Our Staff
Head pastor
Pastor Jonathon Wilson
Pastor Jonathan Wilson hails from the prairie, having started his life in a small Nebraska town and then sojourned through high school in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (that's Canada, eh?). He is married to Amy (since 1993), a Chicagoan whom he met during undergraduate studies at North Park College (now University). They are the proud parents of Hope (8th grade) and Holly (3rd grade) and a few German exchange students. He has been in ministry for twenty years, having served churches in Arizona, Germany, and the Chicago area. Ordained in 2004 by the Evangelical Covenant Church, Pastor Jonathan later took doctoral studies part-time and completed his dissertation in 2015, graduating with a Ph.D. in Church History from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. When a bee stings or he is feeling sad, these are a few of his favorite things: Popcorn, licorice (black) Twizzlers or jelly beans, televised football, mystery novels, good movies, stand-up monologues by clean-spoken comedians, historical biographies, historical theology, military history, the American Revolution, archival research, writing, and playing CLUE, MONOPOLY, APPLES TO APPLES or AGGRAVATION with his family.
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
Don Ruffenach
Don is a Minnesota native but spent 26 years ministering to teens in South East Iowa. He is married to Lisa and has six grown children: Keven and wife Faith, Connor, Nicole and husband Ben, and Erica. Don has been serving teens and their families since 1986 and recently completed his Master of Divinity degree, and Doctor of Ministry in Leadership. Don's passion is to see people take the Next Step in their faith walk with Jesus Christ, especially teens and kids. He loves to utilize discussions, discipleship teams, skits, and puppets in his ministry. When he has free time, he loves to hike (outdoors) and play strategy board games (indoors).
Office Manager
Bernadette Fuchs
Bernadette lives on a hobby farm with her husband Bob near Pennock. They have 5 adult children and 5 grandchildren. Bernadette works as an Office Administrator for Salem Covenant Church as well as Mamrelund Lutheran Church in Pennock and Best Life Ministries of Benson. She is also the treasurer for the Mamre township. When she is not working, she enjoys coffee, reading, movies and being with her family and friends.
Custodian
Brianna Holmgren