Who We Are

Staff & Elders

Meet the staff

Julia Sandstrom

Lead Pastor
Julia serves as the primary preacher in worship services, designing and implementing a comprehensive system for adult spiritual formation and discipleship through small groups and other ministry models/resources. 

Lynne McLaughlin

Associate Pastor
Lynne attends to the care needs of the congregation and community.  She also oversees children’s and student ministries to develop a cohesive plan of spiritual formation. 

Dane Anderson

Minister of Worship Arts & Discipleship
Dane helps plan worship for Sunday gatherings and special services, coordinates the music team and plans and coordinates discipleship.

Peter Ek

Minister to Students
Peter oversees ministry to high school students, helping them develop their leadership skills and setting the foundation for Christian faith that will carry them into adulthood. 

Angel Baum 

Director of Middle School Ministries
Angel oversees our Middle School Student Ministry, including Sunday morning classes and Wednesday evening gatherings.

Lisa Udell

Minister to Children
Lisa plans and implements all aspects of our ministry to children, from newborn through 6th grade.

Michelle Bennett

Communications Coordinator
& Tech Director
Michelle oversees creation and strategy for all digital and print communications.  

Kimberly Korpak

Pastoral Assistant
Kimberly assists the pastoral staff, helps with coordinating facility operations and performs a variety of administrative and clerical tasks.  

Juli Priolo

NextGen Assistant
Juli assists NextGen Ministries with preparing for Sunday mornings, the various student/children’s activities that occur throughout the week and with special events.

Holly Smith

Receptionist
Holly manages our front desk, schedules groups for facility use and performs a variety of administrative and clerical tasks.  

Ronan Pleune

Facility Coordinator
Ronan takes care of the many details that are involved with the daily care and maintenance of our facilities and grounds.

Meet the Elders

Thornapple’s Council of Elders are elected to three-year terms from our membership and are joined by the pastoral staff and Treasurer. They serve as the board of directors and legal trustees of Thornapple and its property; this groups of tireless individuals typically meets the third Thursday of every month.

Our Elders are here to serve. Contact them at any time if you have concerns you would like them to be aware of or ideas you would like to share. Please refer to their contact information in the church directory OR leave a note for them in their mailbox in the Copy Room at church.

financial updates 

Articles of Incorporation (updated 2026)

Constitution & Bylaws (updated 2026) 

Email the elders

Laura Bartlett

Secretary

Doug Datema

Vice Chair

Molly DeHoog

Lori DeKruif

Dave Harrell

Sue Smith

Chair

Todd Sytsma

Ross Veldheer

Kris Witters

Steve Abbott

Treasurer

Marc Kole

Financial Secretary

Rick Kamminga

Deputy
Financial Secretary