Lead Pastor
Dave Heisterkamp
Daily I am attempting to live my life as a thank you back to God. I am very thankful for having loving, caring parents as I was growing up. My mom made sure I was in church every Sunday and I attended a parochial school through 12th grade. I learned many things about God but do not remember anyone talking to me about having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. My life spiraled out of control my first…
Ministry Development, Equipping & Missions Pastor
Trevor Meers
If any label beyond “Christ follower” fits me, it’s “pilgrim.” If any label beyond “Christ follower” fits me, it’s “pilgrim.” Just when I think I’ve settled into a comfortable spot in this Christian journey, God leads me to a new experience that turns out to be a fresh way of shaping me to better serve Him. I accepted Christ as my Savior at age 5. But as a young adult, I began to pursue a deeper commitment to Christian growth…
Connections & Family Pastor
Joel Newman
God used that little girl to show me that His plan, not mine, is perfect. I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home. I remember when I was five or six years old that I had some relatives who passed away. As I attended those funerals, I remember thinking a lot about death and as a young child I was scared to death of death. I remember asking my dad one night about all of this. My…
Youth Pastor
Tony O’Tool
Much of the change I’ve seen in my life has been the process of God continually breaking down my sinful nature and changing my attitude and desires. As I look back at my life and my salvation it is clear to me that God has been abundantly faithful and I have much to be thankful for. Like many people who are saved at a young age, I do not have a lot of memories of my life before I trusted…
Elder
Douglas Ohlfest
I realized eventually that the answers that I was searching for, I wouldn’t have in this life. I was the oldest of 4 boys in our family. We didn’t have much materialistically; we were a fairly poor family, but we never suffered for lack of anything. I would say we had very strong Christian upbringing. I knew about God, but it was just head knowledge. It was kind of like 2+2=4. It’s just a fact. I just knew it was…
Elder
Brady Warrick
I came to know Jesus as my savior in a Hy-Vee catering van when I was in college. I came to know Jesus as my savior in a Hy-Vee catering van when I was in college. We were on our way to grill some pork loins, I was driving and my co-worker asked if I knew what would happen to me when I died. I told him it was dependent on how good I was while I am on earth…
Elder
Mike Safley
God provided a way to have my sins forgiven and spend eternity with Him… Growing up as a farm kid, I was taught hard work and doing good to others. I attended a small country church with my parents where I heard about Jesus and Bible stories but never heard that Jesus wants a relationship. I heard the Gospel for the first time when I attended a different church when I was in high school. I contemplated what I heard…
Elder
Brad Funkhouser
I remember the feeling of joy and the burden that had been lifted off my shoulders. I had the joy and privilege of growing up in a Christ-following home. My parents were both godly people and active in our church. Thanks to them, I grew up in Sunday school hearing God’s Word on a weekly basis. It was in those classes that I was blessed to come to understand the Gospel message at an early age. One day when I…
Worship Director
Josh Sanders
I have learned that the most painful times of this life are actually God’s gracious, relentless pursuit of my heart I was born & raised in northeast Iowa; I grew up & graduated from high school in Dike, a small rural town near Cedar Falls. As a pastor’s kid, I’ve been in & around church my entire life; thankfully that also means I was continually exposed to the truth of the gospel. I still remember at 4 years old, telling…
Technology Director
Jacob Heisterkamp
His relentless love and provision have shaped my life, leading me to seek Him first. I was born and raised in central Iowa, blessed with Bible-believing parents who nurtured my faith from an early age. At the age of 5, during a Vacation Bible School at Saylorville Church, I realized my need for a Savior. With child-like faith, I trusted Jesus, and my journey with Him began. My childhood faced a significant challenge when I was diagnosed with a rare…
Office Administrator
Deb Safley
After a difficult divorce, my relationship with God grew much deeper. My parents were missionaries, and I was born and raised in Brazil. As a young child, I was proud of my Christian/missionary heritage. At the age of 5, I realized that the faith of my grandparents and parents would not save me. With my mom’s help, I asked Christ to forgive me of my sins and save me! I attended Faith Baptist Bible College and then got married. I…
Children’s Ministry Director
Amanda Sparks
God has a plan for us but we have to trust Him and give Him control. I went to college at Ashford University where I earned my B.A. and planned to teach high school chemistry. While at college I met my husband, Craig, and after we graduated in 2004, jobs moved us to Ankeny. When we moved our new neighbors asked us for over a year if we wanted to go to church. Shortly after beginning to attend Lakeside we…
Women’s Counselor
Deb Heisterkamp
We experienced God’s faithfulness to strengthen and sustain us. I grew up in a loving and Christ-centered home. I am very thankful for the upbringing and training of godly parents. When I was eight years old I realized I was a sinner and the burden of my sin turned my heart to the Lord. I was by myself when I knelt in front of our sofa and prayed to God confessing my sin and asking Christ to be my Savior. After…