Senior Pastor Mark Spencer

Mark became the senior pastor on May 16, 2010, after having served on the staff as an associate teaching pastor for nearly two years.  He also was the interim youth pastor for the 2009-2010 school year.  Mark had been a long-time member of Bridgewood’s Advisory Board and a speaker at several of our Men’s Retreats.  Mark felt called to his position through his deep seated passion for Jesus and encouraging His people.

Mark grew up in the Milwaukee area, and began his ministry thirty years ago as a Junior High Youth Pastor!  Since then he has been involved with church-planting, pastoral work, counseling, worship leading, and even some drama!  Mark holds a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Bethel Seminary.

Mark has been married to Betsy for twenty six years and they have five children. He loves to learn and read, play guitar, mandolin and some banjo…"trying to learn violin but it sounds awful right now!"  In the winter he snow-shoes, and summer you can find him on his bike.

Birthday:  August 9
Favorite Restaurants:  Wow!  Too difficult to narrow down. I can say I LOVE “mom and pop” type places.
Favorite Vacation Spot:  Rocky Mountains
Favorite Scripture Verse:  John 15

Click here for Mark Spencer's blog.

Mark can be reached at mspencer@bridgewoodcc.org

or 763-780-2500 ext. 15

Senior Associate Pastor Jim Olson

Jim joined Pastor Tom and Susan Stuart and a core group of families to plant Bridgewood Community Church in the summer of 1994. He grew up in Coon Rapids and aside from living in Great Falls, MT for four years while in the Air Force, has lived in Anoka County his whole life. 

Jim’s heart’s desire for most of his life has been to pastor.  He graduated from Northwestern College with degrees in Bible and Accounting in 1992.  After spending eleven years as a CPA, he made a career change and in September, 2002 began working with Bridgewood as Associate Pastor.

Jim is married and has six children.  He loves cycling and going on adventures with his wonderful wife.   

Birthday:  April 27
Favorite Restaurant:  Carol’s, Café Latte

Favorite Vacation Spot:  Maui, Hawaii
Favorite Scripture Verse:  Psalm 18

Jim can be reached at jolson@bridgewoodcc.org

or 763-780-2500 ext. 14

Associate Teaching Pastor Tom Stuart

Tom resigned from the senior pastorate on May 16, 2010, to assume a half-time pastoral/teaching role. Tom is the founding pastor of Bridgewood Community Church.  Desiring greater effectiveness in reaching and transforming lives for Jesus, he gathered a committed core of like-minded people and together launched Bridgewood in September 1994.  Tom’s spirit of adventure was nurtured through a childhood in the wild-west of Montana, a junior high in Grand Forks, ND and high school in Breckenridge, MN.  He  later scaled the heights as a high jumper and Philosophy Major at the University of Minnesota.

In his mid 20’s, Tom’s architectural education and continued pursuit of athletic glory were sovereignly interrupted by God through a dramatic conversion experience and call into the ministry.  His formative years in ministry were as a youth pastor leading over the course of ten years to the senior pastorate of that church where he served in that capacity for eight years.  He also obtained a Masters in Education and Administration from Concordia University in St. Paul, MN.

He has lived in Blaine for over 30 years with his wife Susan, where they raised their five children.  Although Tom long ago gave up the pursuit of athletic achievement he still enjoys jogging, biking and sailing.  When he is not relaxing at home you might find Tom at Caribou, Barnes & Noble, the Apostle Islands of Lake Superior, or simply playing with one of his brilliant grandchildren.

Tom's pastoral heart is expressed through innovative ministry, relevant Biblical messages, and equipping the next generation of leaders.

Click tomstuart.org for Tom's Website & Blog:

Tom can be reached at tstuart@bridgewoodcc.org

or 763-780-2500 ext. 21

Worship Pastor Matt Schurr

Matthew joined the Bridgewood staff in the summer of 2003.  His home is the Twin Cities, but engaged in music tours and missions around the world throughout high school and college.  At an early age, he was called to use his musical gifts to minister.  Matt's passion is for all to live lives of worship, living out the songs we sing.  He graduated Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN and holds a degree in Bible and a Bachelor of Arts in Music.

Matt is married to his lovely wife Amber and has three boys.  He loves playing guitar and piano, SLR photography, recording/songwriting.

Birthday:  May 2
Favorite Restaurant:  Rocky Rococco’s Pizza, Pierre's Bistro                                                                                                  

Favorite Vacation Spot: Clearwater, Florida
Favorite Scripture Verse:  2 Corinthians 3:18

Youth Pastor Kyle Olson

Kyle grew up in Cambridge, MN.  During high school, he enjoyed leading worship, doing missions, and local prayer meetings.  Kyle spent a year at the Montana Wilderness School of the Bible, and two years at the International House of Prayer University.  In classes, they focused on intimacy with Jesus, the excellency of Christ, God's character, and living a life of prayer and fasting.  Kyle’s parents live in Isanti, MN and his sister Jessica attends Northwestern College.  Kyle loves to hang out with his beautiful wife Courtney, play scrabble, fish, hunt, golf, and go to Bible studies, worship nights and fellowship with others.

Birthday:  May 3rd

Favorite Restaurant: Good Earth

Favorite vacation spot: Port St. Joe, Florida

Favorite Scripture Verse:  Colossians 1:15-23

Kyle can be reached at kolson@bridgewoodcc.org

or 763-780-2500 ext.24

Children’s Pastor Heidi Turner

Heidi grew up in Blaine, MN and currently lives in Circle Pines.  Heidi started attending Bridgewood in fall of 2001, and joined the staff in the fall of 2002.

God gave Heidi a passion for teaching and leading children to Christ work about fifteen years ago.  God led her family to Bridgewood and into the role of Children's Pastor shortly after.

Heidi has taught Sunday school for over twenty years and directed VBS for several years before coming to Bridgewood.  She has a Bachelors of Arts from Concordia St. Paul in Psychology and Family Studies.

Heidi is married and has three children. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and being with her family.

Birthday:  May 7
Favorite Restaurant:  Olive Garden
Favorite Vacation Spot:  Florida
Favorite Scripture Verse:  1 John 4:16

Associate Pastor Diane Stores

Diane grew up in Minneapolis and lived in Japan for two years right after she graduated from high school.  She started attending Bridgewood in January 2002 and joined the staff in March 2005.  Diane believes God used each season in her life to bring her to this time and place.  She became a licensed minister in 1994 and worked as a pastor within the prison system for four years.  In 1996, she joined the staff at Christian Recovery Center and in 1998 started a Christian shelter for women and children fleeing abusive situations.  God has used each of these experiences as well as others to prepare for her role at Bridgewood.

Diane graduated from Lay Ministry Training Institute in 1994 and completed additional coursework at Northwestern College in Bible and Psychology.

Diane has three grown children and is blessed to be grandma to six wonderful grandchildren, ranging from 2 - 22 years old.  She loves to read, travel, and spend time with family and friends.                                            

Birthday:  January 3
Favorite Restaurant:  Oceanairre, any Oriental Restaurant
Favorite Vacation Spot:  I’d love to see the whole world!
Favorite Scripture Verse: Psalm 40:1-3                         

Diane can be reached at dstores@bridgewoodcc.org

or 763-780-2500 ext. 20

Susan and Tom have five amazing children and six even more amazing grandchildren!  She enjoys hugs from her grandchildren, being with people who truly love her, and a quiet place.

Pastoral Assistant Kay Fiege

Kay grew up in South Dakota, and moved to the Twin Cities after graduation from SDSU.  She started attending Bridgewood in 2004.  In the School of Ministry Leadership Training class in 2007, she realized that administration was one of the gifts from God had given her.  Kay prayed for a new direction for life and felt God was calling her to this position at Bridgewood.

Kay and her husband, Doug, were married in 1975 and have four adult children.  She enjoys reading, scrapbooking and music.

Birthday:  June 30
Favorite Restaurant:  Axel’s Bonfire, Acapulco
Favorite Vacation Spot:  Colorado Mountains
Favorite Scripture Verse:  Galatians 5:6

 Kay can be reached at kfiege@bridgewoodcc.org 

or 763-780-2500 ext. 10