Our Team

We are here to serve you.

  • Ben Brown - Lead Pastor/Elder

    I received training to become a pastor at Cedarville College (now University) in Ohio where I met my bride, Misty, and at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN where I earned my Master of Divinity. I have 23 years of pastoral experience having served in churches both in Indiana and North Carolina before coming to Yankton. Misty and I have been blessed with six children, three boys and three girls. Our life is full and blessed and never boring.

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  • Rick Slattery - Associate Pastor/Elder

    I attended Liberty University for an undergraduate degree in Counseling/Christian Psychology in Lynchburg, VA. I returned to my hometown of Baltimore where I met my wife Barb and worked in the inner city as a chemical dependency rehabilitation therapist for over a decade. After several years, I felt that the church was the source and center of Christ’s ability to free people from the prison of sin. Consequently, I decided to attend Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, OR, where I earned a Master of Divinity. I have ministered as a pastor in South Dakota since 2002. Barb and I have three daughters. I like to try new things and as a result have no consistent hobbies but do have a steadfast love for discipleship and care ministries.

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  • Adam Ansel - Youth Pastor/Elder

    I attended Southeastern College for 2 years working on a degree in Pastoral Ministries. After my sophomore year, God called me to be a missionary in East Africa where I met my wife, Jenny. I returned to the US where I obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies from Eternity Bible College in Simi Valley, CA. I worked with church staffs in California and Maryland before moving to South Dakota.

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  • Laura Kotalik, Children's Ministry Director

    I started attending Calvary as a child and am so excited to minister here as an adult! I have my Master's Degree in Elementary Education and have experience both in teaching and administrative roles. My husband, Tim, and I have three children. I enjoy crafting and baking.

    Email Laura

  • Steve Auch,
    Non-Governing Elder

    Steve and his wife, Anita, have two married daughters and four grandchildren. At Calvary, Steve has been a member of the Missions Committee and has participated in several short-term overseas trips. Since moving to Yankton in 2008, he has been active in prison and jail ministries as well. Steve is retired from a career at USDA and keeps busy on the family farm raising corn and soybeans.

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  • Will Eidsness, Elder

    Will, his wife Hilary, and their 4 children  have attended Calvary since they moved to town in 2007. You can often find them doing something involving sports or the outdoors. Will enjoys teaching 5th and 6th grade Sunday School, leading Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Yankton High School, and his job as the Radiologist at Yankton Medical Clinic.

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  • Joey Graber, Elder

    Joey has been attending Calvary with his family since 2009. He and his wife Patti live on a grain and livestock farm 35 miles north of Yankton just outside Freeman, SD. They have 5 children.  Joey loves teaching Sunday School, loves working with the youth at Calvary, and loves sports (especially Triathlons).


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  • Jerry Gustad, Elder

    Jerry and his wife Amy live on a farm near Volin with their 4 Children.  He works as an Engineer with Ehresmann Engineering. Jerry teaches Sunday School, helps with AWANA, is an Usher and has served on the Trustee Board in the past.  In his spare time he enjoys watching his kids in their various sporting activities.

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  • Steve Mach, Elder

    Steve Mach has served in a variety of positions including men’s ministry and the leadership team of the Encore community. He and his wife, Carmen, have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Steve is a physical therapist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall, SD and in his spare time enjoys bike riding and hiking and working alongside volunteers packing meals for the children of Haiti.




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  • Dave Rehurek, Elder

    Dave Rehurek has served on the Trustee Board, ENCORE Community Leadership Team, Men’s Ministry, and various volunteer/appointed teams. He and his wife Sheryl have 5 children and 4 grandchildren. Dave is retired from a career in management with Alcoa and is currently self-employed as owner/operator of Dave’s Full Throttle Dyno Shop. Any spare time is devoted to the blessing of being a grandparent, biking, hiking, racing, and local community service.

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  • Mark Stevens, 

    Non-Governing Elder

    Mark started attending Calvary in 1977 after graduating from Bethel College and Northwestern Chiropractic College in St. Paul, MN. He has served in many areas at the church including sound technician, high school youth director, AWANA, Sunday School teacher, Valentine Banquet, and playing on the worship team. Mark and his wife, Deb, have three children. He is a private pilot, scuba diver, and still plays basketball 3 times a week even though his knees and wife suggest he quit. He also likes hunting and his fishing trips to Canada.

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  • Jeff VanMeeteren, Elder

    Jeff has served in a variety of positions including youth ministry, men’s ministry, the trustee committee, and as a deacon. He and his wife, Pam, have 4 children and 1 grandchild. Jeff is a Regional Park Supervisor for the SD Game Fish & Parks and in his spare time enjoys hunting and fishing in the great outdoors, and golfing with his wife.

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