It's that time of year again.

Jake Fossen, along with his wife Robin and their two daughters, have called MISSION home since 2012. He has been blessed, over the last 12 years, to serve in many different roles. He currently serves in Guest Services as an Usher, as well as helping to lead the Men’s Ministry. In the past, he has led Small Groups, served as a Small Group Team Leader, written weekly Life Notes questions, and served on many Impact Team projects. His wife serves in the “New Here Start Here” tent, and both of his daughters serve the youth Ministry in K-6.

He is a Sales Executive and business owner, but in his free time he likes to golf, strum his guitar, wakeboard, and is finding a new joy in reading. He is typically reading Christian books, but likes to throw in a biography or political commentary book every once in a while. He is honored to serve in a new capacity on the Board of Servant Leaders, and looks forward to leading as they enter into what he believes is a thriving season for their church. He loves people, and he loves to participate in how Jesus changes everything for everyone.

Carley Maier has attended MISSION since 2009 and is passionate and excited about what God is doing at the church. She has been married to her husband, Matt, for 14 years and they have five kids between the ages of 11 and three. Before God called her home to serve her family full-time, she worked at MISSION for seven years as the Spiritual Formation Pastor. Currently, she participates in the 1189 podcast, facilitates baptism classes, and is part of the intercessory prayer team. Matt and Carley have also been in their small group for 8+ years and are so refined and challenged by those in their group. They’ve also been blessed with some of the most amazingly Godly friends who show them Jesus all the time.

Her idea of a perfect day would be spent drinking an iced toasted coconut latte at Peixoto while reading her Bible and/or books, followed by swimming/doing water slides at the gym with the kids, sitting in the sauna, and a date night at Federal Pizza or Chelsea’s Kitchen (if a house cleaner could be factored in somewhere that would be the icing on the cake!).

Kim and her husband Wes were called to MISSION when it was Superstition Springs Community Church meeting in Highland High School’s cafeteria. That was 2001 when their still-in-their-home kids were in 8th and 5th grades. Their then-5th-grader still attends MISSION -- with his wife and their three girls. They are now a 3-generation family who loves calling MISSION home. Wes and she have served in many areas over the years, from stacking chairs in the high school to production to music to small groups to women’s to Foster and Adoption to Thrive Track to Leadership University to Serve Days to Children’s to Celebrate Recovery (and more).

She loves to read, sing, garden, spend time in the mountains, and if she’s honest – work. Professionally, she studies people. Through God’s grace, she loves them. She is so blessed to champion leaders in the corporate, non-profit, government, and athletic worlds. Her greatest joy is sharing how they have a Creator who doesn’t make mistakes and helping leaders learn to love and empower their teams based on how they were uniquely made. She is excited for what is yet to come for MISSION. She believes God has important work for them to do to serve and build His Kingdom.

Suzan Brown is a pastor's kid who was practically born in the nursery. She accepted Christ at 4 years old and has been on a journey of growing in her faith ever since. Her faith was solidified through the difficulties and trauma that came as her parents both battled long illnesses and died by the time she was 19. In her grief, loneliness, fear, and depression, she encountered a God who was with her in her pain. She can testify that following God will not be easy, but He is good and faithful.

She has been married to her wise and patient husband, Ryan, for 18 years, and they have called MISSION home for 14 years. They have three creative, funny, and energetic kids that joined their family through adoption. She has served in Foster and Adoption ministry, preparing prospective foster/adoptive families and walking alongside these families through the joys and difficulties of caring for kids with trauma. She is a stay-at-home mom and fills her days leading a Bible Study, volunteering at her kids' school, and teaching art classes for kids. She is passionate about seeing people engage deeply with God's Word and be transformed into people who will follow Jesus at any cost.

Autumn Anavitarte, husband Paul, and their daughter came to MISSION in 2018 when they moved cross country from Central Pennsylvania. They are so grateful for the wonderful connections they have found at MISSION. She has previously served in NexGen check-in, leads a few interest groups, and if you are a part of MISSION Women on Wednesday evenings, you will find her at the Welcome table. Being a part of the Women's leadership is especially near and dear to her heart. As they approach 4 years of MISSION Women, she finds that the fellowship and Godly connections truly have filled a space of longing in her heart for real community.

You may have met her daughter in the areas where she serves - first service for K-3rd and alongside her on Wednesday evenings at MISSION Women. Spreading the word of God is a passion that her family holds near and dear to their hearts... they believe everyone should have a Bible.

For over 25+ years she has been in sales, the past 17 years at WM (formerly Waste Management) where she is currently in National Accounts. Her favorite place to be is anywhere with Paul and Mikayla. You are most likely to find her family and her boating on Saguaro Lake or simply spending time together making family memories. As she enters into serving on the Board of Servant Leaders, she is most excited about sharing her story of brokenness and her redemption found in our Savior. She wants them all to be the church that leaves the building. She is a real reflection of a broken person healed by the transformative power of God. Her relationship with Jesus is where she landed on her final straw and is now where she finds her legacy being built in her unfailing love for Him.

Justin was born and raised right here in Gilbert, AZ. He graduated from Gilbert Highschool and went off to college only to discover his love for the military. He joined the Navy as an Air Traffic Controller to see the world. In 1996 he asked for his wife’s hand in marriage and to join him in his adventure of military life. Their love for each other and their love for their family brought them back home to Gilbert in 2000 after being in the military for ten years. Gilbert was home, where he wanted to drop anchor and stay.

This was a perfect fit because he could work with his family in their development endeavor while helping on the farm when needed. Justin grew his love for Jesus while working on the farm and realizing that God’s plan had brought him to a place he truly belonged. There came a time when Justin needed to step away from his development job and manage the family’s dairy farm right down the road from Mission. We have since moved our farm and dairy to Gila Bend, AZ. Along with three generations of family members, Justin continues to be involved with the daily operations of the family’s farm.

Justin and his wife have been attending Mission Church since 2012. They helped lead their small group every Wednesday night for several years. They especially love being a part of One Mission, various service programs, mission projects in Africa, and the Young Life organization. Justin and his wife had an opportunity to visit Israel to learn more about farming and water conservation. But, more importantly, to walk where Jesus walked and to learn more about Christianity’s beginning. Justin felt led to be baptized in the Jordan River. He feels like it was a life highlight. The trip to the Holy Land brought Justin and Dawnie closer to Christ and renewed their commitment to their faith. They have been married for 28 years and have five grandchildren and one great-grandchild on the way.

Brandon was born in Sturgeon Bay, WI, and spent his entire childhood in central WI. After college, he moved around a few states. One of them was Florida, where he met his wife! In 2009 they married and moved to Arizona. Over the next few years, God blessed them with a son and daughter.

As a child, he attended church regularly but didn’t know what it meant to have a relationship with Christ. He suffered through many years trying to live his life his own way. In 2007 he started the journey of surrendering his life to Christ. In 2010 he was baptized at Mission. That same year he began serving in the children’s ministry. He still serves today, and you can find him in the K-3 room on Sundays.

John grew up in a strong Christian home in Northern Illinois. He gave his life to Christ at an early age and felt called to ministry. He graduated from North Central Bible College, Minneapolis, MN, in 1993 with a degree in Pastoral Studies and moved to Arizona. John found himself broken, hurt, and ashamed through some difficult seasons. He began attending Mission in 2002 and began attending Celebrate Recovery in 2006. Here he found incredible healing and peace through working the 12 steps. Since then, John has been serving at Mission Celebrate Recovery.

John has been married to his wife, Deanna, since 2007. Together they have been leading the Celebrate Recovery ministry since 2015. The Grams are also active in Men's, Women's, and Care Ministries. They have four adult children and enjoy the "empty nester" life with four grandchildren, and grandbaby number five due in October. They live in Apache Junction at the foothills of the Superstition Mountains.

Rolf grew up attending a small church in rural Tennessee. While growing up and serving in the faith and being baptized a couple of times “for good measure,” he never really discovered the beauty and freedom of a relationship with our Father until he was well into his 30s.

In 1997, Rolf packed up his car and drove to Arizona to pursue his wife-to-be. They were married the following year and had two daughters, who are now young adults.

The Trainor family came to MISSION in 2010 and served in several different capacities over the years. Rolf and his wife have led small groups in their home, facilitated Rekindle, Starting Point, and Thrive, and participated in various mentoring programs and mercy ministries.

In 2013, Rolf shelved his IT career to serve on staff as MISSION’s Spiritual Formation Pastor. During that time, he worked alongside a team of staff and volunteers to build and shape spiritual formation at MISSION. He also oversaw MISSION’s partnership with the town of Gilbert on a home-rebuild project in the community. After serving in this capacity for almost five years, Rolf returned to his IT career, but he and his wife continue to serve as volunteers at MISSION.

Mike was born in Troy, Michigan, to loving parents who took him to church regularly. He always believed in God but did not have a personal relationship with Him until he began attending MISSION in 2005. By 2012, trials in his life spurred him to read the Bible daily, and the real-life transformation began. Mike gave his life to the Lord and was baptized on Easter Sunday, 2013.

Mike and his wife have been married for 22 years. They moved to Gilbert, AZ, in 2004 with their three daughters, who have grown up in this church and served in NextGen. Mike’s wife serves with MISSION Women and the medical team.

Mike has served in many areas over the years. He was a coach in ANTHEM for the junior high leaders, has served in the Hub, and has continued to welcome new families to MISSION since 2012. He and his wife have facilitated many short-term groups, including marriage and parenting studies, and Thrive.

Aaron and his wife moved to Queen Creek from Illinois in the fall of 2015 with their two boys. After "church shopping" at nearly every church in the East Valley for a couple of months, God led the Stott family to attend MISSION. They started serving immediately as community group leaders and have led several groups over the past seven years. While his wife has done in NextGen as a Tribe leader for the past five years, Aaron has served on the leadership team for community groups, helped facilitate men's Bible studies, and has recently been involved with MISSION Men.

Aaron grew up in a Christian home, attended Young Life, and was an active member of his church's youth group. Despite all that, he chose to walk away from his faith when his parents divorced while in college. Thankfully, God used his future father-in-law to show him what a true relationship with Jesus was actually about, and he has been growing in his faith ever since the mid-’90s.

Diego moved to a ranch in the East Valley in 1967, to an area known then as Higley, with his parents, grandmother, older brother, and younger sister. Within a year, the family welcomed a younger brother. 

Diego accepted God in his life in 1995 while attending Word of Grace Church in Mesa, AZ. Gary Kinneman was the Lead Pastor of this fast-growing Christian church. Diego has always been grateful for Pastor Gary’s messages but knows it was God’s Holy Spirit who was speaking to him all along. 

Diego has been married for over 30 years, and he and his wife have enjoyed life with their three sons. Diego and his wife live in Queen Creek, AZ, and have been attending Mission Community Church for over five years. God continues to bless Diego and his wife in their business, and they, in turn, have had the opportunity to financially bless several other Christian organizations outside of MISSION here in Arizona.