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Dick Hardel adds radical thinking to the basics of faithful ministry of passing on the faith in Jesus Christ. He believes that innovation is part of everyday living in the promises of God. Through the cross of Jesus Christ God has provided each of us with a new way of seeing the world. It is radical because the cross of Jesus Christ makes us new and different every day. We are called to live well in Christ and proclaim the Gospel.

For 20 straight years Dick attended Lutheran schools from first grade through the Seminary. As a parish pastor for more than 20 years Dick served congregations in South Dakota and Florida. For 3 1/3 years he served as Assistant to the Bishop of the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For almost 9 years Dick served as the Executive Director of the Youth & Family Institute at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN. Dick presently is the Executive Director at The Youth & Family Institute in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Trained by older Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns, Dick has been active in clown ministry since 1973. He is the founder and proprietor of the Life In Christ Circus with units in Orlando, FL; Omaha, NE; and Eagan, MN. As Dr. H he is the founder and president of Christ Clown College. Clown ministry has taken Dick all over North America. Dick has led several clown ministry pilgrimages to Eastern Europe. Dick believes that Christ Clowns frame life for other people to see the grace of God in the ordinary of life. The healing power of the Gospel is seen in laughter and play.

Since June 10, 1967, Dick has been married to Carolyn (Bohlmann). They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Their daughter Angela Nikol, is a social worker and a mom. Angie and her husband, Rick, and their two children, Nikol Hannah and Ryan Joseph, live in Kissimmee, FL. Dick and Carolyn’s son, Kent Ryan works as a teacher/camp counselor for an alternative education program at Camp El Camino Pines in Frazier Park, CA. Creative play and laughter have always warmed the home of the Hardels whenever and wherever they gather.

Dick received his Master of Divinity degree in 1970 from Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO. In 1985 he received his Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA., and awarded the Richard Rapp Memorial Award for Doctoral Studies.

Dick leads conferences, workshops, seminars, preaches, leads forums, develops and leads intergenerational events, facilitates retreats, speaks, teaches courses, does training, coaches congregations and individuals, consults with congregations and various denominational judicatories, does events for parents and children together. (often parents and confirmands)