Interested in joining our team? We are currently searching for someone with relational and organizational skills to serve part time as our Assistant Director of Middle School Ministry. Click here for the job description. For more information, please contact Eric, our Director of Students and Their Families.
Pastoral Staff
Kirk Militzer, Lead Pastor — kirk@c3ec.org
My wife Julie and I moved to Eau Claire the summer of 2015. We had previously served Triumph Lutheran Brethren Church in Moorhead, MN for 25 years. I began as Lead Pastor at Bethesda in August of 2015. I especially enjoy the opportunity to share God’s Word and encourage the church family here at Bethesda whether that is one on one, preaching, in group teaching settings, staff or leadership settings, or even in the hallways.
What beats in my chest and gets me up in the morning is that the greatest news EVER is Jesus who has come and is coming again.
I have an incredible wife Julie who is a Norwegian Farmer’s daughter from Crookston, MN. She is a teacher and enjoys scrapbooking. We have three young adult “kids.” Our daughter Danielle is married to Dr. Matt Casperson a chiropracter in Fargo, ND. Our oldest son Josh is a Physical Therapist, and our youngest son Josiah is married to Annie (formerly Christofferson) from Rochester, MN. We have an incredible grandson Elliot, and more grandkids coming!
I enjoy laughing and licorice, reading and running (kind of), hunting and hanging out at campfire with godly men and lots of laughter,
I am die hard Viking fan and never get tired of hearing about the incredible grace our Heavenly Father has lavished on us in Jesus.
Brian Quade, Executive Pastor — bquade@c3ec.org
I’ve been involved at Bethesda since 1990, when I started college at UWEC and have been in my current role since January, 2010. As Executive Pastor, in addition to the privilege of caring for people in our congregation and preaching about once a month, my responsibilities center around 3 main areas. I have the privilege of leading staff meetings and supervising many of our staff. I also oversee operations by working with the Elders, Trustees, Staff, and other leaders on budgets, ministry plans, policies, and facilities. Finally, I get to come alongside our various departments and ministries to help ensure that what we’re doing is aligned around our shared vision and that we are working together to help people grow in their relationship with Jesus. It’s a pretty awesome job, and I’m honored and humbled to be here!
I am grateful for the privilege of entering life with people, hearing and processing their stories. I’m also passionate about helping people understand what the Bible says in the hope that we’ll all experience the God of Wonder who reveals himself and invites us to trust him through the words he’s given us and his continuing work in our lives.
My wife Kristen and I were married in 1998, and we have 3 kids - Brianna, Kami, and Kip, who keep getting older.
I’ve always wanted to have cool hobbies but never figured out what they should be. I enjoy reading - for personal growth and for fun. I enjoy movies, especially when I get to watch and discuss them with Kris. And I enjoy playing games with my kids in the moments we get to slow down between other activities.
Kurt Mattison, Congregational Care — kurt@c3ec.org
Denise and I began attending Bethesda in 2002. I recently joined the staff as a licensed Lay-Pastor to lead the Care Team ministry. I am also a Certified Youth Minister, and a Licensed Senior Chaplain serving the ECPD and ECFD.
Education, athletics and coaching have been passions of mine for most of my life. My career path has taken me through teaching and coaching, the fitness world, to youth ministry, back to the fitness world, then back into ministry again. Coaching has remained the one constant in my life. My hobbies include movies, sports, coaching wrestling, fitness, and self-defense, amateur construction and landscaping (my dirt therapy), and family activities.
Denise and I have two daughters — a high school health teacher in Altoona and an analytical chemist/project manager in the Twin Cities — and four active grandkids. We are incredibly blessed!
Denise retired in 2019 after four years in public accounting and 25 years as Director of Accounting for Mayo Clinic Health System.
Ministry and Support Staff
Drew Clausen, Communications Director — office2@c3ec.org
I've been on staff here at Bethesda since 2010, but Bethesda has been my church home since I came to Eau Claire as a college student back in the 1980s.
As Communications Director, it's my job to keep you all informed about what's happening in our church family, and to tell our stories. One of the best parts of my job is helping you to tell our stories, too, so that together we can share the great gospel story.
When not behind my desk, my family and I enjoy exploring state parks, driving down along the Mississippi or up along the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Nicole Kuhnert, Ministry Assistant — office@c3ec.org
Dorie Fink, Director of Children's Ministries — Dorie@c3ec.org
I came on staff at Bethesda in 2013, as the Nursery Coordinator. In 2017, I became Director of Children’s Ministries. I absolutely love what I get to do! My job involves coming alongside of families to support them in the nurture and development of their children, and joining the congregation as we seek to know, encourage, instruct and learn from the youngest members of the Body of Christ. This includes recruiting, training and supporting volunteers, overseeing curriculum, planning activities and programming, working together with other staff and church leaders, and getting to know families. Discovering the depths of God’s love and exploring what that means together is a gift that continues to amaze me.
When I’m not “at work,” I enjoy spending time with my husband and 2 sons, as well as reading, and a variety of creative projects. When opportunity allows, I enjoy traveling with my family and discovering new places, especially in nature. My picture of a “perfect evening,” is cuddling up on the sofa with our dog and a cup of tea while I visit with my family, or get lost in a good book.
Jim Hermann, Custodian — jim@c3ec.org
I have been on staff at Bethesda since July of 2007. My responsibilities include facility maintenance and event set-up.
My wife Holly and I were married in 1984 and have three grown children and one grandchild.
One of my passions is music (I'm a drummer) and I love to use that gift both here at the church and outside of church.
Eric Johnson, Director of Ministries to Students and their Families — eric@c3ec.org
I began serving at Bethesda in 2016. My family includes my wife Sarah, son Jace and daughter Allison. We all love teenagers and strive to introduce them to Christ and help them on their journey with Him. In my free time you will find me on an adventure discovering something new, traveling, or hanging out with friends at a coffee shop.
Karyn Quandt, Choir Director — karyn@c3ec.org
Aaron Spina, Bethesda Worship Arts — aaron@c3ec.org
I was brought onto Bethesda's staff in September of 2018, but I grew up as part of the family here. I have my own family now, a wife and a daughter more wonderful than I ever could have imagined or deserved, and I'm so thankful that we're part of the body at Bethesda.
Music has always been something that makes me think and feel deeper than I normally would, and I have to imagine that that's because I'm created in God's image; I believe the Lord was at least humming during the process of Creation, if not singing the most beautiful serenade ever. There's something deeper and more meaningful to music than can be described, I think that's because it's part of God's character somehow, and I think that's why we are moved to use it in response to Him.
When you're getting to know someone, you never ask "do you listen to music?" The question asked is always, "what kind of music do you listen to?" It's built into us, and I hope to lead and move our people to direct it back towards the One who built it in.
