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Tom Beckstrom, Senior Pastor
Tom was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1978. Covenant Community is the fourth church he has pastored. Developing a natural evangelism outreach is an area he is continually working on. His desire is that our witness be so natural and so contagious that others cannot help but see and know Jesus is Lord.
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Jim Chester, Assistant Pastor
My wife and I and our two sons were short term missionaries in Cebu, Philippines where we had a wonderful life changing experience. I graduated in 1989 from Bethel College (St. Paul, MN) with a BA degree in Business Administration and 1993 with a Master's of Divinity degree from North Park Seminary in Chicago. I was ordained in 1995 in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Evangelical Covenant Church Annual Meeting. My passion is to work with Small Groups, Missions, and family life ministries by equipping people for the work of ministry and for building up the body of Christ. Because Jesus Christ is our model of love and head of all areas of the church, I believe through faith, prayer, and love we will see God work through us for His glory. |
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Ashely Gase , Minister of Music
Ashley is our newest staff member, leading Covenant Community's worship since September 2005. She has been an active part of the worship team and choirs for 10 years and is now seeing her dreams and God's plans for her life come full circle. Ashley and her husband, Corey, have three beautiful children. Elizabeth is 4, Justin is 2, and Katie joined the family in October. Ashley's passions are God, family, and leading people to Christ through music.
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Jennifer Lutz, Minister of the Youth
Jennifer have served as Covenant Community's Youth Worker since summer of 2001. Jennifer has her degree in physical therapy and is currently working in a privately owned orthopedic outpatient clinic. Jennifer and her husband Chris have been married for 5 years and enjoy their Labrador Retriever, Sam, and two cats, Chacey and Circe. A past youth member herself, Jennifer desires to see kids develop a personal relationship with Christ and share Him with their friends. |
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"Members of the congregation need to be encouraged to use their gifts and to be coordinated with others in the exercising of their gifts. I believe the pastor is to help make this process happen as the church works as a unified body. Leadership implies 'followship' as well. There must be a level of confidence and trust in the ones appointed leaders, believing that their motives for their areas of ministry remain pure. The pastor would be seen as the shepherd leading a flock of sheep, gently guiding and directing, with the best interest of the sheep in mind. As I lead my church, I have accepted the responsibility to be accountable to God for my methods, goals and priorities. My prayer is to be more Christ-like, to be willing to be a servant, yet lead with authority."
Senior Pastor - Tom Beckstrom
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"My hope is that I may equip the Saints for the work of ministry, and for building up the body of Christ. Through equipping ministry leadership, I pray that God would bless our fellowship, discipleship, and outreach to our Covenant community.
My hope continues in that Christ would bestow His grace upon the Church body as we spiritually focus inward, and that His power would go with us as we balance our focus outward towards the world around us."
Assistant Pastor - Jim Chester |
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"I believe that our job as a worship team is to usher His people into the very presence of God through music. I want to continue to develop our wide variety of musical talent to reach out to all generations of worshippers. My prayer is for our worship time to be a comfortable and open experience for all."
Minister of Music - Ashley Gase
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"The youth of today need to hear the Good News of God and His awesome promises. It is our desire to see each youth develop a personal relationship with Christ and strong biblical knowledge to share this passion with their friends and take this message into their schools."
Minister of the Youth - Jennifer Lutz
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