Leadership Team
John Fuller [Senior Pastor]
john.fuller@prairielakeschurch.org
John’s desire is to see lives transformed by God’s love. After growing up in Wyoming, his own life was transformed by Christ at the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota. After graduation in 1986, God called John and his wife, Kay, to head west to Denver Seminary where he received his Masters of Divinity in 1990. Sensing God had big plans for the Cedar Valley, John and Kay packed up the family, Allyson, Shane, Karly, and one Rottweiller named Mo, and have been a part of watching God transform Prairie Lakes Church from 200 attendees to nearly 2000 today.
Chris Rygh [Executive Pastor]
chris.rygh@prairielakeschurch.org
After "vacationing" in Wisconsin for eight years--where, by the way, he met and married his fabulous wife, Mary Beth---Chris returned home to Iowa in 2003 in order to join the adventure that is now Prairie Lakes Church. He also wanted to shorten his 40-minute commute to four minutes, introduce his city-born children to farm life and see if his devoted wife would really trade season tickets to Lambeau for the chance to do ministry in the Cedar Valley. (God is good and Mary Beth is devoted; Chris is three for three.) Along with a team he describes as "obscenely gifted", Chris helps to provide the behind-the-scenes, organizational "stuff". Chris and Mary Beth have two daughters, Katie (8) and Molly (6).
Mary Beth Rygh [Children's Ministry Director]
marybeth.rygh@prairielakeschurch.org
Mary Beth grew up in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, where she learned from a young age that being a Packer fan is hereditary. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin, where she added the Badgers to her football favorites. While teaching in Wisconsin, California and Minnesota, she earned her Master’s degree in educational administration, and after marrying Chris, began her career as a school principal. However, children and ministry interrupted that career path. Mary Beth and Chris have two daughters, Katie and Molly, and they gave up Green Bay Packer season tickets when God called them to full time ministry in Iowa! Now that is commitment to God’s call! Mary Beth works as the team leader of children’s ministry; along side many other dedicated staff and volunteers.
Ron Phares [Small Groups Director]
ron.phares@prairielakeschurch.org
Ron’s passion is to help others find that life is not about length, but depth: Depth in relationship with God and others. He grew up in Taylorville, Illinois and served in the U.S. Navy and is a graduate of University of Illinois. He married his amazing wife, Amy, in 1996 and they have a son named Jack. Ron’s work is his passion, creating communities that go deep enough to make it permanent.
Jesse Tink [College Pastor]
jesse.tink@prairielakeschurch.org
Jesse was born in the Cedar Valley and spent his college years at Northern Iowa. While in seminary in Denver, Colorado, he met his beautiful wife, Erin. They were married in 2006, and moved back to Cedar Falls that same year as Jesse started at Prairie Lakes. Jesse spends most of the winter weekends out in the field hunting deer and pheasant, and spends the rest of his time (and too much of his money) playing basketball, softball, and other organized sports. He seeks to partner with God as He works to invite all people into a deeper communion with Him. Jesse has been a Yankee fan since childhood, and eagerly awaits World Championship #27!
Children's Team
Paula Banes [Kidventure Curriculum Coordinator]
paula.banes@prairielakeschurch.org
Paula grew up in New Hampton, Iowa and moved to Cedar Falls in 1983 where she attended the University of Northern Iowa. Because of her desire to work with children, she pursued a degree in elementary education. Upon graduation, Paula accepted a teaching position in Waterloo, Iowa and taught first grade for ten years. In 1988 Paula married her husband, Kelly and they have one daughter, Emily. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and going to step aerobic classes in her free time. She also has a great love of cats and has a seventeen-year-old cat named Smitty. Paula joined the staff at Prairie Lakes Church in August of 2006 as the Curriculum Coordinator for the K-5 Kidventure program.
Amy Phares [Kidventure Small Groups]
amy.phares@prairielakeschurch.org
Deb Hildebrandt [Children's Ministries Admin Assistant]
deb.hildebrandt@prairielakeschurch.org
Deb grew up in Tripoli, Iowa. She married her high school sweetheart, Bill, and lived in Denver for 9 years before moving to the family farm north of Waverly. Bill was tragically killed in a snowmobile accident 5 years ago, but Deb’s faith, along with the help of wonderful family and friends, has helped her get through the tough times. She has two grown children, Nick and Lindsay, who are both married. She is also blessed with two adorable grandbabies, Elaina and Gordon. After a long career at CUNA Mutual in the Graphic Arts Department, Deb has recently taken a job at Prairie Lakes Church as administrative assistant for the Children’s Ministry. In her spare time, she enjoys golfing, boating and traveling.
Kathleen Hummel [Preschool Coordinator/KidStuf]
kathleen.hummel@prairielakeschurch.org
Upon growing up in Central Illinois and attending college in Iowa, I received my degree in Nursing and have worked as a labor and delivery nurse for many years. After having my own 3 children, I decided to stay home as a "mom". Life at that time was not fast enough, so I opened up my own preschool/daycare in my home. I've enjoyed that challenge for about 7 years and now have moved on to working with the preschoolers here at Prairie Lakes Church. Kirk and I have lived in Waverly now going on 10 years. In my leisure time, I enjoy being outside and working with many crafty projects. Overall, I just love to PLAY!
Lorri Cisco [Children's Ministry Worship Coordinator]
lorri.cisco@prairielakeschurch.org
Christy McNeal [Kidventure Coordinator]
christy.mcneal@prairielakeschurch.org
amy.phares@prairielakeschurch.org
Mary Beth Rygh [Children's Ministry Director]
marybeth.rygh@prairielakeschurch.org
Ellen Trunnell [Nursery / Wee Kids Coordinator]
ellen.trunnell@prairielakeschurch.org
After attending UNI, Ellen married Jim and moved to Ames, Iowa for Jim to finish his architecture degree. In 2004, they relocated back to the Cedar Falls area and began to attend Prairie Lakes Church. Ellen has two young boys, Kyle and Conner. Currently, Ellen is the Wee Kids Coordinator. She oversees the general management of the Wee Kids wing and directly oversees our nursery program.
Jennifer Wynstra [Kidventure Large Groups Coordinator]
jennifer.wynstra@prairielakeschurch.org
Jennifer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and that's about all she did there besides learn to walk and talk and go in the potty, because she moved before she was 2. After a very short stint in Louisiana, where she learned not to sit on Red Ant hills, her family relocated to Madison, Wisconsin. Jennifer spent most of her school years, including an undergraduate degree from the UW, in Madison, and she's equally partial to the Badgers and the Packers, as some other PLC staffers. After college, Jennifer moved to Racine, Wisconsins where she began her teaching career and met her husband, John. They decided to get closer to that good southern cooking that Jennifer missed from her days in Louisiana, but could only bring themselves to move as far south as Kentucky. After gaining ten pounds, a graduate degree and a baby boy; John, Jennifer and David moved back to the Midwest. The quota for eligible returning Wisconsonians was full, so they had to be content with Iowa. By God's good grace, He brought Jennifer, John and David to PLC just in time to have twin boys (Joshua and Caleb)and a new kitchen. Ask Jennifer that story sometime, but don't ask John because he always cries when he tells it. Besides, if you think this bio is long-winded, then you haven't heard John tell a story.
Students' Team
Pete Beerman [Student Ministries Pastor]
pete.beerman@prairielakeschurch.org
Dani Mescher [Student Ministries Worship Coordinator]
dani.mescher@prairielakeschurch.org
Brad Rekers [High School Guys Coordinator]
brad.rekers@prairielakeschurch.org
Administrative Team
Rob & Connie Ehrhardt [First Impressions Directors]
Connie Erpelding [Guest Connection Coordinator]
connie.erpelding@prairielakeschurch.org
Connie brings over 20 years of experience as a professional educator to Prairie Lakes Church, having held positions as a teacher, elementary principal, and university professor in various public school settings throughout Iowa. Connie holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and served as an Assistant Professor in Elementary Education at the University of Northern Iowa. She is also involved in CE Ministries--a creative performance venture. Connie has energetically and enthusiatically embraced life and the plans God has for her. Thus, she now finds herself in the position of Guest Connection Coordinator at Prairie Lakes Church. This position provides Connie with an opportunity to welcome guests and connect them to something she is passionate about--Prairie Lakes Church!
Shari Ford [Data Entry Specialist]
shari.ford@prairielakeschurch.org
Brenda Kirkpatrick [Office Assistant]
brenda.kirkpatrick@prairielakeschurch.org
Brenda grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Brenda has a love of the out-of-doors and tries to get outside and enjoy our changing seasons as much as possible. Brenda grew up attending First Baptist/Prairie Lakes Church and married Kevin at the church in 1972. Brenda worked odd jobs around the Cedar Valley area before beginning as a clerical aid at Prairie Lakes Church in 1991.
Candy Nardini [Office Manager]
candy.nardini@prairielakeschurch.org
Candy grew up in the Waterloo area. She and her husband, Jay, have two grown children, Lindsay and Landon and a granddaughter, Rhiannon. Candy enjoys event coordinating, volunteering for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, shopping and coffee and conversation with friends. Candy is Administrative Assistant to Pastor Chris.
Dave Nordyke [Staff Development Coach]
dave.nordyke@prairielakeschurch.org
Dave grew up in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where he gained his love for the trifecta (the Cubs, the Bears and the Bulls), playing whatever sport was in season, Vienna Beef hot dogs, and Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. He married the lovely Miss Lori in July of 1978 and they have two children (Clare and Chris). He graduated from Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1979 and moved to Rochester, MN to work for IBM. After 10+ years traveling the globe living along with his family in Minnesota, Germany, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Minnesota, he moved his family to Cedar Falls, Iowa and began working at Roskamp Enterprises. While he continues to run his own business, R & N Investment Properties, LC, he came on staff as a volunteer in October of 2003 at Prairie Lakes Church. Dave works with the church staff helping them to develop their leadership gifts and helping in a variety of areas including KidStuf host.
Dawn Sagert [Accounts Payable]
dawn.sagert@prairielakeschurch.org
Joyce Scholle [Accounts Receivable]
joyce.scholle@prairielakeschurch.org
Dee Taute [Administrative Assistant]
dee.taute@prairielakeschurch.org
Dee is married to Mark, who is an engineer at John Deere Product Engineering Center. They have two daughters, Danielle and Jodi. Danielle works at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, CO, and Jodi attends Mercy College in Des Moines. Dee enjoys being with her family, especially while hiking in Colorado. Dee has worked at Prairie Lakes Church since 2002. She is Administrative Assistant to Pastor John.
George Wessel [Director of Finance]
george.wessel@prairielakeschurch.org
George grew up near Colesburg, IA as a typical Iowa farmboy. At his father’s urging (to get him off the farm!), he attended the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in Accounting. After graduating in 1971, he was successful in passing the CPA exam, and began work in Des Moines in public accounting. Shortly after starting that job, George married Pam, who was born and raised in Hudson, IA. In 1973, George moved into the mortgage banking industry, working many years at GMAC Mortgage in Waterloo, prior to moving to other mortgage companies (in many locations) until his retirement back in Hudson in July 2006). George is now staying occupied as part-time Director of Finances here at Prairie Lakes Church.
Music and Tech Team
Steve Brown [Live Video Technician]
steve.brown@prairielakeschurch.org
Jim Johnson [Technical Director]
jim.johnson@prairielakeschurch.org
Creative Communications Team
Sara Fitzgerald [Creative Arts Director]
sara.fitzgerald@prairielakeschurch.org
Sara grew up in Grinnell, Iowa and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2001 with an Art Education. From there she taught 8th grade art at Linn-Mar Middle School. In 2003, Sara came back to Cedar Falls to join Prairie Lakes Church staff as a graphic design intern which only encouraged her love of fonts and the art of design, that eventually led her to being on the team full time. Sara also loves serving within theRiver college ministry and with her 12th grade small group on Wednesday nights. You may often find Sara in Cup of Joe, strumming behind a guitar, or dreaming about future adventures.
AJ Jensen [Created Video Intern]
aj.jensen@prairielakeschurch.org
Matt Rittgers [Created Video Tech]
matt.rittgers@prairielakeschurch.org
Matt grew up in the fertile fields outside of the Cedar Valley. However, now a student at the University of Northern Iowa, he spends his days in the fields of Humanities and Religion. In 2006 he joined the Prairie Lakes Creative Ministry staff as a Created Video Technician. When he isn’t studying for the big final or assisting with a video masterpiece, he can be found exploring God’s green earth and blue waters with his beautiful wife Hilary. He enjoys all kinds of fresh water sports, traveling with friends, and caramel fudge brownies.
Care and Connections Team
Ari Henderson [Care and Connection]
ari.henderson@prairielakeschurch.org
Ron Phares [Small Groups Director]
ron.phares@prairielakeschurch.org
Diana Richardson [groupLIFE Administrative Assistant]
diana.richardson@prairielakeschurch.org
Angela Payne [groupLIFE Administrative Assistant]
angela.payne@prairielakeschurch.org
Facilities Team
Kevin Kirkpatrick [Director of Facilities]
kevin.kirkpatrick@prairielakeschurch.org
Lisa Michaelsen [Custodian]
Kyle Soldwisch [Custodian]
Josh Tink [Set-up]
