Dan Lute, Senior Pastor
Pastor Dan has been Senior Pastor at WOL since August of 2001. He comes to us from the small community of Union Mills, Indiana where he was Assistant Pastor of Worship, University Ministries, and Teaching in Valparaiso. Dan and his wife Deb have two grown daughters, Amber and Erin.
I am originally from a little town in Indiana called Hanna where my mother and father and two sisters grew up in a farming community. My journey of faith began when I was a child going to the Hanna United Methodist Church. This is where I learned about God and His Word, but I never made the connection between information and a personal relationship with Christ. During my Junior High and early Sr. High years I fell away from the church and through God’s sovereign hand starting dating Deb. I say sovereign because it was through the relationship with her, her father, and through her church (Calvary Church of Valparaiso, In.) that I became aware of my sinful state and my need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It was during a series on the book of Revelation that I was provoked to make a decision. No longer could I be undecided, uncommitted. At the age of 19 I accepted Jesus Christ and his perfect work on the cross as my way of salvation, salvation from hell and from my own sinful heart. Since that time God has brought me through the mountains and the valleys of life, moved me from lay ministry to professional ministry, and moved me from the only place Deb and I have ever known to a place where God had another family waiting for us. The Christian life has not always been an easy road to walk. There have been many joys and heartaches along the way, but through it all God has been faithful and blesses my life daily. It is a joy to serve Him.
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Wade Yocum, Youth Pastor In November 2006, Alpena became our new place of residence and ministry. Although we have only been here a short time it feels like a great fit, kind of like your favorite pair of jeans or long time treasured baseball glove. I really love the people here. I also love living in a place where the outdoors is at your doorstep. I have spent the last 10 years doing Junior High and High School Ministry mostly in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. My wife, Heidi and I have two boys, Elijah and Kaeden. The little guys have taught me so much. I like how precious children are and the importance of grounding them in the faith. I had the awesome privilege to be raised in a Christian home in Kouts, Indiana and I put my trust in Jesus Christ alone at the age of 5 and was baptized at age 10. I attended Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania where I met my wife Heidi, the girl I like to suggest is a better youth pastor than me. God knew what He was doing when He put us together to serve Him. Some of my passions right now are my family, backpacking, canoeing, and introducing students to what it means to be a Christ follower...and all of those passions can be pursued in my favorite place to be, outside.
Favorite book I would recommend: Choose the Life by Bill Hull. Currently Reading: Strengths Finder 2.0 and anything I can about James Hudson Taylor |
Linda Joy, Church Secretary
Info on our new church secretary will be posted soon! |
Wilma Kirschner, Assistant to the Senior Pastor
I have lived my whole life in Alpena. I grew up on a farm. Shortly after we were married, my husband Dan and I were blessed to secure the Kirschner family farm and have our children grow up in the beautiful country. Apart from Christ, my number one priority has always been my husband and children, and then my career. Dan and I have three married children: Bill and Heather Fitch and granddaughters Hannah and Emma of Alpena; Tom and Kenna Kirschner of Fort Myers, Florida; and Travis and Heather Kirschner and expectant grandson Parker Daniel of Traverse City. I worked for 31 years for the Alpena County Department of Human Services. The first 5 years I worked as the office manager, the next five as a payments social worker and the final 21 years as an administrator. I enjoyed those years helping the less fortunate in the community receive the help that they needed. Although I always thought that I would be a stay-at-home mom, I knew deep in my heart that God had a purpose for me with the agency.
At the age of 27 I was lead to the Lord through a Barry Moore Crusade sponsored by Ripley Blvd. Baptist Church. Words cannot begin to tell what the Lord delivered me from through His gift of Salvation. I immediately began attending Ripley Blvd. Baptist Church where my spiritual journey was nurtured and challenged, and where I learned to love serving in the church. Nine years ago I retired from the Human Services Agency and began to seek opportunities to serve the Lord through ladies home Bible studies and co-teaching marriage classes with my husband at the church. Although it was a surprise and humbling when asked to serve as assistant to the senior pastor, I am honored and consider it a great privilege to serve in this capacity. I covet the church family’s prayers as I embark on this new phase in my life. My life verse: Philippians 1:6 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (NAS) Favorite book I would recommend: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. Currently reading: Maximize Your Influence by Ken Houts. |
Jessica Yarch, Assistant to the Youth Pastor
I have attended Word of Life since moving to Alpena at the age of eight. I was saved at the age of 5 during an Awana program and then baptized when I was 6. Since that time I have tried to lead my life according to God’s will. I earned my Bachelors degree at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. During college I studied religion and theology, classical languages, and archaeology. I also had several opportunities to travel and have visited seven different countries: Italy, Greece, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Mexico, and (of course) Canada. Most of my family still lives in the Alpena area: my parents Pete and Rita Yarch, and my sister and her family Tracy and Jeff Buchler with their two children Dennis and Rebecca. I also have a brother that lives in Grand Rapids, MI: Brian and Courtney Yarch. I currently am attending Grand Rapids Theological Seminary to earn my masters degree in educational ministry with a youth studies emphasis. I have worked with the youth at Word of Life for 4 years and look forward to my new duties as an assistant to the youth pastor.
Favorite book I would recommend: The Mark of Lion Series Francine Rivers. Currently reading: Extreme Devotion by the Voice of the Martyrs. |