Our Leadership

Elders

Ethan Young

Ethan serves as an elder at The Great Adventure Church.  He enjoys working as their full-time church administrator and specifically helps oversee the planning and organizing aspects of the church’s ministries.

Though neither Ethan nor his wife, Amy, is originally from the tri-state area, shortly after they were married in 2004 they knew the Lord was calling them to remain in Dubuque to serve at the The Great Adventure Church.  In August, 2010 Ethan purchased his first Iowa fishing license – they now proudly consider themselves official “Dubuquers.”

Ethan loves working side-by-side with the other elders and leadership at the GAC and enjoys helping keep things at the GAC organized.  He also enjoys progressive/symphonic metal, paintball, playing Halo with guys from church and trying out new Indian and Thai recipes.  Ethan and Amy purchased their first home in March, 2010 and love working on house projects together.  They are both Dunkin’ Donuts aficionados and Star Trek and Stargate enthusiasts.  Most of all, though, they just love spending time with their church family!
K.T. Leverentz

K.T. serves as an elder at The Great Adventure Church and specifically helps oversee the teaching ministry of the church.

K.T. and Christy and their family have been part of The Great Adventure Church since 2001 and have been greatly blessed by their church family.  The Great Adventure Church has become an indispensable part of their life.  They look forward to many more years serving along side their brothers and sisters while watching God bless His work! 
Keith "Lev" Leverentz

“Lev” serves as an elder at The Great Adventure Church and specifically helps oversee the shepherding and counseling ministries of the church.

Lev serves as Director of the Youth Ministries program at Emmaus Bible College.  He and his wife, Betty, joined The Great Adventure Church shortly after its inception and have been actively involved in leadership at the GAC since that time.  Lev enjoys training up men to lead in the church and often takes advantage of opportunities to disciple men by working together with them on their home improvement projects.  Betty is involved in the mercy ministries of the GAC and enjoys hosting special events such as bridal and baby showers.  As a team, Lev and Betty are gifted counselors and are especially invested in helping couples develop successful, God-centered marriages. 

 

Deacons

Justin Phelan

Justin serves as a Deacon at the Great Adventure Church and specifically oversees the church finances, announcements, website. He also enjoys teaching and leading music.

Justin was born and raised in Nashville Tennessee where he meet his wife Claire while serving at Horton Haven Christian Camp. Justin began attending the Great Adventure while attending Emmaus Bible College, and after graduating from Emmaus in 2003 he remained in Dubuque. He and Claire got married at Horton Haven on October 27th, 2007 and purchased a home in Dubuque in 2009. Justin and Claire enjoy helping out with Sunday School and Claire enjoys helping plan and lead womens' ministries at the GAC. They enjoy hiking, camping, music, MacGyver, art and fixing up their old house. They particularly dislike Iowa winters but try to make the best of it.

Leaders in Training

Aaron Harlow

Aaron and Mikaela both attended Emmaus Bible College and were married in 2004. They have one son, so far, Keagan. Aaron is a co-owner of Blackwood Media where he spends most of his day designing web and print material and listening to ridiculous amounts of music. Mikaela enjoys helping plan and lead womens' ministries at the GAC. She is also a part time cosmetologist at a local salon. Aaron enjoys hangin' with his fam, discovering new music, drinking lots of tea, reading, working on his house, creating art, teaching/helping others, video games, and collecting things. The Harlows like having people in their home and serving in various church ministries at the GAC.
Benji Leverentz

Benji and Abby Leverentz have been attending the Great Adventure Church for several years now and are incredibly grateful to God for the blessing the church has been to their marriage and to are family.  They have 4 children: Mya, 6; Lauren, 4; Benson, 2; and Jackson, 1 1/2.  Their kids love going to church and that means the world to them.  Benji considers it a privilege to be a part of the leadership team at the GAC and is confident that God has great things in store for our church!

 
Brad Meyer

Brad is currently responsible for organizing the breaking of bread/worship service, and both Brad and Aimee help with running the high school youth group.

Brad and Aimee Meyer have been attending the Great Adventure Church since 2004. Brad grew up in Chapel Hill, Tennessee and Aimee in Wabasha, Minnesota. Brad came into a relationship with Christ around age 13 and Aimee at age 14. They both graduated Emmaus Bible College in 2007, and were married almost immediately after on July 28th. They both love people and look forward to further getting to know everyone at the GAC!
Brett Hoben

Brett enjoys helping coordinate church service projects, and both he and his wife, Iuliana, enjoy hosting church family and others at their home.

Brett and Iuliana were married in 2004 and have 3 children: Kylie, Brayden and Colton.  Brett is the  Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at the University of Dubuque where he teaches flight courses and administers check rides.

Brett loves spending time with his family, playing/watching sports, being outdoors and anything to do with aviation/flying.  He enjoy's helping out on the family farm, grilling out with friends, working along side the church family on service projects and changing diapers! 

 
Dan Block

Dan's unique experience as a leadership consultant has allowed him to assist the leadership at The Great Adventure Church with their strategic planning and leadership development.

Dan and his wife Barb had been married for ten years before they trusted the Lord as their Savior. They were living what they viewed as a comfortable life free from many of the worries and stresses of this world, including children. Their childless life changed once they came to understand the grace and provision of the Lord and in 1994 their daughter Roanna was born. Their son Jared followed in 2001 and they are both quick to point out what a blessing their children have been in their lives.

As the parents of two young children they have been greatly encouraged by the Great Adventure’s commitment to supporting families in their walk with the Lord. Their entire family is deeply committed to the ministry of Tri-State Christian School where their two children have attended since pre-school.  Barb also serves as the bookkeeper at Tri-State Christian School and Dan was the board chair for several years.

Dan owns TeamBuilding Blocks, an employee training and development company.  In his spare time he enjoys coaching and supporting his children in their soccer, hockey, and school events such as musicals and dramas.
Jake Koenig

Jacob Koenig has been attending The Great Adventure Church since October 2009 and recently joined the leadership team, providing assistance in teaching planning and website administration.

Jake grew up in Laramie, Wyoming; Melbourne, Australia and Littleton, Colorado. He came to know Christ as his personal savior at the age of three. Jake attended Emmaus Bible College in 2005 and was introduced to the GAC at that time. In October of 2009, the Lord called him to move out to Dubuque. Jake also oversees the facility set up and helps with the jr. high Sunday school and GAC's Missions and Ministry Night planning. Jake also looks forward to deepening his friendships with everyone at the Great Adventure and growing with them as a family.
Jason Francois
Kyle Graw

Kyle's joy in life is working with children of all ages; he specifically enjoys mentoring and discipling young men. Kyle's primary ministry at the Great Adventure Church is working with youth, but he's also actively involved with inner city evangelism/relationship building.  His hobbies include basketball, coaching and Christian hip-hop music distribution.

 
Matthew Johnson

Matthew is involved with helping in the administration of the preaching schedules and topics at The Great Adventure Church.

Matthew and Leah Johnson met at Emmaus Bible College and began attending the Great Adventure Church in 2005. Matthew and Leah graduated from Emmaus Bible College in 2007 and 2006 (respectively). Matthew grew up in South Carolina where he was raised in a Christian home and came to Christ a very young age. Leah also received Christ young and grew up in Portugal where her parents were missionaries. Matthew is a member of the leadership team and often plays bass for the music team; Leah is an active organizer and leader for the Sunday music program and enjoys playing guitar and singing.  They both love good fellowship and share a desire to grow and mature with their brothers and sisters at the GAC.
Sam Janecke

Sam leads the audio visual team that provides the technological support necessary in a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening meeting. Sam and Ale Janecke were married in 2008 and have one daughter, Sofia. They both graduated from Emmaus Bible College and have decided to stay in the Dubuque area because of the great role the Great Adventure Church plays in their lives. 

Sam works for Leverentz Insurance & Financial Executives, and enjoys spending his free time working on projects around their home. Ale enjoys her art projects, organizing, and just being a mom.

 
Scott Warren

Scott serves as the facilities coordinator at The Great Adventure Church and is especially gifted in planning and organizing church service projects. 

Scott and his wife, Mary Ellen, were married in 2003 and have two girls, Aubrey and Emma. Scott served as a full-time youth pastor before joining the GAC in 2005; now he and his wife operate their own real estate cleaning and property preservation company, the Highpoint Company.

In his free time, Scott enjoys working in his shop, doing home DIY (do-it-yourself) projects, playing paintball and spending time with "his ladies" (Mary Ellen and the girls!). He loves grilling out, collecting tools, helping the church family with projects, and relaxing by his backyard fire pit.