Michael Mudlaff, Pastor
and Head of Staff
MichaelMudlaff@westkirk.org
Michael received his B.A.
(International Relations, Religion, Politics) at Cornell College,
Mount Vernon, Iowa, in 1988. From there, he went on to receive
his M.A. (International Affairs) at Drew University, Madison, New
Jersey, 1991, and his M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity
School, Deerfield, Illinois, in 1997. In addition to his work at
Westkirk, Michael serves on the Board of Alumni Directors as
Representative to the Board of Trustees at Cornell, and he is the
Assistant Cubmaster and Den Leader with Des Moines Christian
School, Cub Scout Pack 316. He is also a volunteer tutor for
students at Maple Street Baptist Church in downtown Des Moines.
Michael has been married to
his wife, Sasha for 20 years. The Mudlaffs live only 5 minutes
away from Westkirk in Clive, Iowa, with their four adventuresome
sons: Micah, 11, Jonah, 8, Nathanael, 5, and Isaiah, 3. Sasha is
a stay at home mom, while also continuing as a Grief and Loss
Consultant through her family business, Hamilton’s Funeral Home
and After Life Services. She has collaborated with local author,
Margaret Holmes, on 3 books for children related to grief and
trauma, the last one entitled, A Terrible Thing Happened;
and is a requested speaker, trainer and counselor with children.
She has been a presenter at the International Network of
Children’s Ministry conferences in Kansas City and Atlanta.
Together, our family enjoys bike rides, playing outdoors,
traveling, reading books together, music and spending time with
family. They boys attend Des Moines Christian School. Micah
enjoys playing trumpet, reading, movie making on the family iMac.
He is finishing up his Cub Scout career and participates in sports
– tackle football is his favorite! Jonah interests focus more on
art and the outdoors – a fine combination. He takes art classes
at the Des Moines Art Center when possible, loves the crafts and
outdoor activities associated with Cub Scouting, and taking care
of babies. He recently determined that he was going to go to
Cornell and be a geologist. Our southpaw, Nathanael’s interests
mirror both big brothers. His favorite things are balloons – the
helium variety as well as those you just blow up, and those that
float in the sky. They form the focal point of all his artwork.
He too, enjoys playing outside and is looking forward to when he
can tackle people down in football. It’s hard to believe that
Isaiah is 3. It’s not yet determined whether or not he is a
righty or a lefty, but he is very articulate and quick with a
smile. Too cute for his own good, Mommy is hoping the curls last
with this one. With everything else going on, it’s hard to know
for sure what Isaiah is interested in the most.
Paul Nelson, Pastor of Senior Adult Ministries
PaulNelson@westkirk.org
Paul received his Bachelor of Theology from Northwest Christian
College, Eugene, Oregon, in 1965. He received his Master of
Divinity in 1969 from Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington,
KY after three years of work on it at Drake Divinity School in Des
Moines. He served student pastorates in Springfield, and La
Grande, OR, Belinda and Knoxville, IA, and Richmond, KY. After
graduation he served churches in Woodbine, Marshalltown and Adel,
IA. For 26 years he worked at Des Moines Christian School as a
bus driver and later as Director of Transportation and Technology,
retiring in 2010.
Paul and
Donna were married while in college and have three children. Donna
also retired in 2010 from 29 years as an Administrative Assistant
in the Early Education department at Des Moines Christian School.
Their oldest daughter, Rhonda Nelson works for Oracle Software in
web design in the LA area. Scott Nelson works for CRST in Cedar
Rapids and has a young daughter, Natalie. Becky Cox lives in Van
Meter and works as a software
programmer. Her husband Dan has a son, Bodhi, who is
attending college.
Paul’s part-time pastorate at Westkirk focuses on
congregational care including the Parish Deacons and the Stephen
Ministry and on developing and implementing programs for the
Senior Adults. He also serves on
the Prayer Commission of which he was the Commission Deacon for a
year and a half.
Brandon Mick, Pastor
of Youth Ministry
BrandonMick@westkirk.org
Brandon was born and raised in Guttenberg, IA and was a 1997
graduate of Guttenberg Community Schools. He earned his B.A. in
Criminology/Psychology from Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN.
Following his undergrad, Brandon moved to Des Moines in the fall
of 2001 to attend Drake University Law School. While at Law
School, Brandon heard and responded to God’s calling to a life of
ministry. He soon found himself serving at Johnston Evangelical
Free Church as a youth intern. Following this internship, he was
hired at Valley Church in West Des Moines as Student Ministries
Associate. There he led a vibrant junior high ministry for 3
years. Then, after a reconfiguring of the youth ministry, he was
called upon to lead in the creation of a college ministry. Brandon
graduated from Wheaton College Graduate School with an M.A. in
History of Christianity in the spring of 2008. He has most
recently served as Director of Youth and Young Adults at St. Mark
Lutheran Church in West Des Moines. Brandon and Abbey, his wife
of 8 1/2 years, live in the Waveland neighborhood of Des Moines.
His hobbies include writing, reading, and golf.
Karen Admussen, Director of Children's Ministry
KarenAdmussen@westkirk.org
Karen is the wife of Chris Admussen and the mother of William and Anastasia. a teacher by trade, Karen earned her Bachelor of Arts in French and English from Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minnesota. Her secondary teaching degree is from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin--near her hometown of Green Bay. The Admussens enjoy downhill skiing, biking, traveling, and going out to eat. Karen was a school teacher in Rochester, Minnesota for 13 years, St. Paul for two, and has been a substitute teacher in Forest Lake, Minnesota as well as here in the Des Moines area.
At Westkirk our goal is to Know Christ and Make Him Known. In Children's Ministry we aim to do that by helping children develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and good relationships with others in a fun, caring, safe atmosphere.
Elaine Hurst, Administrative Assistant
ElaineHurst@westkirk.org
Born and reared in Davenport, Polk County, Elaine received and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at the young age of 12. She also became a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Elaine is graduate of Haines City High School and Lakeland College of Business. Elain has resided in four states - Florida, Ohio, Texas, and now Iowa. she was employed as a Legal Secretary/Assistant for almost 20 years. Most recently, she was a missionary "volunteer house parent" for women and children in crisis.
Elaine is the mother of two adult sons and the grandmother of
four grandchildren.
Her greatest love of all the gifts is spreading the gospel of
Jesus Christ Miss Elaine's way.....
