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Gari Pisca

My vitals:

Full Name : Gari Lynn Pisca

Hometown : Shakopee, MN

College(s) Attended : : University of MN-Morris & University of MN-Twin Cities: CALA

Favorite Hobbies : Art (I used to do metal sculpture, but moving into an apartment in St Paul, it was no longer all that accessible - so now it's mostly drawing and painting), tennis, reading, and cooking and baking.

Favorite Bands : Collective Soul (first CD I ever owned), U2, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, John Starkey (local and amazing!) Joe Cocker, Third Day

Spouse : Steve

EBC Start Date : October 2007

After college in Morris, MN, I moved to the cities and started looking for a church, where I could continue to grow in the faith that I found while at school. (UMM has been named one of the most liberal campuses in the nation, but I doubt that I would not have found Christ anywhere else.) 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!

I also met my husband through friends at Eagle Brook Church, and 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 pick myself. He's a wonderful person that complements my personality in a million ways. We just got married in August 2007.

After realizing I wasn't sure what I wanted to be doing with my life, I was encouraged to join the Junior High ministry group, since I had lots of experience with that age group, from coaching tennis to working in an adolescent crisis shelter. I figured I'd give it a shot. Well, I fell in love with what was happening and the impact that God could have in a Jr. High student's life, as well as my own. I found a family within EBC and GZ that has meant the world to me.

I'm excited to be a part of all that is going on at Eagle Brook Church, and especially a part of Ground Zero.

Micah 6:8 - No O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you; to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Aaron Steffen

My vitals:

Full Name : Aaron Robert Steffen

Hometown : Hudson, WI

College(s) Attended : UWRF, Northwestern College

Favorite Hobbies : 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, TIVO. I also enjoy underwater basket weaving, eating at the Ponderosa, cooking

Favorite Bands : 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

Spouse : Emily

EBC Start Date : October 2007

Life has a way of working itself out. Some people like to think of it as fate, others, luck or chance, I call it God. My life has been a series of examples of the love and grace of God. I was born in Hudson, WI 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, as we would soon discover. My parents divorced when I was 5 which was hard but turned out to include some blessings including new family members, invaluable life and faith building experience, and 4 times the Christmas presents. I met Emily (my eventual wife) during my senior year of High School after a school play I was in. It was mutual respect and admiration at first sight. I went off to college at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls to become a History teacher, or so I thought. God knew better. After 3.5 trying years both personally and academically I heeded God's call to finish up my schooling and go into full time ministry. I wound up at Northwestern Bible College where I reacquainted and rekindled my romance with Emily and 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 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. God has truly had His hand on my life since, well forever. He has brought me through some very trying and difficult situations but I am the better for all of it and I am looking forward to the next chapter of life. If it's anything like the others it's going to be epic, legendary even...

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"

DAVE HOLVIG

My vitals:

Full Name : David Karl Holvig

Hometown : New City, New York

College(s) Attended : Nyack College and Bethel University

Favorite Hobbies : hockey, golf, tennis, softball, water-skiing, guitar, halo, reading, writing, recording, eating hot dogs, riding my motorcycle or 'hog', jump starting my motorcycle, body surfing, fishing, throwin’ the pigskin around, wiffle ball, chillin' w/ my dawgs, listening to books on mp3, starbucks, vintage guitar gear and aldkfjaldsfjad..

Favorite Bands : Goodness... um, I guess in no particular order: jimi hendrix, switchfoot, radiohead, led zeppelin, pink floyd, burlap to cashmere, jeff buckley, jazz ministry, jazz is dead, coldplay, delirious?, phish, u2, dave matthews band, john mayer, eskobar, sandi patty, mute math etc...

Spouse : None

EBC Start Date : September 2005

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 em'. (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.

JEN ALFORS

My vitals:

Full Name : Jenny Lynn Alfors (and no it's not Jennifer as many assume)

Hometown : Rockford, IL

College(s) Attended : Bethel College (now University)

Favorite Hobbies : I'm not really a big "hobby" person. Mainly I just really like to spend time with people. But 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 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.

Favorite Bands : This often changes as I tend to listen to a CD that I like until I totally wear it out. But some bands I enjoy are David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, Sara Groves, Bethany Dillon, Toby Mac, Caedmon's Call, Mainstay, Jeremy Camp to name a few.

Spouse : TBD

EBC Start Date : November 2005

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!

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."