Leaders

Jacob tonak

Jacob was raised in Minnesota, while Rachel, his wife, grew up in California. Since they were married in 2005, their desire has been to serve Christ in the local church.

In 2012, Jacob and Rachel moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where Jacob earned a MDiv at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. God gave Jacob and Rachel the vision of coming back to Rochester to plant a church in the fall of 2015. Jacob and Rachel have eight children: Judah, Emma (passed), Blythe, Corbin, Ellis, Hadley, Knox, and Haddon. They are excited to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of many throughout Rochester and surrounding areas.

Adam pohlman

Adam grew up in southern Minnesota where he met his wife of eighteen years, went to college, and worked for several years. By his firm kindness, God humbled this young man through the gospel. God’s majesty and power grew in his eyes while his own achievements paled in comparison.

Adam graduated from Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota becoming a civil engineer, working in that field for twelve years before becoming a pastor. He married Molly in 2005 and together they have seven children: Grace, Daisy, Titus, Olivia, Malachi, Ethan (passed), and Hezekiah. In 2012, he and his family made the leap to pursue ministry by moving to Minneapolis to attend Bethlehem College and Seminary.

Adam’s heart is to unfold the beauty of Jesus’s story in the Bible and show how God weaves his story into our lives. He especially has a heart for families to flourish in the church family to be the most beautiful display of gospel intimacy and joy to the world.

Matt Fisher

Matt was raised in Northern Minnesota. He married his bride, Luan, in 1977. Their marriage has been blessed with four children. In 2013 they adopted two little ones; whom they are still raising. Matt and Luan have fourteen grandchildren. Matt says, “we thank God, every day, as we watch our family walk hand in hand with the Savior Jesus Christ.”

Matt is an alumni of Crossroads Bible College and Hope International University where he pursued degrees in ThB (Bachelor of Theology) and a BS in Counseling Psychology. Matt has been an active volunteer in organizations, such as: Children’s Heart Link offering cardiac surgeries to indigenous children around the world, and Compassion Counseling, serving as a lay counselor, offering help to our community in Rochester, Minnesota. He, currently, is self-employed doing home inspections for home buyers. Matt is gifted in the ability to “problem solve” technical and complex issues.

Matt’s passion is the love of the Lord and helping others see God’s sovereignty in their own lives. When Matt is not reading or studying you will often find him and his family on the trails enjoying God’s creation and sharing the gospel with strangers along the way.

Joel Pacyna

Joel was born here in Rochester, MN and raised by Christian parents who taught him about the gospel. Joel came to Christ at an early age and believed God was leading him into Christian service. Joel completed college and master’s degrees in theology and pastoral ministry and a master’s degree in bioethics.

Joel and his wife Joy married in 2006 and have three children: Gracelyn, Lauren, and Carson. Joel has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2010, most recently in the Biomedical Ethics Research Program. Joel’s passion is to encourage the church family to thrive in ministry to one another and to the community. Joel desires to see the church filled with people living lives of patient faithfulness who pass along stories of God’s grace and perfect faithfulness to future generations.

Kevin amundson

Kevin Amundson grew up in New Prague, MN, and moved to the Rochester area when he married his wife Emily in 2014. He is currently earning a Bachelor of Theology in Applied Theology and Master of Applied Religion in Biblical Law with New Geneva Christian Leadership Academy. When Kevin isn’t plowing snow or running the motor grader for MnDOT, he loves reading, studying theology, and counseling and encouraging fellow Christians. 

Kevin and Emily live in Zumbrota, MN. They run their wedding and event videography business, Terra Nova Productions, and manage a Christian news aggregator, Christendom.press. They also love working with their land, raising rabbits and produce, and enjoying hospitality with their church family and neighbors.

Kevin serves the church body by managing technology for Sunday Worship and organizing events for fellowship and discipleship. Kevin’s passion is to provoke fellow believers to a deeper love for Christ and his church and to equip the brothers to proclaim the gospel and faithfully work for the spread of Christ’s kingdom on earth through passionate and active obedience to the Word of God.

Brian Kettering

Brian is husband to Cheyenne and father to Mable and Mariella. They have been a part of Redemption City for the last four years serving in various different ministries. After spending several years in full-time parachurch ministry, Brian has decided to place himself under the leadership of Redemption City to be trained up as a minister of the gospel. He has a BA in Christian Religion and Theology from Faith International University and is pursuing a Masters of Theological Studies.

Brian and Cheyenne raise grass-fed livestock and grow organic produce on their small farm in Wanamingo, and every Sunday evening they invite people over to participate in a Sunday feast. It is Brian’s prayer that others would be inspired to eagerly anticipate the blessings to come in the new creation through feasting and fellowship.