Meet Our Staff

Ian Lawson – Lead Pastor

403 (329-3125) ext. 214 ian.lawson@telus.net

Following 13 years of teaching and leadership at Briercrest College and Seminary, the Lord clearly redirected my life. I was invited to come to serve our church in 1998 and my life has changed. I have been changed by our church and I am grateful. I love the Church, the body of Christ. The Church is His idea. He died for the Church, those He is calling to Himself. As a growing disciple of Christ, I love His Word. My preparation for serving here includes formal studies at Briercrest, the University of Alberta and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. My preparation also includes various leadership opportunities that have come to me since high school. Certainly my wife Connie and our five children have helped to shape me. But it actually began when I trust Christ at the age of 17 in my home community of Newmarket, Ontario. I am privileged to work with an amazing group of elders and staff who are deeply committed to Christ and to our church. Christ is at work building His church here in Lethbridge and I am so privileged to be a part of it. Ultimately it’s Jesus Christ, not us, who is building the Church and that takes all the pressure off – “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18).

Dave Acree – Minister of Congregational Care / Small Groups

403 (329-3125) ext. 224 dave.acree@telus.net

After thirty years of pastoring churches in New York, Michigan, Edmonton, and Kamloops, Julie and I came to Lethbridge in 2005. I have been part of the church of Jesus Christ literally from birth, born to Christian parents and raised in a Bible-believing / teaching church that was committed to living as disciples of Jesus Christ. Personally moving from being just part of the church to a growing follower of Christ in my early teens, I can still remember the thrill I experienced in studying and learning what the Bible taught and then living it. That love and ability to understand and live the Word was nurtured further in educational experiences at Moody Bible Institute, Trinity College, Dallas Theological Seminary and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Today that thrill is still there as God gives me opportunities to help others understand and live the Word of God. Julie and I have seen our three married children continue in that love for Christ and the Word and are praying that our six grandchildren will do the same.

Steve Bateman – Minister of Community Outreach/Young Adults

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 212 steve.bateman@telusplanet.net

My discipleship journey began at the age of nine when I became a Christian through an expression of child-like faith. Both my parents became committed followers of Jesus Christ around the same time and joined a Christian Church in Calgary, Alberta. Those decisions changed the course of our family and of my life. While considering various career options in college I was deeply impacted by the strategic importance of the Church in God’s plan. I realized that it is a crucial vehicle by which God’s kingdom manifests itself ‘. . . on earth as it is in heaven.’ I completed my seminary education at Briercrest Graduate School with a view to serve Christ by serving His Church. I have served three local congregations in Edmonton, in Terrace B.C. and now in Lethbridge. I have ministered in both Associate and Lead Pastoral roles. Twenty years after entering vocational ministry I still believe that there is nothing like the church when it is firing on all cylinders. I have a particular passion for seeing us move outside the safety of our walls and serve the broader community in the name of Jesus. I also very much enjoy working with young adults.

Ken Dosso – Minister of Worship Arts

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 211 ken.dosso@telus.net

After teaching music and worship ministry in a college for nine years, I clearly felt the hand of God moving me back into full-time church ministry, specifically at the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge. It has been great being part of this growing, thriving body since the summer of 2007, a body that loves to meet with God in authentic worship. Every week I look forward to planning worship services and other events where Christ is exalted, as well as mentoring and training the next generation for ministry.
Together with my wife, Frances, and my three kids, we are thrilled to be part of this church body and to be able to serve our Lord with such joy.

Mark Dyck – Director of Family Discipleship

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 225 mark.dyck@telus.net

After eight years of full time youth ministry, God has called me and my family to a new area of service in His Church. Youth ministry was in my blood. I loved everything about it – the evenings, the sleepovers, the fun events, the Bible studies, the mission trips and the discussions regarding faith and how it works itself out in a teen’s life. But I believe that somewhere in my last couple years of ministry, God began to change my focus and passion and began preparing me for something new. I still have a strong excitement and desire to minister to people, only now it is towards families and their children. My wife, Bonnie and I are a young family and look forward to the journey of raising our own three sons as disciples of Christ. We are excited to walk with other families and learn together how to grow and nurture healthy Christian attitudes and lives. E-Free Lethbridge has given me an opportunity to work with children and share God’s truth from the Bible with them. They have also given me a chance to equip young families with tools to raise their children, experience the fullness God wants for them, and discover how to be instruments of God’s love in our communities. I am pleased with the opportunity God has led me to and look forward to being His servant here.

Shirley Fast – Bookkeeper

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 219 shirley.fast@telus.net

I have always been one who loves to serve behind the scenes. My role is to provide support and assistance to those who work on the frontlines, and so, in my position as bookkeeper for the church, I enjoy crunching the numbers to help keep the finances in order. Since joining the staff in 2004, I have been blessed to serve the church staff and congregation and in this way fulfill the role God has given me to work in His kingdom.

Brody Jespersen – Director of Teaching (Student Ministries)

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 250 brody.jespersen@telus.net

I am very excited to have joined the staff as of August 2009. I grew up in the town of Taber and, after graduating, moved up to Calgary. In those years, I began my journey with Jesus Christ, got actively involved as a volunteer in youth ministry, enrolled and completed a youth ministry degree at Rocky Mountain College, and served for three years as a junior high pastor at Centre Street Church. Wow, what a ride! I am passionate about seeing teenagers experience the love of Jesus and both begin and grow in their journey with Him and have committed my life to being a part of that process (Acts 20:24). I also love playing music, playing a round of golf, camping, and spending time on the mountains in the winter. My wife, Jodie and I are very excited to be part of this team and look forward to much meaningful ministry ahead.

Joan Klassen – Administrative Assistant

Contact: 403 (329-3125) joan.klassen@telus.net

Joan and her husband, Garry, have been attending the church since May 1986. Joan joined the staff in January 1999 and since that time has been living out her passion of working in an administrative assistant’s position. Joan’s vision is twofold: to be a channel of blessing between our church family and pastors and to use her spiritual gifts and experience to help those she works for fulfill their vision.

Sid Koop – Minister for Student Ministries

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 216 sid@truthmatters.ca

I grew up in a small town in Manitoba and attended a church of about 30 people…on a good Sunday! Needless to say, I had very little experience in the area of “youth ministry”. When I felt God calling me to full-time ministry while at college, I began a three-year journey of exploration to discover what “youth ministry” was all about. Over a decade later, I am still trying to discover what “youth ministry is all about” and I love it! Jen and I are so excited that God has given us the opportunity to share Christ with students, both here in Lethbridge as the Director of Student Ministries, and around our country as a communicator with Truth Matters Ministries. Working with students is our passion and calling, and Jen and I both feel, unless God should change things, that we would love to continue to be involved in youth ministry for a long, long time. The journey continues!

Connie Lawson – Minister for Women’s Ministries

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 218 connie.lawson@telusplanet.net

My life has been shaped by women. My mother was an inspiration to me as a godly woman of influence. The pastors’ wives who rotated through our rural Montana church where I grew up left their imprint on me. I learned to love the local church. After my five children were all in school, I returned to college to complete my BA at Briercrest College. My lifelong dream was realized when I took on the part-time Women 2 Women Ministry position here two years after our move to Lethbridge. My passion is to fulfill the mandate of Titus 2 in our church. I am thrilled when I get to see life change in the women with whom I am involved. I love to teach the Scripture and am most fulfilled when I see next generation women being shaped by the Word and the Spirit.

Jeremy Light – Minister of Church Life (Small Groups)
Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 220 jeremy.light@telusplanet.net

I remember sensing God’s call to full-time vocational ministry while on a mission trip to Ecuador during the summer between my first and second year at Briercrest Bible College. At the time, I had no idea of the specifics but over the next few years of school and ministry experiences, it gradually became clear that God had given me a passion to see youth grow as disciples of Christ. In 2000, I joined the staff team as the Senior High Youth Pastor. Currently I am serving the church by overseeing projects that will help give shape to the mission and ministry of the church for the future. I am very excited to see where God leads me and this church!

Diane Nikkel – Director of Preschool Ministries

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 222 diane.nikkel@telus.net

After volunteering in many different community and church children’s programs, I realized that working with kids was more than just an enjoyable sideline to my business career…it was my passion! God was gracious enough to lead me to a job where I could not only work with kids but also share His love with them. I came on staff part-time in August of 2006 and am loving every minute. Being the Director of Preschool Ministries is great because, to me, working with preschoolers is the BEST. They are just beginning to learn about this great big world, their place in it and are little sponges waiting to soak up every bit of information. I get to give them their first impression of their loving Heavenly Father, something that can set the course for the rest of their lives. Working with kids in the church where I grew up feels like coming full circle. I know from experience the impact solid teaching and dedicated leadership can make through your childhood and teens. Whether it is in the nursery, SonShine Kids (preschool Sunday School) or through Wee College, my goal is to introduce these little ones to Christ and partner with parents to disciple our children. “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deed of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders.” Psalm 78:4

Joanne Penner Herron – Parish Nurse

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 227 joanne.pennerherron@telus.net

Nursing has been a most enjoyable profession and career for me in many ways, providing a variety of opportunities to care for and build relationships with people. I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon with a BScN degree, followed some years later by an MScN degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. After years of nursing in a variety of health care environments and teaching at Lethbridge College, the opportunity of serving as a parish nurse at the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge presented itself. In January 2007, I joined the staff on a part-time basis. Being the parish nurse is an honour and a trust as it offers opportunities to give holistic care to people, addressing all areas of health that connect body, mind and spirit. It is with joy and gratitude that I serve in this position. My husband, John, as well as children and grandchildren multiply the joy of life! “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4: 10-11

Jeremia Radvanszky – Director of Creative Programming – Student Ministries

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 248 jeremia.rad@telus.net

Jeremia grew up in the southern Alberta corridor of Lethbridge / Coaldale on a petting zoo (not in but on!). He began going to Southern Alberta Bible Camp as a young boy and became a Christian while participating in the LITE Force program in the summer of 1997. Since then, Jeremia has been attending this church where he has been involved in youth ministry, serving at SABC as a counselor, fort director, intern, or discipleship director while always having a small group in the church’s youth department. Jeremia met his wife, Anya, while they were both youth leaders and were married in 2005. Jeremia went to Bible school at Rocky Mountain College and then graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Biotechnology. Jeremia loves to interact with youth, seeing them grow in their understanding and relationship with Christ.

Ron Schellenberg – Minister for Connecting

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 215 ron.schellenberg@telusplanet.net

It was in our first year of marriage that God began to plant a seed in our hearts for full-time vocational ministry. That seed continued to grow as Terri and I headed off to seminary and then accepted our first pastorate in Saskatchewan. From there we moved on to serve at a small Bible college in southwestern Saskatchewan. In each of these locations, God continued to shape me, to grow me, and to impress on me the significance of the local church and how it is the hope of the world. In 1994, God led us to Lethbridge where I took on the role of Children’s Pastor and then Family Ministries. In the last few years, I’ve made a transition from ministering to families to Connecting Ministries which includes connecting newcomers into our church family, connecting individuals and couples into Small Groups, and assisting in connecting individuals into places of service. It is my vision that through this ministry, individuals will be encouraged to move from being passive attenders to active participants in His Church.

Dave Siverns – Assistant – Worship Arts/Young Adults

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 247 dave.siverns@telus.net

Growing up in the church, I always had an interest in church music. After graduating from high school, I faced a big decision – what do I want to call my career? Four years later I graduated from Briercrest Bible College with a BA in Music and a heart for ministry in the local church. I joined the E-Free staff in August of 2008 right after Rachel and I were married in Hamilton, Ontario (my stomping ground). I enjoy the great variety of things my job entails within Worship Arts and Young Adults – from designing slides for projection to teaching groups of people how to play together as a band. At the end of the day, the thing that I love most about my job is leading people in worship through music. I’m passionate about clearly communicating the truth of our great God and seeing people give their lives to God as living sacrifices.

Cindy Smith – Minister of Administration

Contact: 403 (329-3125) ext. 210 cindy.smith@telusplanet.net

I’ve always loved the details. But I also love big picture ideas and plans. And I love our church, especially since it’s been home since I was a kid. Seems like the perfect combination for my role as Minister of Administration. I joined the staff in 1984, feeling like I was created specifically for this position, and still love being part of the exciting ministry of this local body. Whether it’s leading the support and facility staff, working alongside my colleagues, overseeing the church finances, managing the building and campus, or the myriad of other responsibilities, I’ve always tried to follow the words of 1 Corinthians 14:40 (taken a little out of context!): “Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”