Staff Directory

Student Ministry Staff

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Student Ministries (Growth)

Jen Alfors - Student Ministries Assistant
Aaron Freer - Senior High Pastor - Lino Lakes/White Bear Lake
Lynfield Hines - Student Ministries Pastor - SLP
Dave Holvig - Student Worship Leader
Gari Pisca - Junior High Ministries Director
Aaron Steffen - Junior High Pastor - Lino Lakes/White Bear Lake

Jen Alfors

Student Ministries Assistant

My name is Jenny (not Jennifer), but almost everyone calls me Jen. I graduated with a degree in Psychology from Bethel in 2004. I studied psychology because I love people and find them fascinating. My senior internship turned into a job after graduating and I soon became a Mental Health Practitioner working with young children with autism at a day treatment facility. In the fall of 2005 my small group was reading the John Ortberg book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. I was reminded of my passion for ministry and my desire to “someday” use my gifts of administration for ministry. Two days later I found out about this job opening and decided maybe I should apply, and here I am. It amazes me how God’s timing is so perfect! I love this job and I love being a part of the student ministries team!

In my waking hours I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Some things I do enjoy doing (especially when done in the company of friends and family) are; spending time outside in the summer hiking, canoeing, walking around lakes, boating, watching fireworks, and I love watching a good storm. In the winter I tend to stay indoors a lot more (as I hate the cold) and I have been known to pass time knitting and crocheting mittens, hats and scarves. However I will bundle up and head outside for a good sledding hill.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."

Aaron Freer

Senior High Pastor - Lino Lakes/White Bear Lake

My name is Aaron Freer, but you will rarely hear those close to me call me by my first name.  To them I am Freer, Freestyle, or Freerdom.  I grew up right here in the great state of Minnesota and put on my first pair of hockey skates at age 2. After graduating from Stillwater High School I spent part of my college years at the University of Denver before transferring to Bethel University here in the Twin Cities.

My first "real world" job after college was in the Finance department of a large local company. It was a great first job, but I felt more and more that I was ignoring my call to ministry.  I quickly learned the importance of pursuing your passions in life. For me that was Jesus and working with high school students, and thus here I am, feeling extremely blessed to be a part of what God is doing here at Eagle Brook Church. It's amazing how God can revive your spirit when you pursue and trust Him! I am looking forward to spending time with each of you, so make sure to say, "Hi," when you see me around!

Jeremiah 9:23-24 - "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight."

Lynfield Hines

Student Ministries Pastor - SLP

Hey, what's up. My name is Lynfield Hines…and yes my first name is Lynfield. I grew up in Delta, Colorado on a farm surrounded by mountains. (Go Broncos!) I moved to Minnesota to attend Northwestern College in Roseville. In college I found the love of my life, Dawn. We have a daughter, Breanna, who is beautiful and sweet.

God has given me a heartbeat to see Junior and Senior High Students come to a life changing relationship with Jesus. I am willing to lay it all on the line to make a difference in the lives of students. I have three passions in life…Jesus, my family, and the Broncos. Okay four passions. I can't forget Caribou Coffee. Right now I am the Pastor of student ministries at Eagle Brook Church in the Twin Cities, and I love every minute of it. It is amazing what God is doing in the lives of students. I believe that this generation of students is the most lost generation but also the most reachable. I can't wait to see what God is going to do next.

Eph. 5:1-2 – "Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God."

Dave Holvig

Student Worship Leader

Hey - my name is Dave. I’m still relatively new to leading worship but once I discovered the direct relationship between speed/volume and the kids’ involvement, things picked up, literally.

When I’m not playing guitar I’m probably playing hockey, cause I’m a hockey player.

Every Wednesday I get to hang w/ the greatest kids on earth or at least in the white bear area. I love hanging w/ them and also beating them in floor hockey on retreats.

What else? I grew up in New York, where my parents and youngest bro still reside. I’m the second oldest of five boys. I came out to Minnesota to play hockey and golf at Bethel, I stayed in Minnesota because of the people. My friends out here are absolute rocks and I could never do life w/ out them. (Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.)

Often times you’ll see me after a service wrapping cables blah blah...although I look busy, I’m really just lonely, not really, but please don’t hesitate to come up and say hi. In a church as big as Eagle Brook we need to be aggressive.

This verse has become a theme in my life… Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Gari Pisca

Junior High Ministries Director

After college in Morris, MN, I churched hopped all around the metro area and finally found Eagle Brook Church. Of course it was 25 miles away, but I soon discovered it was totally worth the drive! Eagle Brook has been influential in many aspects of my life – my friends, my growth, and now my work.

I still drive 25 minutes to Eagle Brook – but now I live in Lindstrom, with my husband, Steve, whom I met through friends at Eagle Brook Church. I can't tell you how God has blessed that part of my life, knowing what I need, of course, much better than I could ever pick myself. Steve is a wonderful person that complements my personality in a million ways. We just got married in August 2007.

I kind of fell into Jr High ministry – actually I was lured by free pizza (ask me -it's a good story). But it's been a great adventure and I have fallen in love with what can happen in Junior High Ministry when God is driving. It’s always been a wild ride!

I'm blessed to call Eagle Brook home and look forward to meeting you.

Aaron Steffen

Junior High Pastor - Lino Lakes/White Bear Lake

Hey everybody, I'm Aaron Steffen and I live in the far east land of Hudson, WI with my wife Emily and our pug Edward. A few things that I enjoy are; spending time with my wife, watching my pug sleep, playing football, softball, basketball, that one game where you throw golf balls with ropes on them at pvc pipe, spending time with friends, watching in no particular order; ESPN, the Packers, the Brewers, 24, & the office, and other things on TIVO. I also enjoy underwater basket weaving, eating at the Ponderosa, and cooking. Some of the bands I like are; DC*B, Hillsong United, Shane and Shane, Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, Coldplay, Anberlin, Robbie Seay Band, Relient K, Lifehouse, Bebo Norman, Michael W. Smith – but only the song Secret Ambition and really only the music video to be honest, Goo Goo Dolls, The Fray, The Fold, Switchfoot, Delirious, Jake Smith, TFK, Dave Holvig. I was born on the 11th of March in 1982 during what I have been told was a very exciting episode of Sesame Street. My brother, Jordan, was born about 3.657 years later and with immeasurably more athletic talent and the singing voice of an angel, as we would soon discover.

I met Emily (my wife) during my senior year of High School after a school play I was in. It was mutual respect and admiration at first sight. After High School I struggled through a few years of mistakes and random "life experiences" but I eventually wound up at Northwestern Bible College where I graduated in May 2006 with a degree in Theological and Biblical Studies. Em and I were married a month later in June. Early in December 2006 I left my previous youth ministry job of 4 years and in February 2006 began interning with Ground Zero here at Eagle Brook, which has now become my full time home! Emily and I are both excited to be here and I am pumped to be a part of this ministry.

Eph. 2:8 – "for it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God"