Leadership

Garland Land was elected Pastor of Colonial Hills in July 2007.

Garland and Sarah Land moved to Independence in December 2006 and soon thereafter enrolled in the Colonial Hills congregation. They had previously lived in Jefferson City Missouri for nearly 36 years. Garland had directed the vital records, health statistics and information systems units of the state health department. Sarah was a registered nurse for 25 years and then managed the Land’s antique mall at the Lake of the Ozarks for 13 years. 

Garland grew up in Independence and attended William Chrisman high school, Graceland and the University of Michigan. Sarah lived in Iowa and Nebraska before attending the Independence Sanitarium to become a nurse. They met when Garland was invited to assist the nursing students in a youth club they established in Blue Summit or what was called “Dog Patch”

Garland is a High Priest and Sarah holds the office of Priest. Garland was District President and Pastor of the Jefferson City congregation for several years. Sarah was involved in congregational pastoral ministries.
Garland retired from the state Health Department in 2005 and took the position as Executive Director of the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems. His office is in the Washington DC area. He commutes there approximately every other week and works from the home the rest of the time. His work includes coordinating with the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration and the State Department to prevent fraudulent use of birth certificates and improving the vital statistics system of the nation.

Sarah and Garland decided to move back to Independence because they have two married daughters who live in the area as well as three grandchildren and one on the way. Sarah enjoys being a grandmother and babysitting for the grandchildren one day a week.

The Lands’ interests include reading, antiques, singing and using their gifts and talents for the church whenever needed.

Gretchen Booz, Counselor

Hilary Jenkins, Counselor

                                     Dan Speigle, Counselor