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Scott was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and accepted the Lord as his Savior at the age of 5 through a Child Evangelism Fellowship Club taught by his aunt. He graduated from High School in 1983 and then attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA where he graduated in 1987 with honors as a Pastoral Ministries Major with a Minor in Greek . He went on to get his Master’s Degree through Liberty’s correspondence program.
Scott spent his first 9 years in ministry as a Youth Pastor near Dayton, Ohio where his program twice received the “Youth Group of the Year” award in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. He has also pastored growing churches in Indiana and Pennsylvania before coming to E-Free Church in March of 2011. He has been part of mission trips to many parts of the world and helps to co-lead trips to Israel. Scott’s greatest passion is to see as many people as possible reached for Christ through the local church. |
Scott Distler
Lead Pastor |
Steve Habusta
Sault Campus Pastor |
Steve grew up in the great state of Ohio and grew up playing hockey throughout lower Michigan. After high school he migrated north to "God's Country" and graduated with a degree in Recreational Management from Lake Superior State University. Steve has continued his education through Cincinnati Christian University. Steve and his wife Tiffany have three kids (Conner, Steven and Ayla) Steve loves spending time on a golf course, on a pool deck coaching, or in the stands at sporting events cheering on his kids.
After spending the past five years in Northern Virginia, Steve and Tiffany are excited to be back home. Steve says he has the best job in the world, because he gets to connect with people in the community his family loves. He is passionate about outreach and meeting people where they are at. Steve believes we are called to love God, love people and impact the world and he wants to be part of that journey with people in Sault Ste. Marie and the EUP. |
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Brian was born and raised in Gaylord, Michigan. When Brian went away for college, he says he was “far from God”, especially through the experience of a large university (Western Michigan) in which his dorm held more people than all of the school he attended in Gaylord. Brian came to know Jesus as his personal savior after his college years while living in Marysville, Ohio with his newly married wife, Kim. Brian and Kim felt the call to attend church to meet people. God met them right there where they were at and they quickly felt part of a community and began to see how God was working in their lives. Brian committed numerous hours to the church in a volunteer role and knew from that point forward that His call was to serve the local church. Brian eventually left the secular work force as an Information Technology consultant to attend Rochester College with Kim. They both completed their Biblical Studies degree in just over 14 months, while treating four hour long night classes as “date nights”! Brian has continued in full time ministry serving in a variety of roles as a middle school youth pastor, connections pastor, and taking on administrative responsibilities for the churches he served and worked at. Brian and Kim have six kids that keep them extremely busy and are excited to be “back home” in Gaylord to raise their kids and watch them grow in their faith at E-Free. Brian’s role at E-Free is to oversee the day to day operations and help lead the staff in the administrative areas of the church.
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Brian Switalski
Church Administrator |
Jim Mathis
Associate Pastor |
Jim grew up in Saginaw. Michigan. He gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ at Bay Shore Camp in 1959, graduated from Taylor University (IN) in 1964, and Asbury Seminary in 1968. He accepted the call to the Gaylord Evangelical Free Church (GEFC) in 1987 after serving the Upland (IN) Evangelical Mennonite Church. Both ministries experienced tremendous growth under his direction. GEFC has been blessed by his preaching, leadership and counseling skills and has growth during his 20 years of service. Jim's love for the people of Gaylord has been reciprocated. He was honored as the town's Burgermeister (first citizen) and, most recently, the Chamber of Commerce's Businessperson of the Year (2004).
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Dave currently leads our student ministry (7th-12th grades) here at E- Free Church where he has attended since 1980. He gave his life to Jesus in 1989 after hearing Josh McDowell give a compelling reason that there was only one way to be saved. That one way was by putting faith in trust in Jesus Christ. It is by faith alone by His undeserved grace that we can have salvation as a free gift. Dave felt that, of all men, he certainly did not deserve that kind of gift, yet he gives it to all who accept it. Dave knew in 1995 that he wanted to serve Him working with students. He rededicated his life to Jesus late that summer. He has worked and volunteered in student ministries since 1995, studying youth ministry through Point Loma Nazarene.
Dave is married to his high school sweetheart Kari, and they have 5 wonderful kids. In 2017 I he accepted the call to full time youth ministry at E-Free. Life Scriptures: Psalm 40: 2-4 / Romans 8: 31-39 |
Dave Baragrey
Director of Youth Ministries
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David Harstine
Pastor of Adult Ministries |
David is passionate about seeing people soar. He believes everyone has been gifted by God to serve others in a powerful way. His job is to help them find their fit and “take off”. He considers himself a coach who empowers people in ministry in their area of spiritual gifts and passion. He develops leadership teams to work together cohesively and to move forward effectively. He connects well with people and is a natural organizer. David enjoys one-on-one and group mentoring/discipleship of staff and ministry leaders. While keeping the big picture in mind, he helps teams think through the details, ask the right questions, measure results and make good decisions. David considers himself a wise and accessible resource.
David grew up in Akron, Ohio, graduated from Purdue University in Electrical Engineering and worked for General Motors before entering pastoral ministry. David received a Master of Divinity Degree from Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary at their Charlotte, North Carolina Campus. David loves hiking, biking, swimming and just about anything outdoors. Ice cream is his favorite food and he is so glad there is a Culver’s in Gaylord. David tells people that ice cream is what we will eat in heaven. David is married to Brenda and has twin adult sons Joshua and Jonathan. |
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Jack’s life has been ordered around his childhood acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. By 12th grade he accepted a clear life-long calling to full time ministry. After 2 of years of Bible College he graduated from Cedarville University with a B.A. in psychology with a Bible focus, earning in 1991 a M.A. in Professional Christian Counseling from Liberty University. In 1993 he became a Michigan Licensed Professional counselor.
Since 1972 his ministry has included camp ministry, the youth pastorate, working with troubled teens and their families, coordinating a Christian counseling center, working in 2 county mental health settings.and associate pastor. Jack and his wife Janet, have 2 grown daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 1 grandchild. |
Jack Dutton
Director of Counseling Ministries |
Susie Hartz
Counselor |
Susie grew up here in Northern MI and loves the small town atmosphere. She cannot imagine living anywhere else. Once graduated from Atlanta High School, she moved to Alpena and attended Alpena Community College. That is where Susie met her husband, Stephen, and married in 2000. They started a family very early in their marriage and have three wonderful boys, Collin (16), Tyler (14) and Benjamin (10). Stephen and Susie grew up knowing Jesus, but it was early in their marriage when they dropped to their knees and committed their lives and marriage to Christ.
Susie received a BA in Family Life Education through Spring Arbor University in 2001. It wasn’t until 2010 that she returned back to school and received her Masters in Counseling through Liberty University. Her employment history began by working within Head Start and Early Head Start Programs in Otsego County. She moved into the counseling profession by working in Catholic Human Services, transitioned to Michigan Therapeutic Consultants and then landed into her own private practice here in Gaylord. "I truly feel that God has been transitioning me into the perfect setting that allows me the flexibility to begin my path in ministry. I am extremely excited to be able to begin this journey." |
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Brian feels that it takes more than just experience to be a strong technology director. He believes it takes a passion to want to make an impact on people's lives. Using media and other technology in the church has the opportunity to inspire, motivate, and move people in different ways. By telling a good story, you can make the bible and Jesus' teachings come alive. He likes to think of it as a modern way to tell parables; making it relevant for today's culture. Brian says whether it's through humor or it has a more serious tone, it's all about making an impact in someone’s life.
Brian grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana, graduated from Purdue University, and spent 20+ years in the video production field. Brian loves to watch his three children (Isaac, Olivia, and Emma) participate in sports, whether it’s on the soccer field, the softball field, or in the gym. Brian is married to Tara and tells people that he married his best friend and wouldn’t want to go through this life without her. |
Brian Gerstenberger
Director of Technical Ministries |