I grew up in a pastor’s home and didn’t know any different than being at church every time the doors were open. I have great memories of growing up in church: from my Aunt Lou teaching my pre-school Sunday School class, to drinking whole containers of the nursery’s “Tang” orange juice with my sister, Heidi, to running around after church with the other kids whose parents wouldn’t stop talking (I mean, fellowshipping). And, of course, I remember the profound spiritual times of seeing my mom get on her knees and pray in the pew after Sunday night church service, to special moments with God at Summer Church Camp, and that moment, at six years old, when I accepted Jesus as my personal savior. God is so good and I am so thankful for my spiritual heritage!
I attended Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, ND in the early 90’s where I met my husband during our freshmen year. He was a football player and I was a football cheerleader. In November 1990, he asked me out, for our first solo date, on a long bus ride home from a game in Colorado. He’s been asking me on dates, and I’ve been cheering him on ever since. We were married, while still in college, in 1993. Starting full-time ministry in 1995, we have been working side-by-side since then. Sometimes I have been paid staff, and sometimes I have had other jobs or been a stay-at-home mom, but we’ve always worked as a ministry team. I wouldn’t have it any other way! After going back to school in my 30s, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Ministerial/Biblical Studies, with a minor in Psychology, in 2011; then proceeding to get credentialed as an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God in 2015. I am also a certified Life Coach with the Assemblies of God, and am a Bible teacher at the Minnesota School of Ministry.
I LOVE that I get to pastor! Watching God unfold this calling that I’ve had since a little girl has been an exciting adventure. I have held many roles in our churches, but my favorite things are sharing the joy and love of Jesus with others and helping people apply Biblical wisdom to their lives in practical ways. My love for the Word of God can be attributed to my dad and grandpa, who were both preachers and Bible College Professors. Speaking of my dad, I am in the middle of a huge publishing project that I am very excited about! I inherited my dad’s Bible Class notes from his 25 years of teaching at Trinity Bible College and I am publishing each one as a part of a commentary set. Each commentary is a great mix of my dad’s Biblical insight and expository teaching, as well as anecdotes and meaningful stories of my dad, as illustrations.
On the personal side, I love to craft, watch movies, read, play board games and host all kinds of events, parties or get-togethers in our home. Waterfalls amaze me, I delight in my green Mini-Cooper (who I named Mr. Bean) and I like to say that my “love language” is a large fountain Diet Dr. Pepper with just a little bit of ice. I love my calling as a mom; Allison and Megan have my heart forever! And I love being married to the best friend I’ve ever had; the payoff of working hard at marriage is something I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world!