Jeff Sorvik |
Jeff grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Technical Communications in 1987. While in College he met the love of his life (Michele) at a church retreat. They were married in 1986 and began a journey of following God's lead in their life. While working in the business marketplace for Cray Research, Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Northwestern National Life, and finally Burlington Northern Railroad, Jeff also engaged in Transforming Ministries' pastoral training and became involved as a lay person in a church plant in the NW suburbs of Minneapolis.
In 1994, after eight long years of preparation, Jeff moved into vocational ministry at Lake Community Church in Alexandria, MN as the Pastor of Leadership Development. God used those years to prepare him to plant churches in the Northland. In 1998, Jeff, Michele, and their children Caleb, Josh, and Hannah moved to Superior, WI to help replant North Bay Community Church. |
After six wonderful years of watching God do amazing things at North Bay Community Church, Jeff approached the leadership there with a vision to plant another congregation in Duluth. After much prayer, North Bay partnered with the North Central District of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) to send Jeff and Michele and nine families to establish Anchor Point Community Church.
When he is not working at the Church, you may find Jeff in a sea kayak, in a canoe, on a mountain bike, or behind his paintball marker. In fact, if it stimulates adrenaline, he will try it! He loves to camp, play with his family, and work on his log home just north of town. Jeff also serves the National Office of the EFCA as a Church Planting Boot Camp Trainer helping to equip the next generation of church planters around the country and internationally. |
RyaN underwood |
Ryan was born just outside Nashville, TN and lived there until he graduated from high school. Sadly, his accent has faded. No, he's not a country music fan, although he can now listen without twitching. He does play the guitar, so there's a bit of Nashville remaining in him. (You might occasionally hear him say he's fixin' to do something--just ignore that if you do).
From an early age, Ryan had a strong feeling that God was leading him to work in a full-time vocational ministry role. He was fortunate to have the support of his parents and other leaders in his life, and many people invested in him along the way. After high school, Ryan completed his undergraduate degree in Youth Ministries at North Central University in Minneapolis. While in school, he met and married Liz. Ryan has been involved in ministry in several settings: a church plant in Philadelphia, PA; church-based youth ministry in Duluth, MN; and para-church ministry with Youth for Christ. His |
passion is the thread tying together the variety of ministry setting--passion to help people's faith become something that truly makes a difference in how they live their lives, causing them to have a real impact on the world around them.
The Underwoods have lived in Duluth since 2006. Their wonderfully crazy life includes three children: Jameson, Lucia, and Colette. Ryan loves music, good coffee, the outdoors, and reading. Ryan is also an aspiring filmmaker--in 2010, he started his own video production company, Mere Cinema. Ryan dearly loves telling stories, whether it be as a communicator in church or as a director behind the lens. He believes life is about stories. He loves finding places where people's stories connect, and ultimately, helping people see how God's Story is intertwined into their lives--that's what gets him out of bed each day. (That's saying something because he is not a morning person--see the comment above regarding his love for good coffee.) |
