Our Partnerships
We are excited to
announce our partnership with Excel Leadership Network. This organization has assited in training leaders and with the planting of hundreds of churches around the world. We believe God calls us to community both indivicually and as a church body and are excited for the opportunity to partner with such amazing leaders. Learn more about them here www.ExcelLeadershipNetwork.com 
Yes! We are excited to officially announce another strategic partnership for our church plant with Transformation Ministries. This amazing organization is driven by the vision for more healthy churches and more changed lives! We're excited to partner with them and help bring that vision to life! www.tmchurches.org/church-planting
It is our honor to be
united with and sponsored by Fusion Christian Church in the mission of making disciples for Jesus in the Pflugerville and Austin, Texas areas. 
Life Vine Church has played a key role in partnering with us throughout the church plant process and we are excited for the many years of partnership that lie ahead.
OUR Lead Pastors
Andy & Keri Elliott
My wife Keri and I got married at 18, owned our first deli at the age of 19 and nearly divorced by the time we hit 22. Born and raised in the church I took a hard turn toward alcoholism and pornography. Underlying it all was an immense struggle with social anxieties. My social anxieties were so bad that I would literally hide in our bedroom closet when people came to our home. A close friend had the courage to drag me to the pastor's house at 3 am to expose my double life and plead for help. To make a long story short this led to an encounter with Jesus where I truly gave Him my brokenness and received a new heart. My new heart gave me a deep desire to do right but my habits still worked to drag me down the wrong roads. This is where I learned about God’s plan for discipleship. I walked with a strong mentor, Wayman Steele, and a great pastor, Phil Harris, who became my closest friend. It was through his mentorship that I learned to live out my faith, be a good father and love my wife as Christ loves His church. As I learned to be a disciple of Jesus I felt the constant calling to give my life fully to God’s service through the ministry. We started with baby steps and have kept saying yes to Jesus. His call led us to build community and share his love through the work of small group pastoring, which we have been doing for 17 consecutive years. Along the way we have continued to use our gifting in business to build and run multiple businesses including our current furniture stores to reach our city through the God given bridge of business. With a passion to learn and teach others, I graduated the John Maxwell program and serve as a Certified John Maxwell Team, speaker, trainer, & coach. Through the years there has been a consistent inner calling to plant a church, reach the lost, raise leaders and grow God’s family. The call to pastor has been confirmed through several prophetic words including multiple occasions where we were pulled out of the crowd and called to pastor. In a step of faith and preparation I enrolled in Bible college, doing studies around family, work, and ministry commitments, graduating with a degree in Divinity. While we waited, served, explored, and prayed, it became clear our first major harvest field will be Austin, TX. God has given us the vision, drawn an incredible team of leaders to join us and opened doors to make the move possible. We believe we are being called to work hard, depend on God and reap a harvest that is waiting for workers. We are answering His call to be those workers, raise leaders and plant churches that bring light to the darkness and grow God’s family. My wife has a deep gift of hospitality and a true love for connecting people and seeing them flourish in friendships and gifting. A business woman, coffee lover, and advocate for the overlooked, she is an amazing catalyst who gets things going and always gives her best to everything and everyone she gets involved with. We have been married since 1996 and are blessed with our four amazing kids, Krista 17, Ellicia 16, Kami 12 and Jackson 10 for a great God adventure in Austin, TX. Download our vision packet to learn more about our vision for Austin and how you can partner with us. Our Growing team
Jason and Alisha Tompkins
Jason grew up with his mom, stepdad, and 2 sisters. At 9 his siblings and he were put in foster care due to abuse from his stepdad and his family was torn apart. A few years later he hit the streets where he found his identity in Drugs, criminal activity and a life of chaos. Jason had heard of Jesus at a young age but... read more. 
Getting to Know Hiedi Krausse
You can often find me helping at Bend UpStyle, a furniture store owned by my daughter and son in law, Keri and Andy Elliott. Often I hear Keri refer to furniture as mid-century modern. Well, that pretty much describes me! I retired in 2013, moved to Bend, OR, and live with the kids along with four of my grandchildren. My life journey turned out way different than... read more. |
Our growing team
Jesse and Sheila Brown
Jesse has a deep passion for the lost and broken. He is an evangelist by nature. He enjoys being around the poor and rougher crowds. He has a passion for the prophetic, and to teach people how to hear God. He enjoys preaching and speaking. He loves people and has served in youth, young adult, addiction and family ministries. Sheila has a deep passion for moms and children. She has a very empathetic and nurturing spirit. She is a gifted listener who loves drinking coffee and hearing about their lives. She also loves Young Adults. Sheila is very creative and has a passion for small business also. She loves... read more. 
Donnie and Courtney Snailum
have made Spokane their home for the last 8 years as part of a church plant team out of City Harvest Church in Vancouver, WA Donnie is a gifted worship leader, former youth pastor, and loves to wear all the hats when it comes to ministry, from running the sound board to being the church handyman! At the age of 17, his father's cancer diagnosis left Donnie with severe depression and anxiety. Not having any hope, he began getting into trouble at home and school, trying to find distractions and happiness. On Easter Sunday, 1998, he and his family decided to "try church" instead of their normal family festivities. That morning, both Donnie and his father met Jesus and gave their lives to Him. Knowing Jesus caused a complete 180 in Donnie's life, from complete depression to complete Joy, a joy that he carries with him years later. His passion is to see others come to know Jesus like he has and loves leading others into God's presence through worship. Courtney was raised in a home that identified as Christian, but she didn't really know what that meant aside from a few Sunday School bible stories. In 1999, at age 13, her friend convinced her to come to youth group by telling her there were "cute boys from other schools there". Instead of meeting a boy, she met Jesus, and suddenly nothing else seemed to matter anymore. Courtney no longer felt like... read more. 
Kyle and Jenna Bertels
Kyle and Jenna met during an internship at City Harvest Church in Vancouver, WA. Two years later they were married! A year after being married they moved to Bend, OR to help plant Epikos Church. They served as volunteer youth pastors for 4 1/2 years and loved every minute of it! Kyle helped lead the worship department and Jenna served in many roles from nursery leader to administration for the church. Kyle loves music and is a skilled guitarist who is always learning. Jenna enjoys the outdoors, nature photography and spending quality time with the people in her life. They both are super passionate about loving people and drawing out the unique and powerful treasure God has placed in each human. Fun fact about Kyle: I've dyed my hair blue, green, purple, and yellow. Not all at once but each color at different times. Fun fact about Jenna: I have traveled to Argentina, Spain, Holland and other parts of the world. And I'm left handed! Kids: We have 2 incredible kids who spread joy wherever they go and baby bean No. 3 coming January! Lia Mae is the tallest and smartest 3 year old girl in the world! Our boy Maverick is 1 1/2 years old and lives up to his name! He keeps us on our toes and in awe daily. Jenna's life: My relationship with Jesus began when I... read more. 
About John Ford
I was saved at 16 in New York after my parents had separated while living in Eugene. I fell in love with Jesus and Holy Spirit and he guided me and did wonderful things in my life even through the times I was hurting. Times that drew me deep into the homosexual lifestyle, drug addiction, and isolation. Through all of the trials and darkness Jesus held on to me. His passion for me has given me a deep passion for people. As a man of empathy I am sensitive to those who are being crushed to the point of suicide or other means of trying to escape who they are because they don't know how to find the one who will tell them who they truly are. I am passionate about loving my neighbor as myself and making that be the most powerful truth in my life. When we understand that we can truly let God have his way in someone's life, especially when we don't understand them. We know God will always be there waiting for them because he knows what will help them. I'm passionate about, Free Indeed, a nonprofit organization I founded to bring the love of Jesus to the LGBTQ community and change their minds about God. You can learn more about Free Indeed here. Fun facts about Me: I used to do stand-up comedy and was offered a place on the Pacific Comedy Tour of Clubs, an opportunity he passed on to focus my time on my family. I have two children and four grandchildren. I love the RV life and being out on the lake in a boat or watercraft. I also love clothes (fashion) and shoes. |
About Krystal Bell
My passion and my dream is to help families in poverty locally and globally. I love to travel and learn about new cultures. Recently I was able to travel with a team to the Philippines and minister to a wonderful group of people. I was able to see how people worship in different countries and it cemented what God has already put on the inside of me and strengthened my faith. I love combining my love of travel with what God has put in my heart, which is a desire to teach, speak, fellowship with and pray for others. Fun Fact: So Far I’ve been able to travel to 6 countries spanning 3 continents. Kids I am so excited for my children to be able to experience life with God and I have seen them learn and grow so much! My son Jonathan helps in the sound booth at church and loves basketball and friends. He loves working and is excited to start criminal justice classes as part of his high school extension program at COCC this fall. Grace loves sharing mini-testimonies with people and recently was baptized. She is a great daughter, sister, and friend. Her hobbies are gymnastics & dance and she is excited to start 3rd Grade and soccer this fall. Testimony After spending 6 years in the Army (since age 17) I moved back to Oregon. As a sole parent, I was in and out of the church and went through a divorce for the second time. I was struggling to get through school and support us. A family member had seen a program for Veterans; A home opened up in our area (only 1) and we were able to get the house, which we now own. God is so good and it’s amazing how he works things for our good! I was able to finish my Masters degree in Global Studies and stay home with my kids during that time. I also met and connected with a wonderful group of women and have been able to be included in bible studies, volunteer at and be involved in programs at different local organizations and churches. I’ve been able to spend the last 2 years reconnecting with God and growing in so many ways. I was able to give my testimony to several churches in our area last year about how I have been able to overcome many life trials. Additionally, I have found amazing friendships, a great sense of purpose, peace, and fulfillment by following God’s calling on my life. |
If you look up the term "Servant Leadership" you will find a picture the Jensen family.
From stacking chairs to teaching youth and everything in between, there is no job too big or too small for the Jensens. Jennifer is known for her sweet spirit and love for everyone she meets. A wonderful encourager who sees the best in others and is not afraid to tell them about it! A mom of three amazing kids, Jennifer invests in them like they truly are the future. Her passion for her kids extends to their friends which is why you'll often find Jennifer playing bus driver to get them all to youth group. Josh walks the difficult balance between business and ministry with the same passion and servant's heart. While some may distinguish between God's work and secular work Josh believes in giving his all to every task God puts in front of him. Like Jennifer, he is committed to investing in his kids and showing them the importance of living in love with Jesus and their neighbor. We are so blessed to have this family join our team and look forward to the amazing testimonies God will work through them in Austin, TX. 
And The Beat goes on!
Introducing our newest team member, Shawn Mcelroy!!! Shawn is an avid adventurer with a true love for the people God has made and the many natural beauties He has given us to enjoy. Shawn is a natural people person with a gift for making connections. A true fighter, Shawn has battled to overcome a life of addiction. Leaving the old behind, He is pressing forward with a passion to use his experiences and giftings to encourage the lost and broken to follow him as he follows Jesus. We are truly excited to walk with Shawn as he walks out his destiny. The future is bright and full of purpose! |