Staff Directory
Pastors
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Worship
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Student Ministry
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Children's Ministry
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Administrative
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Other
Pastors
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Jerry Schommer, Senior Pastor
Jerry serves as the Senior Pastor of Woodcrest Church. Prior to planting
Woodcrest, Jerry served at Bethany Baptist Church (now Eagle Heights Church)
in Omaha, Nebraska from 1982 until 1992. Initially, he served as Associate
Pastor (1982-1984) and then, Senior Pastor (1985-1992).He is a graduate
of Crown College and received his Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry
degree from Bethel Seminary. He is married to Deb and they have three children.
- Favorite movie: Star Trek
- Favorite musician: Chris Tomlin
- Favorite restaurant: Kincaids
- Favorite verse: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
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Pete Parker, Associate Pastor
Pete has served as the Associate Pastor of Woodcrest Church since May of 2003.
Pete's primary responsibility is providing leadership to adult ministries including
prayer, missions, adult education and small groups. Pete has twenty years of
ministry experience including eleven years as a Senior Pastor. He most
recently served as the planting pastor of Oakwood Community Church (a
Wooddale daughter church) in Waconia, Minnesota. Pete and his wife Dawn,
have three children. He is a graduate of Northwestern College and received his
Masters of Divinity from Bethel Seminary in 1991.
- Favorite movie: The Wizard of Oz
- Favorite musician: Gaither Vocal Band
- Favorite restaurant: El Azteca
- Favorite verse: "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of
your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this..." Psalm 37:4-5
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Worship Arts Ministry
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Steve Olson, Worship Director
Steve joined the Woodcrest staff in September, 2005 after serving over 11 years in the private sector. His primary responsibility is to oversee the Worship Arts Ministry, and he also helps manage our facilities. He has a passion for
worshiping God through music and has served as a volunteer in that capacity for many years. He is also a song-writer and performer, and has been involved with several different music groups throughout the years. Steve holds Bachelor's and
Master's degrees in management. He is married to Lese and has three step-children.
- Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings (The Return of the King)
- Favorite musician: Big Daddy Weave
- Favorite restaurant: Itchiban's Japanese Steakhouse
- Favorite verse: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
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Randy Chall, Worship/Small Group Associate
Since begining at Woodcrest in June of 2004, Randy has had a variety of
roles including working with student ministry as well as worship and
small group ministry, where he is currently serving. Prior to working at
Woodcrest, Randy was involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at the
University of Minnesota where he served as a member of the FCA leadership
team. Randy holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of
Minnesota. He and his wife, Abbey, were married in August of 2006 and currently
live in Apple Valley.
- Favorite game show: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. I'd like to think that if
I made it to the hot seat I could at least get $100 out of it.
- Favorite musician: Shane Barnard. I love his style of music, but more
importantly I love his heart for the Lord.
- Favorite restaurant: The Bonfire Grill – They have a great chicken sandwich!
- Favorite verse: "I command you – be strong and courageous! Do not be
aftraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9
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Student Ministry
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Ben Gores, Student Ministry Director
Ben has worked with students at Woodcrest since November of 2004. He
appreciates both having fun hanging out with students and witnessing their
love for God. He has a BA in Christian Education from Wheaton College and
an MA in Theological Studies from Bethel University. He is married to Erica.
- Favorite movie: Pirates of the Caribbean
- Favorite musician: Kutless
- Favorite restaurant: Taco Bell
- Favorite chapter in the Bible: "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." Micah 6:8
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Joshua Kirsch, Student Ministry Associate
Josh has been the Student Ministry Associate (middle school pastor) since
August of 2005. He interned at two churches during college before moving to
Hampton, IA where he was the Student Ministry Director for five years. After
that he was the Youth Director at Oakwood Church in St. Paul for ten months.
Josh holds a BA in Youth Ministries with a minor in Bliblical/Theological studies
from Bethel University. He is married to Kristina and has two children.
- Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings (The Return of the King)
- Favorite musician: U2
- Favorite restaurant: Famous Dave's
- Favorite verse: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
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Children's Ministry
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Darla Benjamin, Children's Ministry Director
Darla has a passion for sharing the Word of God with children in a relevant and
active way. It is her desire to fully equip children and their families to grow in
their relationship with Christ and to live their lives in a way that impacts others
with His love. She came to Woodcrest in August 2006, after serving eight
years as Director of Children's Ministry in Northfield, MN. She has a BS in
Education from Western Illinois University and an MA in Educational
Administration from the University of Northern Illinois. Darla also holds an MA in
Children and Family Ministry from Bethel Seminary. She is married to Jim and
they have two children.
- Favorite movies: Witness and The Incredibles
- Favorite musician: Michael W. Smith
- Favorite restaurant: Olive Garden - what could be better than Ravioli di Portabello
and Olive Garden's salad and breadsticks... Okay, so Red Lobster is right up there,
too! Gotta' love the crab legs, coconut shrimp, baked potato, caesar salad and
cheddar bay biscuits!
- Favorite verse: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13
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Karen Palmquist, Children's Ministry Associate
Karen has attended Woodcrest for the past eight years and has had the
privilege of working in Children's Ministry for seven. God opened up this door
when she wasn't even looking and has truly blessed her life through the children
and their families. She gets to do what she loves every day for the glory of God.
Karen has a heart for developing programs and activities that will help children
grow in their walk with Jesus Christ. She grew up in Glenview, IL and has a BA
in Elementary Education from Bethel University. Karen taught Kindergarten for
several years and also worked with handicapped children in a development
achievement center. She was blessed to spend 13 years at home raising her
four very active children. She is married to Dave.
- Favorite game show: Deal or No Deal
- Favorite pizza topping: Supreme
- Favorite restaurant: Radamaks
- Favorite verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the
LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and
a future." Jeremiah 29:11
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Deb Nutting, Children's Ministry Associate
Deb has been at Woodcrest since the summer of 2006. She has a passion for
making the Word of God understandable and exciting for children while
helping them to apply Biblical truths to their lives. She has over ten years
experience leading children's ministries, including a Director of Children's
Ministries position and a Preschool Director position in Eau Claire, WI. Prior to
being called into the ministry, she taught deaf and hard-of-hearing children for
ten years. She has a BA in Elementary Education from Gustavus Adolphus
College and a Master's of Education degree (M.Ed.) from the University of
Minnesota. She is married to Bob and has two children.
- Favorite movie: The Princess Bride
- Favorite musician: Mark Schultz
- Favorite restaurant: Pannekoeken Huis
- Favorite verse: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but
in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others." Philippians 2:3
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Jodi Nelson, Nursery Coordinator
Jodi has attended Woodcrest since 1995 and has been the nursery coordinator
since 1997. Her primary responsibility is overseeing the nursery, including
staffing and organizing. She has a BA in Business Management from Bethel
University. She is married to Craig and has five children.
- Favorite movie: A Walk to Remember
- Favorite musician: Avalon
- Favorite restaurant: TGI Fridays
- Favorite verse: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13
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Administrative
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Helen McDonnell, Office Manager
Helen grew up in a farming community about 60 miles out of St. Louis, Missouri.
She attended college off and on while working in the computer operations of
the local phone company where she met her husband, Peter. They have two
children. She has been happy to be a part of the Woodcrest Church staff since
May 1997.
- Favorite movie: The Great Escape
- Favorite movie star: Charlton Heston
- Favorite restaurant: Macaroni Grill
- Favorite verse: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
and "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,
and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45
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Sandi Andrusko, Graphics/Communications Specialist
Sandi has been working part-time for Woodcrest since the fall of
2006. She has been a freelance graphic designer since January of 2000 and
worked at both an ad agency and publishing company prior to freelancing.
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bethel University. She is married
to Kent, and they have three children.
- Favorite movie: The Notebook
- Favorite musician: Joel Hanson
- Favorite restaurant: Fuddrucker's
- Favorite verse: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
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Beth Westerback, Administrative Assistant
After many years of a career in management, Beth felt a strong calling to
switch gears, cut back on work hours, and spend more time with her family.
She joined the Woodcrest staff in April 2006 and works part-time as an
Administrative Assistant. Beth has a BS in Horticulture from the University
of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is married to Erick and they have two children.
- Favorite movie: Sound of Music
- Favorite musician: Steve Olson
- Favorite movie star: Tom Hanks
- Favorite verse: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
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Barb Wing, Administrative Assistant
Barb attended her first six years of school in a one-room country school, went to
Hinckley Junior and Senior High (through grade 10), and graduated from White
Bear Lake High School. She took classes at Inver Grove Community College in
the Working Women's Institute. She's worked in secretarial positions at 3M, for
a law office, for another church, for a congressional campaign, for the State of
Minnesota, and now part-time at Woodcrest Church. She has three children and her husband Ed has two children.
- Favorite movie: Several, but really enjoyed "The Passion of The Christ"
- Favorite musician: Mary Beth Carlson, Dino
- Favorite restaurant: Pannekoeken Huis and Applebee's
- Favorite verse: "And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
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Other
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Pao Her, Custodian
After escaping the difficulties of violence and communism in his native coutry,
Laos, Pao found refuge in the U.S. in April of 1978. Pao's journey both to faith
and to Woodcrest are truly unique, and Woodcrest has been blessed to have him
on staff since February 2002. Pao is married to Song, and they have three children.
- Favorite movie: The Matrix/Star Gate
- Favorite musician: Michael W. Smith
- Favorite retail store: Best Buy
- Favorite verse: "Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your
truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11
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Dick Christopherson, Facilities
Dick is an engineer by trade, and retired from a full-time career with
Zeigler/Cat Corporation in 1997. His passion has always been working with
his hands, and he has taken on various projects both personally and
professionally for at least 30 years. Currently, he maintains a very busy
schedule working on everything from professional grade cabinetry and
construction, to other miscellaneous repairs around the church. He has been
married to his wife, Lynn, since April 2003 and has five children.
- Favorite comic strip: Dick Tracy
- Favorite musician: Lorie Line
- Favorite restaurant: Timber Lodge
- Favorite chapter verse: "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" Matthew 19:26
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