If it is after office hours and you need to speak to a pastor regarding an emergency, please call the on-call phone number (651-321-4999) and leave a message. One of our pastors will return your call as soon as possible.

Staff and Elders

If you would like to talk with one of our staff or elders, call the Church Office at 763-682-1470. If you would like to contact one of our staff or elders via e-mail, names in red can be clicked on and a new e-mail message box will pop-up for you to use in sending your message.

BILL MILLER, EXECUTIVE PASTOR

Bill’s personal calling from the Lord is to raise up disciple making leaders who love God with all of their heart. His desire is to see well-functioning local churches which reach out evangelistically in Jesus’ name to make disciples. Bill has served churches in New Mexico, Chicago, and Minnesota. He has served as Senior Pastor, Church Planter, and Executive Pastor. He also provides a ministry to pastors around the country through leadership coaching and sermon software. Bill has a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary; a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. Bill & Melodie have been married since 1981 and have three wonderful children.

Max Frazier, Preaching Pastor

Teaching God's Word is what motivates Pastor Max. He will tell you there is no greater thrill than to see lives transformed as Scripture becomes alive and believers begin to comprehend God's plan from Genesis to Revelation. After being a pastor for 26 years, Pastor Max and his wife, Marlys, came to MN. Now he has the joy of being the preaching pastor at Buffalo Covenant. Max received both his BA and MA in Old Testament from Wheaton College, has ministered overseas, and has served as an adjunct professor at several schools. He enjoys writing and leading tours to Israel. He has a deep love for both the people and the land of Israel and, if God gave him a choice, he would no doubt take an apartment in downtown Jerusalem over a lake cabin in MN. When he finds time to kick back, you may find him watching old detective TV reruns, reading a book - usually something with an historical or current events flavor, digging in his flowers, or making memories with his three married children and seven delightful grandchildren. He also cheers for the Cubs and the Iowa State Cyclones!

Steve Wintermantel, Adult Discipleship Pastor

Steve had the great privilege to be raised on his family’s farm located about an hour southwest of Kansas City. A faithful church-goer all his life, it was while he was in college that Steve received Christ. After working as a banker and a teacher he knew that God was calling him to pastoral ministry. Following seminary he spent five years planting a church in rural Kansas. At 40 he moved to Wisconsin to marry Gina. There he served ten years on the staff of Elmbrook Church located in suburban Milwaukee overseeing neighborhood small groups and ministry to single adults. Steve’s passion is to see people get connected to God and one another in growing relationships that are deeply rooted in God’s Word.

Steve and Gina are the grateful parents of Hazel, Abe, Josiah and Cyrus. They live in the Hanover area and are glad to be part of the BCC family.

Val Pederson, Youth Pastor

Val began working at Buffalo Covenant as the Pastor of Youth Ministry in 1983 after graduating from Northwestern College. She married Mark Pederson a psychologist at the Family Counseling Center in 1985, and three years later she resigned and stayed home for 10 years to raise their children, Charissa, Anastasia, and Luke. In 1995 she agreed to come back and serve as interim Youth Pastor and after one year was convinced to once again assume the role full time. Val is passionate about the work she does. “I love working with youth because they are the leaders of today. They have the ability to impact their schools, their homes, their friends and communities. They are passionate about life and they truly want to live lives of meaning and an understanding of who God is and what difference He makes in their lives and the lives around them. They don't desire status quo, they want change. So Buffalo Covenant seeks to give them the opportunity to be the leaders that will love people and help them become all the Lord desires them to be.” Her hobbies outside of church include time with Mark, time with the kids, photography, stain glass, painting, snowskiing, broomball, long walks, good books, and studying Greek.

Mary Blosser, Children’s Pastor

Mary Blosser is passionate about kids! She believes that one of the first responsibilities of the church is to provide for the spiritual formation of its children, building a spiritual foundation that will form the basis of a life of faith and service to the Lord. Pastor Mary has a background in education and has been a teacher and curriculum developer. She has had lots of variety in her Christian ministry as a pastor’s wife for 30 years. Since her husband’s retirement in 2006, she has served as Children’s Pastor at BCC, directing the ministry to children from birth through grade 5. Mary and her husband, Oliver, live in Buffalo. They have three wonderful children and four “above average” grandchildren.

Carl Taylor, Pastor Emeritus

Rev. Carl L. Taylor is a native of Wyoming and lives in Wayzata, MN. He did his theological studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena CA.from which he received both the M.Div. and the M.Th. degrees. He did further studies at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, and post graduate studies at Nottingham University in England. Rev. Taylor served churches in Omaha, NB, Moline, IL and Seattle WA before coming to Buffalo Covenant. He served here for 20 years before his retirement in the fall of 2003. He has been active in leadership in both the Conference and National levels of the Evangelical Covenant Church, as well as in the local ministerial association. He is now our Pastor Emeritus and re-retired in the fall of 2011. He and his wife Marlys direct the Prayer and Healing Ministry. He is the author of several articles and is currently completing a book, the working title of which is "The Apostle Paul: Man of Prayer." In his spare time Pastor Carl enjoys reading, bicycling, hiking and traveling.

Barb Anderson, Assistant to Executive Pastor

Barb officially functions as Assistant to the Executive Pastor, but unofficially she is the emotional support for the rest of the staff. Her goals are to "keep things running smoothly, and to be a blessing to the staff as we work and serve together." Over the years she has also served as a Stephens Minister, Small Group Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Elder, and Deacon. In her spare time she loves to be doing life with her husband, yard work, gardening, reading, and continuing that ongoing quest for that perfect cup of coffee.

Wendy Marple, Church Administrator

A recent addition to the BCC staff team, Wendy will help keep the church running effectively and efficiently. With her CPA background, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the finance piece of her job. Growing up a farm girl in Delano, a short term trip to Peru to teach English changed her world, where she fell in love with the country and its people. It is with this heart for missions, that Wendy has continued to do extensive world traveling in support of mission organizations, and has found that God has now used her and her gifts all over the globe. Attending BCC for five years now, she loves being involved and working with the youth in the senior high ministry. Her deep desire for them is to see them grow in their faith and develop a good understanding of God and the knowledge of his word before they head out into the world. In her spare time you can find her out hiking, enjoying her next crochet project, (ask her about her ‘yarn room’ to support this addiction), planning her next trip, or snuggled up on the sofa with a good book.

Sharif Welch, Receptionist

Sharif Welch is the morning receptionist. She has been involved in the MOPS ministry in past years and is excited to have an opportunity to be involved with the church in a new role.With a BS in Accounting and another degree in Bible from Northwestern College, she loves numbers, God and people – not necessarily in that order!!! She is passionate about sharing the hope we have by living in the truth of who God says we are because of who He is! When not answering phones at church, she enjoys crazy adventures with her husband and four children, Community Bible Study, playing volleyball, running and backpacking in the Rockies.

Becky Selvig, Receptionist

Becky is our afternoon receptionist. She is one of our "first touch" people - the first to cheerfully greet those who call and the first smiling face for those who are coming into the church during the week.

Becky has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Communications and has previously worked in advertising and marketing. Her desire is for God to use her skills to help serve the church and promote His teachings.

Becky is married and has two rambunctious and wonderful boys. She loves to hike, swim and travel. She also loves to read. You can catch her most days running in and out of the library as she chases down her children.

Christine Passig, Contemporary Worship Director

As the Comtemporary Worship Director, Christine works with the Worship Team on various administrative and creative tasks.

Janine Kruger, Director of Pre-School Ministries

Janine started working as Director of Pre-School Ministries in October of 2010. She loves working with the littlest (and who she believes to be the most important ones!) in our church family. It is her passion to pass on to the next generation a love for the Lord, His Word, and His people. She loves spending time with her husband and three children. As a lover of people and talking, if given a whole day to do anything she wanted, Janine would spend it chatting & having coffee with as many friends & family as possible! In high school her friends made a "prediction" that as an adult she would, "Be married, have three kids, do part-time church work, be a Sunday School coordinator, have a dog, a minivan, and do lots of neighborhood and church events..." All of which are true. She is very glad to know she's consistent and predictable.

Guy Bergstrom, Youth Associate

Having grown up in Buffalo and in particular at BCC Guy is considered a “lifer” among us. He spent 20 years volunteering in Youth Ministry before coming on staff as Youth Associate. His vision is to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in his own life, and to teach and equip students to do the same. Guy’s desire is to see youth come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to develop a love for and an understanding of God’s word. Guy loves most sports and outdoor activities including water and snow skiing, hunting, and fishing. He admits to being competitive and can never turn down a healthy challenge. Other interests include travel and being with family.