Our Team
Warren Hunsberger
Lead Pastor
Send an email message to pastorwarren@lifenow.org
Look for Pastor Warren on any given day at CLA, and you would likely find him behind his desk experimenting with new software or tinkering with the latest feature on our online network (www.lifenowcla.com) or Web site (www.lifenow.org). The guy enjoys technology and has a knack for using it to connect people with one another and with Jesus. Raised on the east side and later trained as an engineer, Warren’s life took a dramatic turn when he was called to pastor a church in West Des Moines. After several years, he was named executive director of Teen Challenge of the Midlands in Colfax, Iowa, and then later relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where he continued work with Teen Challenge and also founded LeadersHeart (www.leadersheart.com), an organization dedicated to helping individuals fulfill the purpose God has for their lives. In January 2010, Warren and his wife, Gay, returned to their Iowa roots, where they spend their days “doing life together with the people of CLA,” he says. Pastor Warren and Gay have seven children—one daughter, Hannah, is still at home. And they recently welcomed their eighth grandchild into the world.
Gay Hunsberger
Director, Women of Excellence
Send an email message to gay@lifenow.org
- Gay's "Wife of Excellence" fb group page - Gay's personal fb page Wife, mom, daughter, grandmother, sister, mentor, friend, author, interior designer—Gay Hunsberger wears all these hats with joy and vigor. Married to Warren for 35 years, mom of seven, and grandmother to eight, Gay has a passion to see marriages strengthened and for women to experience God’s unfathomable love and restoration in Jesus Christ. Her first book, That My Heart May Sing, recounts the story of how God renewed her mind and heart and resurrected her marriage. Her second book, I Didn’t Know That: For Wives Only, provides Biblical perspective for living life as a godly wife. Her organization, Women of Excellence, presents seminars and provides resource materials designed to speak Biblical truths to women and to help them walk in the purpose and plan that God has for their lives. Her popular seminar, Wife of Excellence, recounts her life story and provides women with truths that will strengthen any marriage.
Patrick Grant
Youth Pastor
Send an email message to pgrant@lifenow.org
Ever watch someone do what they truly love? You can tell they do it not because they want to, but because they HAVE to… it’s IN them. Pat Grant does youth ministry that way. Pat is a painting contractor who loves to pour into students and encourage them with the love of Jesus. He’s been a Missionary Associate with the Iowa district’s Seven Project and served as a Youth Pastor in Carroll, Iowa. Clearly, he’s about Youth. Pat is married with three kids and a beagle. Or maybe he’s the owner of a beagle and happens to also have three kids. Either way, you get the picture. Pat is on Facebook.
Jacob Heilman
Maintenance
This new dad tackles any and all maintenance tasks inside and outside the CLA building and around the campus with a smile and a can-do attitude. Jacob, who was raised in Des Moines, says he “kind of picked up” his repair and construction abilities from working alongside others. He and his wife, Amanda, recently welcomed their first child, a daughter, Amaya, into the world. She keeps mom and dad enamored, but when they aren’t attending to her needs and enjoying her coos and smiles, they like to watch movies at home or head outside for long walks.
Yvette Spence
Accounting
Armed with a BS in Interior Design/Architecture and an MBA in Business Management as well as 16 years under her belt in the Aerospace Division at Honeywell International, Yvette enjoys crunching numbers. She and husband, Del, have two sons, Seylan, 10, and Kylan, 8, whom they home school. They love spending time together as a family and enjoy many hours at the soccer fields. They’re also all fluent in Spanish, and Yvette—a native Honduran—tackles some translating gigs now and then. Passionate about advancing God’s kingdom, Yvette and Del have coached our State competitive Junior Bible Quizzers for several years. Somehow, they’ve also found the time to renovate several homes across three states since 1995.
Melody Bockholt
Administrative Assistant
Send an email message to m.bockholt@lifenow.org
It’s difficult to say what the people of CLA love best about Melody Bockholt: her mad baking skills (Lemon Cookies extraordinaire, anyone?), her get-‘er-done attitude, or her deep commitment to God, family, and friends. All these attributes and more are icing on the cake when it comes to Melody’s top-drawer administrative prowess. She helps keep things humming around the office and at home, where she orchestrates a busy household with husband, Garry, and their three teenage sons, Chad, Michael, and Travis. When Melody isn’t attending a flurry of sporting and musical activities, she likes to scrapbook. Born and raised in Papua, New Guinea, to missionary parents, Melody graduated from Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, with an Associate in Practical Theology. She also holds an Executive Secretarial degree from Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa. Drop in and say “Hi!” to Melody—she might just share her lemon cookie recipe with you.
Volunteer Coordinators
Nursery/Preschool Coordinator: Sarah Farrand
KidsCount: Stacy Watrous
Worship Team: Andy Klindt & Russ Watrous
