Missional Leaders/Staff

Leadership Team

Community Covenant Church is a congregationally-led church.  The congregation has entrusted to a Leadership Team the responsibility for overseeing the spiritual welfare of the congregation and for directing and overseeing the ministries and business affairs of the church.  The current Leadership Team is:

  • Janet Fales
  • Cyndy Fritts
  • Ted Hammett
  • Chris Kallander
  • Jim Lomen
  • Pastor Mark Meredith
  • Chris Noyles
  • Ben Schoffmann, Chair
  • Beth Smith

 

Staff Team of Missional Leaders

 

Ann Murphy ~ Children's Ministry Leader

Ann has been involved with children and families since 1982.  She has a Masters Degree in Education and a Diploma of Christian Studies from Regent College.  Ann and her husband, Kevin, have a daughter, Jennifer, and a son, Jason.  Ann joyfully serves to support a Children's Ministry Team that helps children enter into a passionate life relationship with Jesus.  This involves a strong partnership between church and family in raising faith-shaped kids.  Ann enjoys downhill skiing, learning, writing, and enjoying Alaska's mountains.

 

 

Autumn Botts ~ 5pm Service Worship Coordinator

Autumn has a passion for God and for authentic worship.  She has been leading worship for 5 years and loves it!  She enjoys hiking, reading, and cross-country skiing.  She and her husband, Neil, have been in Alaska since 1993.

 

 

 

Candis Olmstead ~ Pastoral Assistant/Project Coordinator

Candis and her family began attending Community Covenant Church in 2002. She has served in the senior high youth group since 2006.  Candis grew up in Alaska and earned her degree in Journalism and Public Communications from UAA in 1996. She has been in the Air National Guard for 16 years and has worked part-time at the church since 2007. Her primary responsibilities include communications, planning, and coordination for various projects and events.  Candis and her husband, Kurby, have a daughter, Makinna, and a son, Braden.

 

Cheri McDonald ~ Office and Building Use Manager

Cheri is responsible for our smooth-running church office.  Her duties are numerous and often go unnoticed.  From greeting visitors with a smile to getting the newsletter and worship guide printed on time, to scheduling events and people, Cheri is on top of it.  She is passionate both about the ministries of Community Covenant and its people.  She and her husband Mark have four kids, Josh, Elijah, Amanda & Jake and two grandchildren, Krystina & Austin.  They have lived in Alaska since 1994 and love it.  Her hobbies include reading, drinking coffee while watching the snow fall in the winter and knitting.

 

 

Dan Pinkerton ~ Leader of Counseling and Family Ministries 

Dan and his wife Kim moved to Alaska with their two children Chris and Melissa in 1989. At that time Dan was in the USAF as a Special Agent. He retired in 1993 and went into full Pastoral ministry with the Church of the Nazarene. He served in the role of Associate Pastor for 2 years at Anchorage First Church and then moved to Eagle River Nazarene where he served as Associate Pastor and Interim Senior Pastor until 1997.  Dan was active with Chugiak High School as a coach and working with At Risk Teens while completing his Masters degree in Education and Counseling. Dan began full-time employment with the Anchorage School District in 2000, working at Clark Middle School before transferring to his current position at Central Middle School. Dan and Kim have worked in youth and family ministries for 32 years as volunteers. Dan has felt a call on his life to continue in Christian ministry and recently made the decision to work part-time with the school while pursuing more active ministry with Community Covenant Church. He is currently working towards his Licensed Professional Counseling certification. Dan and Kim have been attending CCC for six years. Kim and Dan enjoy outdoor activities and are recent grandparents.

 

 

Deana Chambers ~ Nursery Coordinator

Deana and her family began attending Community Covenant in 1999.  She became a nursery volunteer in March 2000 and the Nursery Coordinator in August 2000. Deana believes this is where God has called her to serve and finds great joy caring for the little children.  She has a BS degree in nursing.  She began ballet training 23 years ago and has continued to dance as a student and faculty member with Alaska Dance Theatre.  She and her husband Sonny have 2 children, Adam and Mary (and two very loved, pampered, and spoiled cats).  The Chambers family moved to Alaska in 1996 with the Air Force.

 


  

Erika Whittington ~ Prayer Ministries Coordinator

Erika and her husband, John, moved to Alaska in July 2004 courtesy of the US Air Force.  She has two amazing children. Virginia, who will one day follow in her father's footsteps as a lawyer and Anna, the social butterfly.  Erika led the college and career group (Kairos) for almost three years and recently answered a calling to step into the Prayer Ministries Coordinator position.  She has a passion for healing prayer ministry, and has served on the prayer ministries team for several years.

 

Erin Shepherd-Ham ~ Women's Ministries Coordinator

Erin has lived in Alaska with her family since 1998. She and David have two daughters, Schuyler and Gracelyn. They began attending Community Covenant Church in 1999. Erin is passionate about ministering to women, caring for a woman's soul, and encompassing the many and diverse hats each woman wears. Erin considers it a personal mission to break the stereotype of the "perfect Christian woman" and to show God's love through the unique giftsthat He has blessed each woman with. When there is time to put on her "fun and relaxation hat," Erin loves to sea kayak, snowshoe, bead, and read.

 

 

George Mastroyanis ~ Pastor of Adult Formation

Dr. George Mastroyanis and his wife, Sandie, have lived in Alaska since 1984. They have a daughter and son who are both in college. George was born in East Africa and has studied and taught in Britain, S. Africa and the U.S.  He is a professor of education, and currently teaches graduate and undergraduate classes at UAA in the Elementary Education Program. He is passionate about missions and teaching God's Word. He has been involved in introducing Alpha courses to Alaska and has also participated in missions service in Taiwan, Thailand and Mexico. Interests include travel, history, geography and being a life-long learner.

 

Jeff Keyser ~ Pastor of Student Ministries

Jeff has lived in Alaska for several years now and loves it.  He grew up in Colorado and lived there until going to college in Chicago at North Park University where he received his undergraduate degree in Youth Ministries.  Jeff is married to Amy and he loves working with youth, going to concerts, playing ultimate frisbee, basketball, and anything outdoors.

 

 

 

 

Keith Bergstrom ~ Pastor of Adult Ministries

Keith and his wife Cynthia have three boys: Michael, Travis, and Jared.  Keith has a Master of Divinity from North Park Seminary and previously served 14 years as Associate Pastor in Alexandria, Minnesota.  Keith's ministry has been defined by integrity, spiritual maturity, and being a team player.  His hobbies include bird watching, reading and hiking.

 

 

 

 

Mark Meredith ~ Lead Pastor

Mark comes from a Washington State business background and has lived in Alaska since the church started in 1995.  He earned his Master's degree from Regent College in Vancouver, BC.  Mark is in process of completing his Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA.  Most importantly, Mark strives to deliver Christ's message in a form that honors the authority of Scripture while being relevant to the challenges we face today.  Mark and his wife, Patty, have three boys: Aaron, Jesse, and Samuel.  Mark enjoys running, fishing, reading and working with people.

 

 

 

Nanci Lomen ~ Assistant Student Ministries Leader

Nanci has been part of ministry to young people since 2004 and has been on staff since August of 2008.  She helps with Youth Group, Sr. High Bible study, D Group, and helps Pastor Jeff with administrative duties.  Nanci has been married to Jim since 2003 and has two children (Jodi, married to Jackson Bailey and currently living at Ramstein AFB in Germany; and Eric Fragnoli, a senior high student) and two bonus-children (Victoria and Brandt Lomen).  Calling Alaska ‘home’ for over twenty years, Nanci enjoys coffee, chocolate, movies, down-hill skiing, running, and traveling.

  

 

Neil Botts ~ Pastor of Equipping Ministries

Neil joined the CCC staff in 2003 and his professional background includes management, banking and workforce development.  His desire is to equip Christ-followers to engage their faith in everyday life and create pathways for people to enter into missional opportunities.  Neil is married to Autumn and they have lived in Alaska ever since they were married in 1993.  He has a degree from Auburn University and is working towards a Master's Degree from Regent College in Vancouver, BC.  Neil enjoys hiking/backpacking, reading and participating in global mission opportunities.

 

 

Pam Swanberg ~ Children's Ministries Connector

Pam enjoys meeting people and connecting them with opportunities to serve in children's ministry. She and her husband, Scott, have three children. They have lived in Eagle River since 1993. Pam has a Master's degree in Christian Education from North Park Theological Seminary. She enjoys hiking, camping, cross-country skiing and teaching.

 

  

 

 

Stacey Pratt ~ Local Mission Coordinator

Stacey and her husband, Dana, moved to Alaska in 2003 courtesy of the U.S.A.F. They have an awesome son, Max, who keeps them on their toes, and a dog that is 105 in people years. Stacey became a Christian while attending Bible study at Community Covenant and has never looked back. She has a heart for the needs of those the community around her and a strong determination to help get those needs met. In her spare time, Stacey likes to spend time with her family, workout at the gym, cook new recipes and read.

 

 

Tyler Shaw ~ Worship Pastor

Tyler is responsible for planning and preparing worship for various congregational gatherings and for providing oversight for the praise team, sound, projection and ushering ministries.  Tyler promotes our church values of honesty, relevance, accessibility and excellence in God-centered worship.  Tyler has lived in Oregon and SW Washington where he earned a Masters of Pastoral Studies from Multnomah Biblical Seminary.  He and his wife, Wendy, have a daughter, Linnea, and son, Tobyn.