Prairie Hill Evangelical Free Church: Meet our Staff

Dr Jerry Erickson, Sr. Pastor

Jerry has an intense love for the Word of God, and loves to share it in a relevant manner with his congregation. He considers it a joy to lead a church where the people truly love God and each other and desire to share that love with the world around them. He is passionate about missions and has worked hand in hand with missionaries and national leaders abroad, and is excited as he sees Prairie Hill sending its people out as missionaries.

Jerry loves sharing his life with his wife Rebecca, and they are the proud parents of three children. In his spare time he is a sports fan, enjoys reading, travel, biking, and music, as well as spending time with family and friends.

Jerry came to Prairie Hill after successful pastorates in Iowa and Colorado. His education includes The University of Minnesota (B.E.D.) and Bethel Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry).

Jerry's prayer and passion for his congregation is that they "may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Kyle and Emilie Schmitz - Youth

Kyle and Emilie are the newest members of the Prairie Hill staff and are excited and passionate about teaching students, worshiping God, and training current and future leaders in the Church. They both grew up attending Free Churches (Kyle in the Twin Cities and Emilie in northern Wisconsin). Kyle and Emilie met at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN as Freshmen and quickly became good friends. Kyle graduated with a degree in Youth Ministry and Bible, while Emilie graduated with a degree in Psychology and Bible. They each have over 10 years of experience in youth ministry.

Kyle loves to go Bass Fishing, play Disc Golf, and take his black lab, Nya, to the dog park to play fetch. Emilie loves her husband, Jesus, coffee, good books, and hiking (not necessarily in that order).

Their life verse for ministry comes from Psalm 71:18, "Do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come."

Kathleen O'Connor, Children's Ministries Director

Kathleen began as Director of Children's Ministries for Prairie Hill in August 2004. She grew up in Bloomington, MN, graduated from J.F.Kennedy High School, and holds a B.S. in Administration from Northwestern College in Roseville, MN.

In the 1980's, Kathleen served as the Ministries Coordinator for Eden Prairie Community Church. Her desire to share the love of Christ with people in pain led her to serve in Public Safety for 15 years as a firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician and fire chaplain. Upon retiring from the fire department, Kathleen entered the mission field, as the Tour Director for the African Children's Choir until it became necessary for her to return home to help care for her aging father.

Kathleen has two married daughters and three granddaughters. Her daily companion is her red Doberman, Karli, who makes sure she gets out for daily walks, and shares Kathleen's love for children. Most free time is spent working with Prairie Hill's Beyond The Curtain Creative Ministries Team. The team keeps her busy with directing, training, and scheduling, as well as creating puppets, props, and scripts.

Kathleen's life verse is found in the Old Testament. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you be name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters,I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
Isaiah 43:1b-3

Worship Director

Audrey Haverstock, Administrative Assistant

Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Audrey had eight younger siblings. Helping with them on a daily basis fostered in her a love for the innocence of childhood and also for the awesome potential that lies within each little one. She sponsors children through programs and annually packs hundreds of shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. She maintains ongoing contact with the recipients when possible. Audrey's wonderful husband, Bill, puts up with all the things she drags home year round that are saved for the shoeboxes. It's a good thing their storage building is bigger than their house!

Audrey taught Bible classes for over forty years to every age group from two year olds through senior citizens and often wrote her own curriculum. She enjoys spending time with people of all ages, marveling at the Creator's design in each new person she meets. Every age group has something wonderful and unique about it.

Some of the things she enjoys doing include spending time with her husband, training her Shelties, Mika and Molly, reading, learning about other cultures (past and present), gardening, and observing the beauty of God's creation.

One of Audrey's favorite Bible verses is in Deuteronomy. It reads: "The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms." No matter what we encounter in life, He is there with those everlasting arms of love.