family moved from Evergreen, Colorado to Marquette. Pastor Chris and Kristi share a blended family of five boys that they raised together. Their now grown sons live in Michigan, Colorado, and Ohio, and they are also blessed with three daughters-in-law, and a three-year-old granddaughter.

Their love for spending time outdoors engaging in hiking, backpacking, biking, skiing, and walking their dogs Nina and Penny fuels their enthusiasm for making Leelanau County their home. Upon his arrival Pastor Chris commented, “My wife, Kristi and I are very excited to move to a new, beautiful peninsula. We have always enjoyed visiting the area, so the opportunity to live there now is something pretty special. He went on to say, “I am looking forward to leading a new congregation, especially one that is so connected with its community!”