I grew up Catholic and left the weekly practice my freshman year in college. The next year I was invited to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event where I got broadsided by the gospel. Everything changed. I had a hunger for the word, started going to church, did Bible study with friends – my life transformed. A few years later I contemplated exploring ministry options. I worked a summer at a Methodist sports camp in Indianola and that cemented my desire to pursue ministry full-time. I was a youth and associate minister for a few years before doing seminary at Moody Bible Institute. There I was discipled and fell in love with making disciples. Speaking of falling in love, that’s also when I pursued Julia and we got married. After a decade of discipling college aged students in Chicago and being a Marine Corps Reserve Chaplain, we followed the Lord’s leading to leave the city and pursue homesteading and college ministry closer to home, in the metropolis of Lamoni, IA. Years later we were broadsided again by a pastoral call at Living Hope, the little church of 30 we had made our home. I agreed to take the position for one year… and it seems time has gotten away from us. During my time at Creighton University, I was at a Bible study and Jeremiah 20:9 practically jumped off the page at me as it resonated with my heart – indeed I had no idea at the time how profoundly it would intertwine with my life. “’If I say, I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bone. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Preaching, teaching, counseling and discipling give me exciting ways to vent the fire and fan the flame. Along with discipleship, Julia and I have given a lot of energy and time to college ministry. We were both saved in college and have a heart for kids that are setting out from home, trying to figure out what they are going to believe, who they are going to become and who they are going to follow as they grow up. Julia and I have four kids in the midst of or on the cusp of being teens. She is a nurse and also homeschools our crew. We enjoy homesteading, athletics, exploring nature and hearing about and being a part of what God is doing in southern Iowa and around the world.

I grew up in a Christian home with a solid understanding of the Bible, but I didn't fully understand the Gospel and the seriousness of my sin until I was 19. God used a few faithful pastors to point out the inconsistencies of my profession of faith and of the life I was living. God broke me as I experienced true conviction of sin for the first time. From that point forward Jessie and I both had a new desire to live lives of holiness that glorified God. From there, we married, moved to St. Joseph, MO, and lived there for 13 years. God brought us to a church where we made many deep friendships, and through major trials at that church, He began drawing me to ministry. I went from being scared to pray publicly, to leading small Bible studies, to leading large Bible studies, to preaching sermons. I grew alongside many other brothers in Christ being called to ministry as well. I spent most of my free time reading, studying, learning, and preparing. I became an Elder at that church, but never stepped out in faith into full time ministry. God closed some doors and called us back to lowa after having to make lots of hard decisions to say goodbye to our church down there. After about 1.5 years at Living Hope it became clear this was where he was calling me into full time ministry. I left my job as a Radiology Technologist (after 15 years) to come on staff full time as the Associate/Youth pastor. My journey has been one step of faith after another, learning early on that following Jesus means I can never sit in my comfort zone. And He is still calling me deeper. One scripture passage that has shaped my life is Romans 10:9-10 "....if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." As I started reading my Bible, the gospel of Matthew changed me. And as I read Romans 10:9-10 I first realized that spiritual talk is cheap. The mouth is only half the story, the heart is the other half. It takes saying you believe, but that belief is proven by how you live, by letting those beliefs penetrate into your heart and change you from the inside out. A life verse I began to cling to is: Galatians 2:20 "| have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.' These words of Paul's are incredibly beautiful and challenging to me, and my ultimate desire is that I can repeat these words regularly and speak them as truth from the depths of my heart. I love people, I'm a people person. Jessie and I love hosting families for dinner, I enjoy meeting with people and hearing their stories over coffee or a meal. I love to teach, and preach, and I am passionate about pouring into young people. Weekly, lead multiple Bible studies with teens and young adults (and youth group, and Sunday school). Scripture teaches that we are to "remember our Creator in the days of our youth." And Paul tells Timothy to use his youth for influence and godliness (1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."). I don't want to see them walk into the mission field of our culture, I want them to run the race with endurance, equipped to follow Jesus wherever He should lead. At the core of Living Hope is a family with deep love for one another. There are many meaningful friendships that are growing, and there is great care for one another. I love the fact that I'm excited to come to church every Sunday, but also that my kids share the same excitement to worship the Lord with our Living Hope brothers and sisters every week. There are so many close friends we have, and also so many families we hope to get to know better in coming months and years. What I love most is that it isn't just surface level friendships, but friendships that challenge one another and encourage one another to seek first the Kingdom of God. My wife and I have 3 daughters: Skylar, Summer, and Sylvie. We live on a farm close to my parent's farm. We enjoy being outside and being active. I like sports, watching them and playing them, and I enjoy watching my girls begin to play sports. We like to wrestle, play ping-pong, play catch, go fishing, ride our 4-wheeler, we enjoy fireplace fires and bonfires, and we also enjoy evening cuddles and reading. I'm probably too competitive, but I like to be challenged, physically and mentally. I like to exercise and read, and do things with my family.

Reece grew up in a Christian home and attended church regularly, but it wasn’t until adulthood—when he heard the clear, convicting gospel preaching of men like Randy Alcorn and Paul Washer—that he fully understood biblical saving faith and repentance. From that point on, his life took a distinct turn toward pursuing Christ wholeheartedly. He has been committed to reading Scripture daily, studying it deeply, praying faithfully, and growing steadily in his walk with the Lord. Through the ongoing battle against indwelling sin, Reece continues to learn what it means to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and victory. The book of Romans has played a particularly significant role in shaping his theology and his heart for ministry. Its rich explanation of the gospel, human sinfulness, and God’s sovereignty has fueled his conviction that people must hear the gospel in order to be saved. This has stirred in him a passion for evangelism—faithfully sharing Christ with others and supporting the preaching of the gospel wherever it goes. Reece has a deep love for sound biblical theology and is passionate about reading, learning, and teaching the Scriptures. One of the great joys of his life is belonging to Living Hope, where the church family is committed to the authority of the Bible and to faithfully teaching it. He is continually encouraged by the genuine love the people have for one another and grateful to witness the ways God is working and drawing people to Himself. Reece is married to his wife, Sara, and together they have three children—Blake, Trae, and Bree, all of whom are school-aged. As a family, they enjoy sports, outdoor activities, and spending time with friends and fellow believers. Reece considers it a privilege to serve as an elder and is thankful for the strong, Christ-centered community God has placed around him.

Matt and his wife, Kristy, make their home in Mount Ayr, where they are raising their four children and building a life marked by faith, hospitality, and service. Growing up in a Christian home, Matt was led to the Lord by his mother at eight years old. Though his spiritual journey has included both highs and lows, he testifies that God has been unwaveringly faithful—continually teaching, shaping, and drawing him closer to Himself. Matt’s favorite verses are Psalm 37:3–7 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! This passage has been an anchor in his walk with the Lord. The repeated call to trust, delight, commit, and rest has been a steady reminder of God’s character and His sufficiency through every season. As a contractor, Matt enjoys working on construction projects for his clients but also on the projects around their own acreage. However, his deepest joy comes from ministry. He loves teaching Sunday school and he and Kristy faithfully host a teen Bible study in their home—an environment where he pours into young people and consistently points them toward Jesus. He also carries a strong passion for strengthening marriages and families, believing that healthy homes are vital to a healthy church. The ministries closest to Matt’s heart are missions and teaching, but he is grateful for every opportunity to serve at Living Hope. He treasures the church’s commitment to reaching the local community with the Gospel, the eagerness of people to step in and help, and the strong family atmosphere—hugs and all.

Terry did not grow up attending church, but everything changed when he was 20 years old. While studying at a building trade school in Creston, he was invited by a local pastor—who was planting a church in town—to join a personal Bible study. After meeting with him for several weeks, Terry accepted Christ as his personal Savior and committed his life to serving Him. The very next Sunday, he attended church for the first time and has been faithfully involved ever since. Some of the first verses Terry memorized were Romans 12:1–2, which continue to shape his walk with Christ: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice… And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” These verses formed his conviction that believers are called to serve God wholeheartedly rather than conform to the patterns of the world. Today, Terry’s passion is supporting young families and those who are struggling in life. He has a heart for caring for people, and over the years he has quietly met many needs within the church body and community. He also loves being involved with Impact at Graceland University and encouraging college students during such a pivotal season of life—one that was deeply transformational for him as well. Terry is grateful for the friendliness and grace-filled atmosphere of Living Hope, especially among people from many different church backgrounds who gather to pursue the truth of God’s Word together. He is also thankful for pastors who faithfully teach Scripture, even the difficult passages. Terry has been married to his wife, Pabalene (Pab), for over 46 years. They have five children—Brance and Nikki, Kristy and Matt, Andrew, Holly, and Jeremy and Pam—and six grandchildren: Brittney, Bria, Blake, Bentley, Bradley, and Jayce. Some of his favorite times each year are spent at Family Camp with family and friends from Living Hope. In his spare time, Terry enjoys shopping for antiques, going to estate sales, playing pickleball, and enjoying the occasional Dr Pepper. He also loves meeting friends for breakfast and good conversation whenever he has the chance.

Cass came to know the Lord around the age of eleven, when God used Vacation Bible School, his pastor, and his father to draw him to salvation. From that point forward, the Lord cultivated in him a deep love for Scripture and a desire to serve Christ in whatever capacity he was given. Over the years, Cass has faithfully poured himself into a wide range of ministries, including pastoring, biblical counseling, children’s and adult ministries, missions, teaching, and preaching from God’s Word. Throughout much of this time he also worked secular jobs, demonstrating a steady commitment to serve Christ both inside and outside the church. His ministry has included roles as a youth pastor, assistant pastor, and pastor in three different churches, as well as ongoing counseling and teaching ministries. Cass is deeply passionate about pointing people to Scripture and to Christ as the ultimate answer to the struggles and questions of life. He loves walking with people through difficulties, helping them see the sufficiency of God’s Word. He is also marked by a strong desire to stand firmly on what Scripture says—even when those truths are difficult or countercultural—believing that God’s Word is always good, right, and trustworthy. Cass and his wife, Linda, have been blessed with two children, Jordan and Alisha, and five grandchildren who bring joy to their lives. One of the verses that continues to shape Cass’s heart for ministry is Micah 6:8: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” His current ministry passions include teaching, preaching, and counseling, all carried out with humility and a deep desire to honor Christ and serve His church.

Nathan Allen grew up in a home with Christian parents in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He came to know Christ as his own Savior at a young age, though he wrestled with doubts about his salvation until he was assured by the fact that God will keep His promise in Acts 16:31: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” The greatest gift in his life is knowing Christ, but God has also richly blessed him with his wife Erica, and their four children—Audrey, Eldridge, Ashton, and Ellie. Nathan loves opening God’s Word and teaching from it, welcoming people into his home, and making his kids laugh (or beg for mercy during tickle battles). He carries a special burden for persecuted Christians and unreached people groups around the world. One of his favorite Bible verses is Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” He and Erica have been part of the Living Hope family ever since moving to Southern Iowa in 2013. They greatly treasure this church body and look forward to continuing to grow in love for Christ and for one another.

Kevin’s spiritual journey began early in life, though it wasn’t until his teenage years that the weight and wonder of salvation truly became real to him. Around age 14, while at a Bible camp, he joined a chapel gathering beside a quiet pond marked by a wooden cross. The pastor invited the students to write something on a wooden stake—something they needed to surrender to Christ—and drive it into the ground at the foot of the cross. It was in that moment that Kevin rededicated his life to the Lord, and from then on his faith became personal, alive, and transformative. Since that day, Kevin’s walk with Christ has been deepened through challenges, trials, and moments that stretched his faith in profound ways. God has been faithful and patient, teaching him grace, love, forgiveness, and dependence. In recent years, Romans 12 has been a defining passage for him—a constant reminder to seek God’s direction, embrace sacrificial love, lay down his own desires, and reflect Christ to those around him, even when it is difficult. Worship and mentorship have long been central to Kevin’s calling. Music has shaped him since childhood, and he has spent much of his life helping lead others in worship. He is passionate about guiding and investing in young people, deeply aware of the lasting impact a mentor once had on his own faith. Kevin is faithful in leading the worship team, even in seasons when life is busy and overwhelming. His steady commitment flows from his love for Christ, his love for people, and his desire to serve the church with humility and joy. He is grateful to be part of a church body that loves the broken, welcomes the lost, and encourages believers to grow together. Seeing God at work—in both big and small ways—continually strengthens his love for this community. Kevin is married to his wonderful, creative wife, Jayme, and together they are raising their two children, Greyson and Ember. Though he has always loved hunting, fishing, and time outdoors, the demands of life have shifted his priorities toward investing deeply in his family. Some of his greatest joys now include cooking and gardening with Jayme and the kids, smoking meat, hosting friends, going on bike rides and walks, wrestling with his little ones, and savoring the memories they make together. Kevin is grateful for the life God has entrusted to him—for his family, for his church, and for the opportunity to help lead others in worship of the One who continues to shape his heart.