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Leadership

Leadership

Meet our Leaders

Christ Redeemer Church is currently served by five pastors/elders and a youth director. Three of our elders/pastors are on staff and two are volunteers. 

Brett Louis - Lead Pastor/Elder 

Louis Family Cape Cod 2018Brett made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ at an early age. He believes he was genuinely saved by the grace of God even though he was not yet overwhelmed by the grace of God. Shortly after becoming a physical therapist, however, the Lord used a series of events in his life to create a spiritual “famine” of sorts, which drove him to read the Bible like never before. He then began to understand to a greater degree the depth of his sinfulness and the supreme value of the person and work of Jesus Christ. He was gripped by the gospel! Soon after, the Lord gave Brett the opportunity to minister in the Texas state prison system. After five years of full-time prison ministry, he went on to complete a Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. He then served as a church planting resident at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis before being sent out to plant Christ Redeemer Church.

Brett has been married to Molly, “the woman of his dreams,” since 2003. Brett and Molly have been blessed with five children: Joshua, Olivia, Isabelle, Judson and Sophia

Thomas Rydland - Associate Pastor/Elder

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Thomas grew up attending church, though he wouldn’t say that he truly understood his need for a Savior in Jesus until he was 15. Looking back, he would say that it was then when he was truly “born again” by God’s grace. He was saved from the punishment deserved because of his sin and began trusting in Jesus alone for forgiveness and joyful fellowship with God. He had what he’d call a “theological conversion” several years later when he came to embrace the good sovereignty of God over his salvation.

Before coming to Christ Redeemer Church, Thomas served for three years in the Family Discipleship department of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Prior to that, he served with a youth missions organization called YouthWorks, which gave him opportunities for ministry in several different states. And over the years, during different seasons, Thomas has been privileged to work in the concrete construction trade. Thomas holds degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College (Psychology and Criminal Justice) and Bethel Seminary (Theological and Historical Studies). He has received additional education from Luther Seminary (Christian History) and the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (Biblical Counseling).

He’s been married to Karena - his best friend and favorite person in the world - since 2004. Together they enjoy two daughters whom God joined with them through adoption. Kyrkja was born in August of 2011, and Anagret in August of 2013.

Levi Brennan - Worship Pastor/Elder 

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Levi grew up in northern Minnesota in a Christian home where he learned what it meant to love and follow Jesus. He married his wife Ashley in 2007 and they are busy raising four energetic boys. Levi received a BA from Moody Bible and an MA from Wheaton College. After 7 years of pastoral  ministry at a church in Chicago, he joined the staff with CRC in 2014. He enjoys good books, golfing, and small boutique guitar shops.  

 

 

 

Terry Plath - ElderIMG_2068.JPG

Terry was born and raised in a Christian home, but despite a profession of faith in Jesus as Savior at an early age, it wasn’t until his mid-20’s, after a period of straying from the Lord, that Terry was drawn to a deep, true, abiding faith in Jesus as Lord. Terry spent two years living in a household with four other single Christian men who discipled him, demonstrating what life in fellowship with Christ and his church really looks like.

Terry has a passion for Biblical marriage and fatherhood, life groups and global missions. He has been on short-term mission trips to Poland, Honduras, El Salvador and Ukraine.By day he works in the technology industry.

Terry married the love of his life Maren in 2003. God has blessed them with four children: Grace (18), Josh (16), Lily (14) and Micah (11). The Plaths were members of Bethlehem Baptist Church prior to moving to Woodbury as part of the CRC plant in July 2010.

Denny Schneider - Elder


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Denny is so grateful to the Lord for granting him a heart of repentance and an understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ at an early age. Even at an early age, God opened the eyes of his heart to see Christ for the all-surpassing treasure that He is. He is also thankful that God has been faithful in his life to continue to draw him deeper into His grace and an understanding of who he is as an adopted child of God. Denny is grateful that the Holy Spirit is continually working in his life to sanctify him and, in that process, giving glory to His name.

Denny has been involved in church leadership in different ministries for the past 20 plus years, and the Lord has guided Denny and Kathy and his family to the Christ Redeemer Church body from the very beginning.

Denny has a B.A. degree in business from Bethel University and currently works in the financial services industry. Denny grew up in the Twin Cities and now lives in Woodbury with his wife, Kathy, and their six children: Alison, Emily, Jacob, Joseph, Caleb and Steven.

 

Zachary Mashburn - Youth Director

Zach's Bio PhotoZach grew up in the small mountain town of Lake Arrowhead, CA where he was raised by parents who truly loved and lived for Jesus. Although Zach was saved by the Lord’s grace when he was young, he experienced a much deeper and intimate relationship with his Savior when he surrendered areas of false identity/security to God at the age of 16. After graduating, he was still contemplating the best use of his life for the Kingdom. After a few years of praying, investigating, and asking wise counsel, Zach felt led to pursue vocational ministry.

Before joining the team at Christ Redeemer Church, Zach was a student at the Joshua Wilderness Institute at Hume Lake. He also worked there for several summers, serving the jr. high and high school students. He went on to acquire a B.A. in Theology from Moody Bible Institute. After undergrad, Zach was hired on as a year-long pastoral resident at Parkside Church in Ohio, where he was blessed to gain more experience working in youth ministry before serving at Christ Redeemer. Zach has also began pursuing a Master of Divinity degree to further his understanding of the power and grace of the Gospel.