Staff Directory

Leadership Team

Amy Anderson - Executive Director of Worship Ministries
Jason Anderson - Teaching Pastor
Scott Anderson - Executive Pastor
Jerry Broecker - Executive Director of Operations
Don Graffam - Campus Pastor
Tyler Gregory - Executive Director of Ministries
Bob Merritt - Senior Pastor
Dale Peterson - Executive Pastor of Ministry
Jason Strand - Teaching Pastor
Steve Whicker - Campus Pastor

Amy Anderson

Executive Director of Worship Ministries

Since the time I was a little kid, music and the arts have always been a part of my life. So, it’s with great passion that I serve as the Executive Director of Worship Ministries. In my role, I oversee the Music, Creative and Technical teams at Eagle Brook. All of us on these teams enthusiastically accept the challenge each and every week to prepare worship services that help people understand who God is and provide them opportunity to experience Him in worship!

A little background on myself - I grew up in White Bear Lake, graduated from Bethel College, and after 10 years of working at 3M and Imation Corporations, I made the switch to a full-time ministry role here at Eagle Brook Church. My husband, Jason, is also on staff as the Speaking Pastor. We live in Maplewood and have three awesome kids - Josh, Samantha and Cole (none of which have curly hair!)

I love the community of Eagle Brook Church! To those of you who are just checking this church out, I invite you to come and let God do a work in your life. Get answers to your questions. Ask even the hard ones. We’re so glad you’re here!

"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks." - Matthew 7:7-8

Jason Anderson

Teaching Pastor

I grew up locally in White Bear Lake and met my wife Amy while in high school. We started attending Eagle Brook in 1998 and immediately felt at home, partly because of the comfortable and friendly environment, but mostly because of the way that God’s truth is communicated in a relevant way. Neither of us knew what was in store.

After joining a small group and learning what real community was like, I was asked to volunteer on the leadership team that was developing ways to offer biblical community to the entire church. From that volunteer experience I was asked to join the staff as pastor of groups. As God often does, he asked me to take another step of faith and I accepted the Speaking Pastor role in the fall of 2005.

Amy and I have three kids, Josh, Samantha and Cole, and I enjoy golf and hunting.

Click here to check out my blog.

Scott Anderson

Executive Pastor

I grew up in Minnesota, spending all of my life in and around the Stillwater/White Bear Lake/Hugo area. After spending almost twenty years managing and supervising restaurants for the McDonald's Corporation, I joined the staff here at Eagle Brook as the Facility Manager in 1997. Since then, I've had the incredible honor of being able to grow with the church, currently serving as the Executive Pastor. I've been married to Sarah for 21 years and we have three children. Lauren, 19, is currently at Bethel University studying in Elementary Education; Aaron, 17, is in the PSEO program at Century College; Ryan, 15, is enjoying the White Bear Lake school system. Our family started attending Eagle Brook in 1993.

Jerry Broecker

Executive Director of Operations

Don Graffam

Campus Pastor, White Bear Lake

I grew up in a suburb on the northwest side of Chicago called Barrington. When I was 16, my family and I attended a church called Willow Creek Community Church where I was introduced to Christ and later accepted him to be the leader of my life. After graduating from Barrington High School I came to Bethel College where I graduated with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Christian Ministries. I spent 2 years working with junior high students in a church and in an alternative school. In '94 I went on staff at Bethel College and earned a masters degree in counseling. After spending 10 years on staff at Bethel (most recently as the Associate Dean for Leadership Development) I was invited to look at the possibility of working for Eagle Brook. August 3rd, 2004 was my first day on staff as the Growth Pastor.

I have a wonderful wife named Kathi and 2 amazing sons named Tyler (born 12/28/00) and Caleb (born 1/16/03). I'm currently enrolled at Bethel Seminary (yes, potentially my 3rd degree at Bethel) and love to spend my free time playing hockey, broomball and softball.

Click here to check out my blog.

Tyler Gregory

Executive Director of Ministries

I grew up in the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities in Bloomington, MN. After attending Bethel University, I began teaching high school students as well as coaching college baseball. At the same time, my wife Tera and I began to attend Eagle Brook Church in the fall of 2000. EBC was different than any other church we had attended; the message was something we could apply, the music was relevant, and the people we met were just normal people like us. We couldn't wait to attend each Saturday night! Little did we know what this would amount to a few years later.

After attending for a few months, Tera and I began to jump in and begin serving. We both served on the First Impressions team and I sang on the worship team. Shortly after, we began a small group with three other couples that we had met while serving. We began to experience true community and grow in our faith. To make a long story short, I was asked to join the EBC staff as the Associate Groups Pastor. After a year of learning and growing as a leader, as well as completing a master's degree in organizational leadership, I assumed the position of Groups Pastor. This involved guiding our men's, women's, young adults, and singles ministries, as well as leading a team of people to help people better connect into community. We created "Grouplink" in an effort to connect thousands of people to the type of biblical community that we had experienced. In June of 2007, I was offered my current role of Executive Director of Ministries. It is an honor and joy to bring leadership to all of the pastors and ministries we have here at Eagle Brook.

Tera and I live in Hugo, and love to golf, try new restaurants, travel, and hang out with our family, friends, and small group.

Click here to check out my blog.

Bob Merritt

Senior Pastor

I love being the senior pastor of this great church! It's been a tremendous ride since 1991. For some pastors it seems the ministry is a vocation. It's not a vocation for me. Leading people to Christ is a desire placed in my heart by God. It is my pursuit to present God to people in a joyful, excellent way through each service and every program at Eagle Brook Church.

My wife Laurie and I have two wonderful children, Megan and Dave - and a dog who is great, depending on the day. My parents and siblings provide a network of pastoral support because all but one family member is a pastor or the wife of a pastor. They are an immediate and ongoing reservoir of ideas, insights, and support to assist me in doing ministry.

Finally, I love life, laughter, and participating in many sports. I'll be very disappointed if there's no hunting and fishing in heaven.

Dale Peterson

Executive Director, Eagle Brook Association

I grew up in Maplewood, Minnesota as a pastor's kid. Our family moved to Indiana my junior year of High School, so I ended up attending Indiana State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (they used to call me "cello boy!") and continued my education at Indiana State University where I earned a Masters of Science in Student Development while working full-time for Indiana State. Most of my professional career has been in Student Development work; most recently I spent 1990-2000 at Bethel University as the Associate Dean for Residence Life.

I was called into the ministry of Eagle Brook Church, April 2000 as the Pastor of Small Groups. September 2001, I became the Pastor of Adult Ministry at Eagle Brook Church. It was my role to help equip adults in becoming authentic followers of Christ. In June of 2003, I was named Executive Pastor of Ministry and my role was to bring unity and leadership to all of the pastors and ministries of EBC. Currently, I serve as the Executive Director of the Eagle Brook Association.

My wife, Amy, and I were married in 1985 and have four wonderful kids, two boys and two girls. Besides being with my family, my favorite places on earth are the Boundary Waters, the Lindahl cabin and my deer stand.

Jason Strand

Teaching Pastor

Steve Whicker

Campus Pastor, Spring Lake Park

I grew up as a missionary kid in South Korea. Our family moved to Southern California when I was a teenager. I met Jolene the day we both enrolled in college. Jolene is an Iowa girl who moved with her family to Colorado when she was a teenager and ended up in California to attend college. Jolene and I have been married for 31 years. We enjoyed raising our three children in Colorado and are now having a blast with our three grandchildren. Two of our children and two of our grandchildren live in the Twin Cities area.

Justin, our youngest son, has been part of Eagle Brook for several years. We've enjoyed watching him mature in his faith at Eagle Brook, building on the Christian foundation he received at home. In the summer of 2007 Justin urged me to submit my resume for the campus pastor position at Spring Lake Park. Though I wasn't looking to leave the multi-site church we were planting in Arizona, I felt God was leading me to investigate the opportunity. Looking back, I can see how God used my life experiences to prepare me to serve as campus pastor. Throughout 30 years of starting ministries and planting churches, nothing has been more exhilarating than helping launch the third campus of Eagle Brook Church.

Jolene and I are putting our roots down in Minnesota. We are eager to make new friends and explore a part of God's magnificent creation that is unfamiliar to us. Above all, we are giving glory to God for accomplishing his purpose in our lives.

Click here to check out my blog.

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