DISTRICT LEADERS

JOHN BRAAM
PRESIDENT

John grew up in Mankato, and attended the majority of the youth district events. However there was a period of his teenage life where he wasn't exactly where God wanted him to be. It was around the age of 15, on a Thursday night at a MN Senior Camp, where John felt the call of God to preach the Gospel. From that point forward, John has dedicated his life to the call of God on his life (ups and downs, no doubt). 

John went to Indiana Bible College for one year, and came back home to step straight into Youth Ministry at his local church in Mankato. The burden John has felt for student ministry has been evident since his time as a Youth Pastor. John served the students of Mankato as Youth Pastor for five years, and transitioned into the role of Assistant to the Pastor. John now serves as the Associate Pastor of Connect Point UPC.

John met his lovely wife Crystal at their local church, right after he got back from Indiana Bible College. Crystal loves doing ministry, raising their children, and of course drinking coffee. They have 4 kids: Olivia, Ariana, Noah, and Adilyn. 

It is an honor and privilege to serve the greatest students on planet earth, right here in Minnesota! ​

BEN MASON SECRETARY 

While Ben can’t take you to the moment, place, or event where God “called” him into ministry; he can say that from a very young age he began to feel a strong pull from God on his life. It was after his first year of college that he fully surrendered to God’s plan and packed his bags to attend Indiana Bible College. 

It was at IBC that Ben met his wife Lyndi. They got married after his graduation in 2013. Ben grew up in Indiana, while Lyndi was raised here in the Minnesota District. They both felt like God was directing their steps to the Twin Cities where they have been serving at their local church in Inver Grove Heights, MN since.

They currently serve as the Assistant Pastor and Youth Leaders; and Lyndi coordinates the church’s music ministry. God has blessed them two beautiful kids, Trenton and Morgan.

SIMEON MARCHAND
PROMOTIONS

Simeon was born and raised in Minnesota and has lived throughout different areas of the State. He and his family moved back to the Twin Cities and started a church when he was 12 years old. This is where his burden for young people was formed, eventually becoming a youth leader at his father's church. Attending youth functions such as Senior camp and Youth Convention were highlights of his youth years. These events are where he met many great friends and his wife. Him and his wife, Becca, serve as the youth leaders at the Rochester Pentecostal Church. In November of 2021 they welcomed a beautiful daughter named Lucy.

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SECTIONAL LEADERS

CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ
SECTION 1

Cristian is originally from Mexico, but has lived in the US for most of his life. It was in Minnesota that he was introduced to Jesus and this truth at the age of 12. Cristian received the Holy Ghost in 2010 at a youth event in Rochester. He was baptized in the Name of Jesus and has continued to serve his local church since.

In 2014 he attended Indiana Bible College for 2 years and received his Associates in Biblical Studies. While he was there, he served on the Urban Ministries team and helped out at a close by neighborhood called Laurelwood. It was at IBC that exposure to the lost bred a greater burden. He then returned to his home town of Owatonna to serve his local church.

Cristian currently serves as the Assistant Pastor, Youth Pastor, and also assists in teaching the Senior Sunday School class. He loves to serve young people and see them grow in their walk with God. 

JAY EMRICK
SECTION 2

Jay is a Minnesota native at heart, but is a transplant from his hometown in Champaign, IL. He grew up attending church at Apostolic Life in Urbana, IL. During his teenage years, he felt a strong call to Student Ministry, and as he got older, the Lord began to lead him to attend Indiana Bible College in Indianapolis, IN. It was there he met his wife, Heidi. Jay and Heidi moved to St. Paul, MN in 2018 where they currently serve as Student Pastor at the Sanctuary Church. 

They have been blessed with a beautiful daughter, Winona, and are also proud parents of a 4 year old Goldendoodle, Whitaker.

TYLER WILLIS
SECTION 3

Tyler was born and raised in the north suburbs of the Twin Cities. At the age of 14, his life was forever changed as his family began attending an Apostolic church regularly. In a youth camp service at the age of 17, God inspired a burden in his life to minister to the lives of young people.

After high school, he attended Indiana Bible College where he met his wife, Kayla. Tyler and Kayla have been involved in different levels of youth ministry for the past 11 years. They currently serve as the Youth Pastor at their local church in Cambridge, Minnesota. They have been tremendously blessed with two wonderful sons, Huntley and Holden.