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WE ARE A MULTI-CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

A central governing Leadership Board provides structure, direction, and support for the ministry of each local congregation. Local congregations are UNITED in mission and collaborative, but each has its own Lead Pastor and is free to do ministry in a way that fits its community and culture. As much as possible, we look to empower decision-making at the local level.

OUR LEADERSHIP BOARD:

Ross & Mary Carlson

Ross & Mary Carlson

Ryan & Alicia Diekow

Ryan & Alicia Diekow

Lon & Julie Lane

Lon & Julie Lane

Charlie & Jean Wanha

Charlie & Jean Wanha

OUR PASTORS:

ERIC & KELLY DYKSTRA

SENIOR PASTORS // PRESIDENT OF FREE GRACE BIBLE COLLEGE // DIRECTOR OF PINE LAKE CAMPS

Eric & Kelly Dykstra are Senior Pastors of Free Grace United, and they preach at our Elk River and Online locations. They have been married more than 25 years and have three awesome kids who are all married to amazing people, plus two adorable grandsons. They are passionate about seeing broken people far from God come to know the amazing grace of Jesus. God has gifted them both with dynamic preaching and leadership styles, empowering them to share the truth of Christ with a wide demographic of people. Click here to see a list of books Pastor Eric has written. Find books written by Pastor Kelly here.

Office: 763-633-9706 | Email: office@freegrace.tv

ROXANNE ASCHEMAN

WHAT CHEER LEAD PASTOR

Pastor Roxanne has an engaging preaching style that draws in listeners from all walks of life. Her deep appreciation for the power of stories to bring people together and inspire them to live out their faith comes through whenever she shares the gospel. She firmly believes that each of us has a unique story to tell, and that by sharing these stories, we can guide others toward the hope and freedom that comes from a life centered on God. She’s also the proud mom of a gifted and talented young woman named Aspen! 

Email: roxanne.ascheman@freegrace.tv 

SILAS & BECKY AUSTIN

ASSOCIATE PASTORS

In addition to his role as an Associate Pastor, Silas is also the Vice President of Free Grace Bible College. Becky serves on staff as Finance Assistant. They have two amazing kiddos – Ryatt and Sydney – and they are on a mission to make Minnesota the hardest place to go to hell from! Pastor Silas’ book Who Am I? is available in the FGU Shop and on Amazon.

Email: silas.austin@freegrace.tv & becky.austin@freegrace.tv 

JAMES & AMANDA BANERJEE

BANGLADESH LEAD PASTORS

James and Amanda met in 2012 while on a short term missions trip in Bangladesh. In 2019 they moved from Minnesota to Bangladesh with their three children to be closer to the ministry which includes a girls home, a primary school for underprivileged kids in their community, and 10 churches planted by James’ father.

After James’ father passed away in 2020, he and Amanda felt the call to take over leading those churches. Partnered with Free Grace United, they aim to reach Bangladesh for Jesus!

CHRIS & RANITA BELLANGER

DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS CO-LEAD PASTORS

Pastor Chris & Ranita co-lead FGU Downtown alongside Pastor Ean & Echo McClelland.

Email: chris.bellanger@freegrace.tv 

TRENT & PATTY BERGERON

MILACA LEAD PASTORS

Pastor Trent and Patty launched a Free Grace Recovery meeting in Milaca that turned into a Free Grace United church location! They have hearts for helping broken and lost people find their way to Jesus, starting with their own community of Milaca.

Email: trent.bergeron@freegrace.tv

CESAR & LESLIE CAJAS

FGU EN ESPAÑOL NORTH MINNEAPOLIS LEAD PASTOR

Pastor Cesar and Leslie are using their extensive ministry experience to pastor our Spanish church in North Minneapolis. Their beautiful family includes their two children, Anaiah and Micah.

Email: cesar.cajas@freegrace.tv

SARA & CHRIS DAY

PRINCETON LEAD PASTORS

Pastor Sara and her husband Chris have four children. She has been a leader in Free Grace Recovery for many years, helping people overcome their struggles and find healing. In 2022, she wrote a 31-day devotional called Healing Through Prayer, available on Amazon. Chris is a gifted leader in Free Grace Kids, and he has a heart to help reach children with the gospel. 

Email: sara.day@freegrace.tv

PASTOR EHTSHAM

PAKISTAN LEAD PASTOR

As of January 1, 2022 we officially partnered with local pastors in Pakistan to mentor and train them in church planting! Now operating under the name Free Grace United, Pastor Ehtsham and his team seek to bring the gospel to their nation.

DAN & ANG FLUGUM

ALBIA & CHARITON LEAD PASTORS

Dan & Ang have recently relocated back to Albia, Iowa along with their four children (Mase, Laynie, Lilah, and Elliette), and they are excited to have the opportunity to take Free Grace United with them! The Flugums are thrilled to be a part of what God is doing in Southeast Iowa. 

Email: dan.flugum@freegrace.tv

KATELYN & ANDREW GRAHAM

ZIMMERMAN ASSISTANT PASTOR

Katelyn’s faith was reignited over a decade ago when she realized that God isn’t about a set of rules, but a relationship. She has been inspired by her own personal experiences of faith, and is driven by a desire to help others discover the truth of the gospel. As an avid learner, she seeks out new opportunities to grow in her faith and deepen her understanding of the Bible. She’s mom to one teenage son and has been married to Andrew since 2019.

Email: katelyn.graham@freegrace.tv

FRANK & AMY IBAÑEZ

FGU EN ESPAÑOL ELK RIVER LEAD PASTOR

Frank and Amy have two children, Phoenix and Georgia. They have participated in the planting of several churches in Mexico. Coming to Minnesota, Frank and Amy felt a call in their hearts to plant a new church in Spanish, with the purpose of bringing the Good News of Jesus to the Hispanic community in Albertville, St. Michael, Monticello and throughout the region.

Email: frank.ibanez@freegrace.tv

ELWOOD & YATTA JANGABA

LIBERIA LEAD PASTORS

Pastor Elwood and Yatta Jangaba have been a part of Free Grace United since 2022. They each have a passion for mission and evangelism. They have been married since 1997 and they have five children: Teta, Bill, Lillian, Facia, and Elwood III. They serve as pastors of Free Grace United Liberia.

JUSTIN & RENEE KAITCHUCK

FOLEY LEAD PASTORS

Justin and Renee are passionate about meeting people where they are at and walking alongside them in faith and recovery. They are blessed with seven children (six girls and one boy). As a family, their heart is to help people from all walks of life cross the line of faith and follow Jesus!

Email: justin.kaitchuck@freegrace.tv

JASON & TRACY KEECH

ZIMMERMAN LEAD PASTORS

Jason and Tracy Keech have been married since 1997. They raised two kids and became empty-nesters in 2020. Tracy also works as Communications Director at Free Grace United.

From a desire to help couples be blessed through marriage, they wrote a 30-Day He Said/She Said Devotional called Happy Marriage lol in February 2018 (available on Amazon and Kindle). In addition to bass fishing (Jason) and spoiling their black lab (Tracy), these two truly enjoy the opportunity to share God’s grace, love, and hope with everyone they meet.

Email: jason.keech@freegrace.tv & tracy.keech@freegrace.tv

TOM & AMY KINGORE

MILLE LACS COUNTY JAIL LEAD PASTORS

Pastor Tom has a heart to bring the light of Jesus into dark places and help the incarcerated be transformed by Christ! He also manages all of our facilities.

In his free time, he and his wife Amy (FGU Director of Finance) enjoy spending time with their three grandchildren and two special doggos.

Email: tom.kingore@freegrace.tv & amy.kingore@freegrace.tv

EAN & ECHO MCCLELLAND

MINNEAPOLIS DOWNTOWN LEAD PASTORS

Pastor Ean co-leads FGU Downtown alongside Pastor Chris Bellanger. He is very passionate about spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing the story of his own redemption from the bondage of addiction through the power of Christ Jesus!

His vision for the church is to grow and be of service to the community that we serve in many ways, including the continuance of daily ministries within the church, Bible studies, and providing services for those who need it. Pastor Ean is also the Director of Recovery for Free Grace United.

Email: ean.mcclelland@freegrace.tv

 

TIMOTHY & TERESA NYANDIKA

KENYA LEAD PASTORS

The Nyandikas planted their first church in Kisii, Kenya in 2015. Over the following four years, they planted two more church in their area and are weekly ministering to approximately 150 people. 

Along with this, Pastors Timothy and Teresa also run Teresa Missions – an orphanage on their property supporting, educating, and raising forty children. They seek to see their four churches turn into thirty churches in the next ten years!

BILL & AMANDA PITTS

ELDORA LEAD PASTORS

Pastor Bill & Amanda have been married since 1998. They have 4 kids: Christopher (Riley), Spencer, Ethan, and Savannah. Christopher helps lead worship, Spencer just started a Youth Ministry in Eldora, and the others love to volunteer, too. It’s a family endeavor to serve Jesus! The Pitts have a heart for mentoring married couples and families/parenting, and they are so thankful God has called them to FGU Eldora. They love the people in the community and being part of a ministry that makes an eternal impact!

Email: bill.pitts@freegrace.tv

BEN & ANA SAFFRIN

ALBERTVILLE LEAD PASTORS 

Ben and Ana Saffrin have been a part of Free Grace United since the early days. Both have a talent for music as well as sharing the gospel. They met while serving at church and were later married, and they now have two adorable kiddos (Macey and Jack). Pastor Ben is also the Director of FGU Global.

Email: ben.saffrin@freegrace.tv and ana.saffrin@freegrace.tv

MARCY & DOUG STONE

DES MOINES LEAD PASTORS 

Pastors Marcy & Doug met while attending East High School in Des Moines. They were married in 1994 and raised 3 children. Doug enjoys umpiring little league games and Marcy find fulfillment as a funeral officiant. Both Doug and Marcy have hearts for hurting people and love sharing the comfort Jesus provides.

Email: marcy.stone@freegrace.tv

KEVIN & ANNIE WILSON

ST CLOUD BECKER LEAD PASTORS

Kevin and Annie Wilson have three awesome kids – Ethan, Kaden, and Jayci (who is currently dancing in Heaven with Jesus). Pastor Kevin’s preaching style is passionate, truthful, hilarious, and dynamic, and his life experiences allow him to bring the hope of the gospel in a unique and powerful way. 

Email: kevin.wilson@freegrace.tv

LUKE & ALYSSA WOOLHOUSE

NORTH MINNEAPOLIS LEAD PASTORS

Luke and Alyssa Woolhouse have three kiddos, Nolee, Lux, and Nia. Luke is a bi-vocational pastor who works in construction. As a pastor, he’s working on building the Kingdom in North Minneapolis!

Email: luke.woolhouse@freegrace.tv