Hello! My wife, Rochelle, and I have been incredibly blessed and happily married since 2006.  We have a beautiful blended family of 6 children.  (3 my biological, 3 Rochelle’s biological, (2 I’ve adopted, and 1 stepson) and we have 8 grandchildren.  As Lead Pastor, I feel so blessed, honored and privileged to be a part of this amazing body of believers. Please come see and be a part of all that the Lord is doing in and through this precious church.

Jeremy accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at age 10 and has been active in following Christ ever since. He has been married to his wife, Kelly, for over 36 years. Together, they are committed to their family and God’s ministry. As of year 2026, God has blessed them with 8 children and 13 grandchildren. They are blessed to have many of their children and grandchildren involved in ministry as well. God has given them a heart to rescue the spiritually perishing and dying; minister to the little and the least, the widow and the orphan and with God’s struggling church inside prison walls. They love participating in the work God is doing!!!

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:3-4 ESV

Pastor Eric Schmidt serves as the Worship and Praise Pastor at The Church in the Pines. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Eric and his family made the move to Alexandria, Minnesota in 2020, following God’s call to join the ministry here. Eric and his wife, Jessica, have been married for 18 years and are blessed with four wonderful children. Together, they enjoy hiking, going to the movies, visiting the ocean, and simply spending time together as a family. Though Minnesota winters are not exactly Eric’s cup of tea, he often says, “God’s will, not ours,”— a reflection of his heart for following where the Lord leads. Eric is passionate about leading others into authentic worship and creating space for people to encounter God’s presence through music and praise. Not only is he the Worship Pastor, but he leads the Young Adult Ministry. With a passion for authentic community and spiritual growth, Eric is committed to guiding young adults through their faith journey— helping them deepen their relationship with Jesus, build meaningful connections, and step confidently into the calling God has placed on their lives.

Pastor Austin has a deep passion for seeing the next generation grow in their faith and walk boldly with Jesus. With a heart for ministry and a genuine love for students, he is dedicated to creating a safe, fun, and Christ-centered environment where youth can discover their identity in Christ, build lasting friendships, and deepen their relationship with God. Whether through Bible studies, camps, or everyday conversations, Austin loves encouraging students to live out their faith and know that they are deeply loved by God. His desire is to raise up and champion people to see everything God has for them. Fun Facts: He enjoys podcasts, collecting shoes, golf, coaching basketball, and anything Minnesota sports.

My wife, Connie, and I have been married for 23 years and have 5 children. We have been in full time ministry for 14 years in various roles from missionaries, to planting and leading a church in urban Chicago. It’s an honor and a blessing to serve with our amazing team and we are truly blessed to be a part of what God is doing in and through our church!

Ashley, originally from Florida, moved to Alexandria, MN, with her husband, son, and oldest daughter in 2005. A few years later, they welcomed their youngest daughter. Since the beginning of 2021, Ashley, her husband, and youngest daughter have been active members of The Church in the Pines. When she's not working, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing games, watching local youth sports, and experimenting in the kitchen. The joke is, if you can't find her, look in the kitchen—she's always creating something new.

Michelle is happily married to her best friend and husband of 18 years, Mike. They live in Farwell and homestead there as much as they can manage. Michelle homeschools their 4 energetic children, enjoying new adventures and learning all the time. As a family, they love the great outdoors - hiking and exploring, reading, baking, and cooking.

Kristal has an amazing husband, Ben, and two adult children. Ben and Kristal were high school sweethearts and have been married since the year 2000. She accepted Christ in her heart when she was young, after a church camp experience, but really started to learn what it meant to follow Jesus in her twenties. With a passion for sharing the hope of Jesus in meaningful and creative ways, Kristal leads with both excellence and humility— seeking to connect hearts to the mission of the church through clear, inspiring, and authentic communication.  Whether posting on social media, the church app, or the website, Kristal's loves sharing the snapshots of our loving community here at The Church in the Pines. She enjoys seeing people be valued, live out their identity in Christ, and be drawn closer to God. Spending time with God, family, and friends brings her great joy. She also has a slight obsession with playing pickleball, loves playing games, going hiking, and dabbling in the garden.

Brandon's bio coming soon.

I am truly honored and blessed to be serving the Lord with my husband Jay. We have been married since 2006 and fall more in love everyday. Between the two of us we have 6 children and 8 grandchildren.  Jesus rescued me in 2005 from a very dark life of  20+ years of addiction and transferred me into His Kingdom of light. My passion is to help others understand their true identity in a life with Christ, understanding our authority in His death and resurrection and living from a place of victory and confidence! He has given us everything we need to have a fulfilling life full of peace and joy regardless of our circumstances and it is nothing short of AMAZING!!

Connie Runge is the wife of Pastor Chad Runge and mother to five children. She has spent many years homeschooling their children and supporting her husband in various ministry roles. Today she is most passionate about helping others have a strong connection with God and serving the Church in the Pines Freedom Ministry Team.