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Summit Church has been blessed with 30 years of rich and stable ministry from Pastor Ed Tedeschi and his wife, Becky. In November 2007 they retired from pastoral ministry. We're now in a process of discovering God's will for a future pastor. A Search Committee has been formed and is meeting regularly. They are working to define new directions and discover possible pastoral candidates. The Search Committee along with our Board of Deacons are guiding our congregation in this process. There have been changes already that are positioning our church for a new pastor and ministry team.
We know that with seasons of change come questions and challenges.
If you are a part of the Summit family and have suggestions or concerns,
please feel free to
communicate with any of our Deacons or members of the Search Committee.
They are eager to hear from you. We believe there's an exciting future
for our church in the heart of Summit and Grand Avenue, one of Minnesota's
best-known commercial and residential communities. |
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Mike Shields - Pastoral Team Leader  |
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Mike Shields is our Pastoral Team leader. He became involved at Summit
Church while attending North Central University. He later served as
Associate and Youth Pastor at our church. Mike and his wife Mona went on
to serve the Minnesota District Assemblies of God as the Directors of
Youth and College Ministries for seven years. Presently they are under
full appointment as Missionary Evangelists to the 22 countries of Latin
America and the Caribbean. In September '07 they returned to Minnesota for
deputation. They have been asked to serve as Team Leaders and to work with
the Pastoral Search Committee for Summit Church in addition to their
missionary responsibilities. Mike is a Ministry Specialist for the
International Christian Training Network and holds a Masters Degree
in Leadership Studies from Azuza Pacific University in Los
Angeles, California. He is also a life member of the Christian
Coaching Network. Mona is a Professor with the Latin America
Advanced School of Theology and has a Masters Degree in Education
from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Chris Quistad worked as a registered nurse for 23 years at United Hospital in St. Paul. Following a life threatening illness, she felt a calling to minister to people with serious or chronic illness. She joined Summit’s Pastoral team in January,1994. She ministers not only to people hospitalized and in nursing homes, but also to those with chronic and terminal illnesses and to home-bound families. She has done extensive study and teaching on grief and end-of-life issues. Recently, Chris has become part of the Family Ministries team, heading parenting and marriage preparation and enrichment courses. She completed her distance education from Berean University and was ordained in 1999. She and her husband, Chuck, were married in 1978 and have three daughters: Beth and husband Craig, Anna and Rachel. |
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Ronna Wyant - Music Director, Traditional Service |
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Ronna has been involved in music ministry since childhood. The daughter of a minister, Rev. Raymond Wiley, she received hands-on training: She was on the radio playing and singing from ages 2 - 18. An alumnus of North Central University and MacPhail College of Music, she holds a degree in Music Education, and has taught music in the Robbinsdale School District since 1970, in addition to private piano lessons. Ronna has previously directed music ministry at Summit (1964-1967 and 1971-1977), in addition to ministry in Kenosha, WI; at Calvary Temple (Minneapolis); at Fridley Assembly of God (now Emmanuel Christian Center); Abundant Life Community Church in Blaine and Christ Church International (Minneapolis). For the last 15 years, she has been a part of music ministry at North Heights Church in Arden Hills. Ronna has orchestrated, produced and been a studio musician for several recording artists. Several years ago, she produced a recording of her own piano solos. In 1969, Ronna married her husband, Bob, in the former Summit Church building. Bob works as an independent financial consultant, and is a part of the traditional service sound team. |
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Troy joined the pastoral staff of Summit Church in February 2008. He brings years of pastoral ministry and worship leading experience to the development of our contemporary service. Troy has a passionate heart to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus and with others, and to genuinely live out their faith in every aspect of their lives. He was most recently on the pastoral staff at River Valley Church in Apple Valley, MN, for almost 11 years before making a transition to directing an innovative program focused on preparing young adults for marketplace ministry. Troy studied pastoral studies and music at North Central University, and has been a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God since 1997. |
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My name is Caleb Wampler, and I recently joined Summit Church as Youth Coordinator! I am excited for this opportunity to pour my life, my experiences, and strong biblical teaching into your teenagers. I grew up in California, Florida and went to high school in Nebraska. I was surrounded by the ministry having grown up with my father as a pastor and mother as a worship leader. I am currently enrolled at North Central University as a Pastoral Studies Major, and I am a Discipleship Leader on my floor. Since my childhood I have had a love for people of all ages and feel that I have been called to speak truth into this generation that I have been born into. |
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Elizabeth has been involved in various aspects of ministry at Summit since 1992. Since childhood, she has experienced God's strong calling to serve Him and to work with children. Elizabeth holds a B.S. in Elementary Education/Bible/Middle School English from Northwestern College, and is presently enrolled in graduate studies with Southwestern Assemblies of God University. She is excited to be able to combine her passions for education and ministry in the role of Children's Church Coordinator. Currently, Elizabeth also teaches 5th grade at New Life Academy in Woodbury. |
Beverly Campisi - Minister of Biblical Counsel |
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Beverly has been a Minister of Biblical Counsel at Summit since October 1999 and co-facilitates our Divorce Care support group. Prior to joining Summit’s staff, she was a counselor at Inver Hills A/G, Inver Hills, MN for 11 years. Beverly’s experience includes 2 years at the Jamestown Rehabilitation for Adolescents as a case manager/primary counselor and 2 years at School District 197 working in chemical dependency counseling and support groups. Beverly has an A.A. in Chemical Dependency Counseling and has certificates in Counseling Dysfunctional Family Systems, Development of Adolescents and Grief Counseling. |
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Dale Tollefson - Newcomers and Senior Adults Ministries |
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Dale was born and raised in Duluth, MN and moved to St. Paul in 1960 after graduating from University of Minnesota - Duluth. He has 4 children and 9 grandchildren. Dale received a diploma from Berean University. He retired from the 3M Company on 1993 after 28 years in an Engineering capacity. Over the years, Dale's ministry at Summit has included Youth Director, High School SS teacher, Deacon, and currently the Director of Care Ministry. Dale has been Minnesota District Director of Men's Ministry since 1986, along with Leadership and Training in Lifestyle Evangelism since 1967. Dale heads up the Summit Senior ministry and is involved in ministry mentoring. |
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Mengs T. Atsebha
- Eritrean Pastor |
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Mengs began ministry in Asmara,
the capital of Eritrea. When the persecution against Christians intensified,
he and other ministers were imprisoned, and Protestant churches were closed.
Following a miraculous escape from prison, Mengs and his wife, Ararat, fled
to Sudan. Immediately, they began ministering to other refugees, leading
them to Jesus and discipling them there in the Sudan. In August of 2005,
Summit Church, with our Eritrean fellowship, brought this couple to the U.S.
to minister among Eritrean immigrants in the Twin Cities. Mengs has authored
The Powerful Army of God, (Bethany House) a Tigrinyan language tool,
reflecting a passion to reach his people for Christ.
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Henry Ung - Pastor, Cambodian Ministries |
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Henry is a lay
minister for the Cambodian congregation at Summit. His goal is to continue
to serve the congregation and take courses from the Urban Ministry Institute
to further equip himself for the ministry. Henry came to the United States
from Cambodia as a refugee in September, 1981. He married his wife, Sodara
in 1983 and has two children, Marisa and Sarah.
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Jacob John
- Indian Language Ministries |
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Born and raised in
India, Dr. Jacob John married his wife, Meenu (part of the Summit family for
25 years) in India in 1992. The following year, he migrated to the U.S., and
immediately joined the Summit community. In 2001, God blessed them with a
son, Samuel, and they love going to church together as a family. They have
been involved with the Bread of Life Church since 1995. Jacob currently
provides leadership for this fellowship, driven by a strong desire for
people to know Christ personally, and to see miracles and healing take place
through the prayers of God’s people.
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Shari Peterson - Office Administrator |