Youth Pastor Dennis Anderson

From Pastor Dennis: I was born in Columbus, Nebraska where my dad was the pastor of the Free Church in town. When I was about 5 years old, my family moved to Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin, where I spent the rest of my growing up years. Go Green Bay Packers!! (Yes, I am a devoted cheesehead.)

I'm blessed to have been raised in a great family, of which I am the baby! My sister is 13 years older, while my brothers are 10, and 7 years older (I was quite the surprise coming along almost 7 years after my brother, Ron!). My mom and dad have had a major impact on my life in many ways. They have modeled to me what it means to love Jesus. In so many ways I have been shaped by their lives and even now continue to look to them for guidance and wisdom. My Dad in particular has had a tremendous influence on my life. He has instilled in me a love for the Word of God. He has such a thirst for knowing and living out the Word that his life is just an outpouring of what he has put into his heart. I praise God for my mom as well, as she has demonstrated a servant's heart, and has shown me what it means to be others-centered. My siblings have also been a great influence in my life that I'm so thankful for. I have learned many things from their example to me in their love for Jesus.

Sports was a big part of my life growing up in Junior High and High School. I played anything and everything I could. Many aspects of that was good--however, it also got in the way of my relationship with God as He started to take a back seat in terms of priority. I went on to Trinity College in Deerfield, IL, where I continued striving to please people through athletics. Then in my sophomore year of college, God got a hold of me through a series of events, as well the speaking of Ron Hutchcraft, who was a featured speaker at the college for a week. I finally surrendered to God saying, "Here I am, Lord, take me and use me in any way that you can!" At that point, through another series of events, I changed majors to Youth Ministry and transferred to Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

It was during my Senior year that I met an amazing girl who not only was beautiful but also loved God with passion. She was also great at music and liked sports, too! Betsy and I dated for about six months and then one night I cooked her homemade spaghetti (I'd never cooked for her before) and read her a poem (I'd never written her a poem before either) that culminated with a marriage proposal. She said yes, (whew!), and we got married six months later!

It was also during my Senior year of college that I began a youth ministry internship at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Fridley, MN, underneath veteran youth pastor Brent Waiwaiole. This was a great experience for me in the sense that I was actually doing ministry, compared to learning about ministry. This, along with my education, provided a good foundation for me as I was about to take my next step toward full-time youth ministry.

In May of 1998, Betsy and I moved to Fairmont, MN, to begin working with the youth at Bethel Ev. Free Church. Looking back over the time we have been here, it is clear to see God's faithfulness. It has been a great privilege to work with the youth in Fairmont and to see them transform before our very eyes into young men and women of God. We look forward to seeing more and more great things happen in the lives of the young people in this area as we seek to further the kingdom of God!

Betsy and I are now in a new phase of life as we've had our first two children, Gabriela and Nathan. They are such a blessing and we praise God for these precious gifts!! They have dramatically changed the way we live as they grow and change. We now wonder what life was like "B.C." (Before Children).

God is so good and I am constantly in awe of His faithfulness and goodness. I am excited to see what God has in store for Betsy and I and the youth of this church. I know that He holds the future in His hands, and no matter what, He is going to accomplish what He desires. I close with my life verse, which has meant so much to me for a long time: 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those that
love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28