Dr. Martin Giese

Martin Giese serves as President of Oak Hills Christian College and the Oak Hills Fellowship (Oak Hills Christian College, Camp Oak Hills, Oak Hills Center for Native American ministries, and Oak Hills Church Ministries), in Bemidji, Minnesota. Previously, Martin served for 17 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, and 23 years as Sr. Pastor of Faithbridge Church of Park Rapids, Minnesota.

Martin grew up on a farm in western Minnesota, (Appleton) and came to personal faith in Christ at age 8. He attended the University of Minnesota, Morris, St. Cloud State University, Oak Hills Bible College, Moody Graduate School, and Bethel University/Bethel Theological Seminary. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies with a concentration in Christian Education from Oak Hills Bible College (now Oak Hills Christian College), a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Moody Graduate School, and a Doctor of Ministry in Executive Leadership from Bethel University/Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

In addition to his pastoral ministry Martin served for 10 years as an adjunct faculty member of the Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism – instructing church leaders concerning motivating Town and Country Churches for evangelism. Martin also served as founder and director of the "Country Shepherds' Workshop," an interdenominational training seminar for pastors of Town and Country churches based at Oak Hills Christian College, Bemidji, MN. In addition to his pastoral duties, Martin travels as a conference speaker and consultant on Town and Country Church leadership throughout North America.

Martin and his wife Marcia have four children: Anna (Shane) Long, Sarah (Jeff) Donatelle, Rachel Giese, and David (Sally) Giese, and thirteen grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren.

Pastor Tamara Hutsell

Tamara Hutsell serves as the solo lead pastor of Swedeburg Covenant Church, a 150-year-old farm-rural congregation located about 30 miles outside Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska. She has served in this role for the past three years and brings more than 25 years of ministry experience across camping, youth, women’s, administrative, and pastoral leadership.

Tamara studied Biblical and Religious Studies with an emphasis in Christian Leadership and Youth Ministry at Tabor College. She will complete her Master of Arts in Christian Formation at North Park Theological Seminary this May. She is deeply committed to discipleship, intergenerational ministry, and helping rural churches thrive with faithfulness and imagination.

Tamara and her husband, Bryce, are celebrating 20 years of marriage and look forward to finalizing the adoption of their two daughters, ages 15 and 5, this summer. She enjoys writing and recently launched a blog called Rooted & Reaching about life, faith, and church at tamaralhutsell.blog. In her free time, she also enjoys family hammock time, campfires, and making music with friends.

Dr. Jason McConnell

Dr. McConnell brings almost three decades of pastoral leadership, serving faithfully in rural congregations and championing the vitality of small-town churches. Before becoming Director of the Rural Church Institute, he served for 22 years as Senior Pastor of the East Franklin Union Church and Franklin United Church—a multisite ministry in the dairy farming community of Franklin, Vermont.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois; a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry in Christian Preaching from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.

In addition to his pastoral ministry, Dr. McConnell invests deeply in academic and mentoring roles. He serves at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and with the Rural Home Missionary Association, equipping pastors and leaders to strengthen rural churches and extend the gospel into their communities. His appointment reflects a lifelong commitment to helping rural congregations flourish and fulfill their mission for Christ.

Beyond his ministry and teaching, Dr. McConnell treasures family life with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children—Sarah, Marcus, Duncan, and Matthias. He is also an avid learner and adventurer, finding joy in reading literature, listening to music, preparing gourmet meals, and exploring the outdoors through hiking, cycling, kayaking, fishing, skiing, and snowshoeing. His appreciation for the arts extends to frequent visits to museums, where he delights in engaging with creativity and culture.

Dr. Ron Klassen

Ron is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and Director Emeritus of the Rural Home Missionary Association (RHMA). He served as the Executive Director of RHMA from 1990-2023.

Prior to that, he served as the pastor of rural churches in Nebraska and Oklahoma. He received a BA from John Brown University, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a DMin from Bethel Seminary. He has served as a guest professor or lecturer at a number of Bible colleges, universities, and seminaries. He has preached in churches all across the country, spoken at numerous pastors’ conferences, and is a frequent seminar leader.

He has written dozens of articles, including several for Leadership Journal. Ron is the author of “Maximize! Leveraging the Strengths of Your Small Church.” He has coauthored two books: “No Little Places: The Untapped Potential of the Small-Town Church” and “Leading Through Change: Shepherding the Town and Country Church in a New Era.” Ron has been married to Roxy since 1977. They have been blessed with three children, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and two granddaughters.

Dr. Mary Hendrickson

Rev. Dr. Mary Hendrickson serves as the Director of Missional Vitality for the ECC. She lives in Gresham, OR, and has three sons and two grandsons. Mary’s ministry passion and call are in the areas of leadership development, congregational health and transformative discipleship. She has the privilege of leading a national vitality team that has created a suite of resources to strengthen ministry and mission of ECC churches.

Mary’s post-graduate degrees are from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. In her spare time, Mary enjoys doing projects around her house and yard, especially decorating and gardening.

Pastor Jake King

Pastor Jake King is currently serving in a dual role at Braham Ev. Covenant Church in Braham, MN, as both the Youth Pastor for 18 years and Lead Pastor for the last four years.

Jake has served in active ministry since about 2005, beginning informally after high school as a volunteer youth leader at Oxlip Ev. Free Church. He had an early passion for youth ministry which has kept him in ministry for over 20 years. He holds a Certificate in Rural Leadership and Ministry from Oak Hills Christian College, and a Ministry License through the Evangelical Covenant Church.

He is passionate about sharing His faith, learning from God’s Word and living out God’s love and truth in the community of Braham, MN. Jake believes strongly in the importance of small church / small town / rural ministry, and believes it is a massive battle ground for our faith.

Jake is married to his wife of 21 years, Sara, and they have an 18 year old son, Noah. Jake enjoys playing guitar and drums, wood working, and taking trips to the family land up near Lake Superior. He and his family enjoy getting outside, gardening, and traveling to the Great Lake, going for long walks, and simply being home.

Pastor Tim Shekleton

Pastor Tim Shekleton has served with his wife Cheryl at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton, MN for over 20 years. Tim also serves as Partner to the Commission on Town & Country Ministries of the Evangelical Covenant Church. He received his MDiv from Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN.

Tim is adventurous whether exploring nature or new relationships through outreach and hospitality.

Tim enjoys spending time with his 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

Cheryl Shekleton

Cheryl Shekleton has served at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton, MN for over 20 years in Children's and Worship Ministry.

Cheryl has a heart for leading worship, sharing Jesus with children, and blessing others through cooking. Time with her kids and grandkids fills her life with joy.

Pastor Andy League

Pastor Andy has been serving Lowry Community Covenant Church as their lead pastor since June of 2018. Before this he served as a Children, Youth, and Family Pastor in Pennock, MN. The grandson of a Nebraska dairy farmer, Andy has re-discovered his roots in God’s calling to serve as a rural pastor. Andy believes the pastor’s job is to help people pay attention to God (as Eugene Peterson says), and Andy loves to do that through teaching Scripture, prayer, and spiritual direction with God’s people, week in and week out.

Pastor Andy received his biblical training at Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Seminary. He is married to Shannon, and the Lord has blessed them with five wonderful children. In addition to pastoring, Andy loves spending time with his wife and family, reading all manner of books, making and enjoying music of all kinds, playing soccer, gardening, and practicing hospitality.

Pastor Brad Roth

Brad Roth is a pastor in rural central Kansas and Senior Fellow for Faith and Culture at the Town Square Collaborative of the University of the Ozarks. He grew up baling hay, tending sheep, and shearing Christmas trees on a farm in Illinois. He is a graduate of Augustana College, Harvard Divinity School, and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Brad has a heart for serving God and God’s people.

Brad’s first book, “God’s Country: Faith, Hope, and the Future of the Rural Church” won an Award of Merit from Christianity Today.

He’s also the author of “The Hunger Inside: How the Meal Jesus Gave Transforms Lives” (Paraclete 2022), and “Flyover Church: How Jesus’ Ministry in Rural Places Is Good News Everywhere” (Herald 2024).

Brad is passionate about sharing faith in word and deed and living out God’s love in the community. He and his wife enjoy getting outside, gardening, and hanging out with their sons.

You can find Brad at DoxologyProject.com.

Dr. Denise Kjesbo

Dr. Denise Muir Kjesbo served 25 years as Professor and Program Director at Bethel Seminary in the Master of Arts in Children’s, Youth and Family Ministry. Denise is passionate about facilitating partnership between Ministry Leaders, Parents and Faith Influencers for their vital calling to facilitate child discipleship.

Growing up in a small town in SW Minnesota, Denise has a special place in her heart for the leaders of rural and small-town ministry. That upbringing launched her into her academic pursuits including a B.A. in Psychology from Bethel University, an M.Div. in Family Ministry from Sioux Falls Seminary and a Ph.D. in Education from Trinity International University.

After serving decades in youth ministry, Denise and her husband Allen, planted a church called, The Point is to Serve, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They have two grown children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren who are the joy of their lives! They are actively involved in passing faith on to the next generation in their family and want to encourage parents, grandparents, and faith influencers to join them in this exciting journey!

Pastor Hector Franco

Pastor Hector Franco is the Senior Pastor of Morris Evangelical Free Church in Morris, Minnesota. He serves in a multigenerational, multicultural, bilingual ministry context and has helped launch a second-language Spanish service at MEFC.

Hector immigrated from Mexico at the age of fourteen without knowing English, an experience that has deeply shaped his heart for ministry and cross-cultural leadership. He has served at Morris Evangelical Free Church for the past sixteen years. Hector has been married to his wife, Sarah, for twenty-two years, and together they have five children.

Pastor Gary Gilkinson

Rev. Gary Gilkinson is now into his ninth year serving Winthrop Evangelical Covenant Church in Winthrop, MN, a rural community of 1400 people. Gary has served rural churches in both Canada and the United States.

Gary and his wife, Pam, have two married children who both live in Canada and their son also pastors a rural Covenant church in Manitoba.