Leadership

Dan Ackerman

Dan serves as our lead pastor and encourager. During his ministry career Dan has served as a local church pastor in several different settings. He also served as a national and regional ministry leader who coached congregations in changing ministry settings and led a partnership of congregations in common ministry. He enjoys Fremont and the life that mixes the country and the surrounding larger cities. Raised on the west coast of the U.S., Dan and his wife, Carla, have lived in Michigan most of their married life where they have raised four children. They both enjoy traveling and enjoying God’s gifts of the outdoors during their free time.

Dan’s primary tasks at CLC are:

To lead and teach at 75% of our worship services.
Work with staff and key leaders to develop and keep CLC’s ministry focused on the mission God has given us and shaped by the values God is growing in us.
Provide leadership that calls people who attend CLC to hear and follow God’s voice in their daily decisions and lives.

Deanna Traxler

Deanna works with the Sunday Team putting together the PowerPoint presentations and helping with media related items. She works to help Church of the Living Christ run smoothly with her technical skills, helping with projects throughout the week and is currently serving as the church treasurer. Deanna and her family have attended Church of the Living Christ since 1998. She is active in the community – volunteering with several local service and non-profit agencies.

Evelyn Slater

Evelyn Slater has been happily serving Jesus as the Ministry Assistant at the Church of the Living Christ since 2017. Evelyn manages the day-to-day operations of the church office. Her work includes overseeing the church calendar, preparing communications through the newsletter and email. She also, works closely with the pastors and leaders of the church. Evelyn finds joy in creating a welcoming and organized environment for the congregation and visitors alike. She lives on a farm and is enamored by the rural farming community that makes up the Fremont area. She always has a smile ready for anyone that stops by.

Michele Barends

Community Engagement Coordinator/ Discipleship Leader

Michele Is the Community Engagement Coordinator and Discipleship Leader. She works hard to plan and implement events and ministries throughout the community. She would be the main point of contact for planning events, managing logistics, coordinating volunteers, and ensuring that each gathering aligns with the church’s mission and values. She also, Is the Discipleship Leader for the youth of the church and one of the youth leaders for the Junior High/ High School youth, along with her husband Tom. Michele and Tom enjoy their time on their farm in Fremont and spending time with their 5 kids and their spouses and 8 grand Kids.