Brett is a member of the Orchard EFC in Vernon Hills.  Brett grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa.  He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Iowa in 1996, a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in December 2002, and a Dr. of Ministry from TEDS in 2023.  Brett and his wife Stephanie have four children and reside in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Larry and Carol reside in Freeport, IL where he served as Administrative Pastor at Park Hills EFC from 2007 to 2019. He served as the Executive Director of the Freeport YMCA for 26 years. Both Larry and Carol are graduates of UW and Larry got his post grad work from a unique local church training program in Ames, IA advised by Dallas Seminary and Trinity professors. He loves teaching God's Word, helping others apply the truths of scripture and has recently been a trainer for Bible Pathways in Kenya. Larry and Carol have 2 married sons and 4 grandchildren.

Don served as senior pastor of Living Grace Community Church in Cary, IL for 33 years. Prior to that he served as an associate pastor in two churches for a total of 8 years. In January of 2018, he began training pastors internationally in Honduras, Zambia, Cuba and Albania. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Wheaton College and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Don and his wife, Claudia have been four children and two grandchildren.

Mark is currently serving as the Lead Pastor of Parkview EFC in Iowa City. Prior to that he spent nearly 25 years at Park Hills EFC in Freeport, Illinois. Mark got his degree from Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. and then took additional classes at Moody. In 2012, he joined the GLD staff serving as an Area Superintendent. Mark and his wife, Charmaine have eight children.

Bob has been involved in full-time ministry for 37 years in the campus ministry with Cru (12 years) and various churches in the GLD. He has served as an adult ministries pastor, executive pastor, and now a lead pastor for the last eight years at Trinity Church in Stanton, Michigan. Bob holds an M.Div. degree and recently earned certification as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). He desires to come alongside pastors and ministry leaders to be resilient and fulfilled.



Bob is married to Holly and they have six children and will soon welcome a fourth grandchild. Outside of ministry he enjoys hiking, biking, hunting, and spending time outdoors.

Collin serves as Pastor of Administration and Care with Crossroads EFC in Plymouth, IN.  Married to his wife, Gloria for over 40+ years, they have four grown children — three married and one single — and 10 grandchildren (2 in Heaven).  Collin has served as lead and/or staff pastor in six churches in Illinois, Washington, Michigan and Indiana, as well as served on three district boards in nearly 45 years of service for Christ.  Collin enjoys hiking, travel, reading and playing with/praying for his grandkids as often as possible.

Mark currently serves as the Senior Pastor of the Grace EFC in Louisville, KY. He is a graduate of Ohio State University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mark and his wife Amy have been married since 1993 and have two sons Bradley and Kyle.  He has been serving “normal” churches in Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky since 1996. Mark loves the local church and is committed to helping pastors stay connected and qualified.

Steve and Amy did ministry in the Pacific Northwest for nearly a decade before coming to Trinity International University, where Steve completed an MDiv/PhD and Amy finished a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. During their seven years at Trinity, Steve served on staff in student life, was a lecturer in music for the undergrad, and did consulting with the Center for Transformational Churches. Amy is a licensed trauma therapist. Together they have four kids. 

Ricardo and his wife Josefina served as national staff of Inter-Varsity CF of Mexico by four years and they were planters of the First EFC of Mexico 1988-1996. They have two children. Ricardo earned his Bachelor degree in Engineering and diploma in Theology in Mexico City, and he earned his Master of Divinities from the Northern Baptist Seminary in 1999. He is serving with the Great Lakes District as Director for the Hispanic Ministries, and he is part of the national leadership team of the EFCA Gateway Theological Institute.

Pastor Gerhard (Gary) deBock holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from The Kings College in New York, a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has served as the Senior Pastor of Trinity Fellowship in Big Rapids, MI since 1983 and does Directional and Relational Retreats in Northern Michigan for the GLD. Gerhard has a heart for the world, partnering with and coaching missionaries and pastors in various places. He and his wife Kathy have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Knute likes the title "coach" for his ministry with pastors and churches around our GLD, but also when he teaches pastoring at Trinity, Grace, and Moody.  He pastored 43 years, the last 26 at The Chapel in Akron, Ohio.

For great resources, check out Knute's website at knutelarson.com!

After a 21-year business career, including Vice President for Education and Events, while also serving the local church as a lay leader, Cyndi responded to God’s call into staff ministry. Since 2008, she has been a ministry staff Director serving in transformational disciple-making ministries for women and children. Cyndi and her husband have been married over 30 years and God has blessed them with three adult children and three grandchildren.

Dan graduated from TIU in 1995 with a B.A. in youth ministry and served in full time student ministries with the EFCA for more than 25 years. In 2021 Dan joined the GLD staff serving part-time as the Director of Student and Missions Ministries.  Dan is also the Director of International Youth Missions with Apex Missions in the EFCA. God has given Dan a heart for youth, youth ministry, and missions. He and his wife Jen reside in southwest Michigan and have two daughters.

Jan and her husband Rick, our GLD Superintendent, live in the Chicago area. Initially, their shared vision for ministry led them to Iowa and Moscow, Russia to establish churches. Then the Lord led them to the EFCA Texas, and now Great Lake Districts Superintendent roles. Jan is the team leader of the GLD Pastors’ Wives’ Ministry with the goal to connect, encourage and resource each one. She enjoys writing and leading retreats and seminars. Rooted Woman of Valor, her first published book, is available on Amazon. 

Michelle worked in the Christian book publishing industry for eight years and now writes and edits in a freelance capacity. She has a BA in Print Media Communications and Bible from Moody Bible Institute. Michelle and her husband, Ben, have two young boys and serve at First Evangelical Free Church in Moline, IL.

Mathew has served the GLD since 2003. Prior to this, he taught Computer Applications

and Accounting Software. Mathew and his family immigrated from India to U.S in 1993

and now live in Chicago suburb.  He earned his master’s degree in commerce from

Bhopal University, India and also has associate degrees in computer information systems

and accounting from Ivy Tech Community College, South Bend, IN.  He and his wife

Ammu have been married for over forty years and have two children, Sherin, Monsu and

blessed with four beautiful granddaughters.