Meet Our Staff

• Born & raised in North Dakota
• Graduate of Sioux Falls (SD) Seminary M.Div.
• Started ministry at GracePoint (Temple Baptist) in January, 1998
• Family: Married to Linda since 1977, 3 adult children, 4 grandchildren
• Enjoys golf and reading

 Favorite Quote: “If  the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.”
–Thomas Aquinas-

Favorite Verse: Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.”

• Born & raised in North Dakota
• Graduate of Sioux Falls (SD) Seminary M.Div.
• Ministry at GracePoint for over 25 years
• Family: Married to Linda since 1977, 2 adult children and our four prophet grandsons - Samuel, Daniel, Ezra & Nathan
• Enjoys Minnesota Twins baseball and eating German food

Favorite Quote:  "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore....."
--Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz"

Favorite Bible verse: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."  ---Apostle Paul's words from Galatians 2:20

My heart beats for students! I see them not as leaders of tomorrow but as leaders of today.  I see students accomplish great feats of faith and go through deep valleys of hurts in their lives.  Through this, I want to celebrate with them in moments of triumph and cry with them when their world is coming to an end.  The essence of my philosophy of ministry is incarnational ministry, Jesus with flesh on.  Jesus met people where they were at, whether at the well, the temple or on the side of a hill.  He cried and celebrated with them. I see ministry today thriving on a relational foundation.  I want to dig deep into students life.  Understand their heartbeat, what makes that individual student tick. 

I want to give the student the tools they need to be successful in their walk in their faith.  When they move on from this place in their lives to their next phase, I want to see them spiritually ready to take a stand against the “evil ones flaming arrows” and equipped to share their faith with anyone they come into contact with.  Their faith should not be based on them being at youth group or church, rather their own personal faith that can stand the test of storms in their lives.

• Born in Merced, CA
• Moved to Lodi in 2009
• Attending Eternity Bible College for Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies

• Started ministry at GracePoint (Temple Baptist) in August, 2000
• Graduate of Biola University and Cal State Fullerton
• Certified Marriage & Family Counselor
• Family: Married to Leasa since 1984, 3 adult children, 3 grandchildren
• Enjoys cats

• Born in Visalia, California
• Started on staff in 2015
• 3 children
• Enjoys cooking, entertaining and serving others

• Born & raised in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada
• Attended North American Baptist College where she met her husband, Jeff
• Married since October, 1979, four grown children and one grandson
• Enjoys playing golf and piano, reading and being a grandma.

Favorite Bible verse: Proverbs 14:4 - "Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest."

Favorite Quote: - "The grace of God is infinite and eternal. As it had no beginning, so it can have no end."
                                                                                                                         --A.W. Tozer

• Married to Will since 2011 with 4 children

• Born and Raised on a  North Dakota farm
• BS Music, Minot State University
• MA Religious Studies, North American Baptist Seminary
• Married to Steve since 1977
• 2 Children, 4 Grandsons
• Enjoys playing the piano, reading, traveling, long walks with my husband, being a grandma, writing (blogs at lindaopp.com)
• Favorite Quote: To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable! - Beethoven
• Favorite Verse: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter  2:9

• Born & raised in Lodi
• Employed at GracePoint (Temple Baptist) since 2010
• Married to Jan since 1986, 2 children
• Enjoys farming and cars