I have been part of the Covenant church since the day I was born and a Covenant pastor since 1992. It has been the joy of my life to be a pastor and to serve God’s people in congregations in IA, KS, NE and most recently Alberta Canada. I love to see people grow in the faith and find ways to take that faith outside the doors of the church to minister in the community. I retired at the end of 2024 and moved to Arvada to be closer to family, two sisters in Lakewood and one brother in NM. It has been great to be near my family for the first time in over 30 years. I love to spend time outdoors walking with my great dog Pepin, gardening, going to movies, cooking and entertaining and making jewelry. I look forward to my time here at Council Tree, to learn and grow together in Christ, and find new ways to be the church as the congregation anticipates God’s new future.

Called to pastor God’s people in worship, I have a passion for leading the Church in the formational act of corporate worship and drawing people towards lives of ever-deepening discipleship to Jesus. I began at Council Tree Covenant Church in September of 2023 after growing up and serving in other Covenant churches and contexts. My wife, Molly, and I are both from northern Illinois. Together, we have two young kids and a very patient dog. I have too many hobbies, some of which include playing hockey, ultimate frisbee, skiing, hiking, backpacking, songwriting, and playing as many different instruments as I can. I have a Bachelor of Music Education from North Park University (2015), a Master of Arts in Worship from Northern Seminary (2023), and am Ordained to Word and Service in the Evangelical Covenant Church (2025).

My wife, Carolyn, and I are blessed to be the parents of two young adult children. After spending a couple of years in Belize and nearly a decade in Western Washington, we returned to Fort Collins in 2023. We began attending Council Tree in December of that year, and from the moment we walked through the doors, we knew this was our new church home. The vibrant, multi-generational community here has been a joy to be a part of, and we're excited to connect and grow with this amazing family.

With over 20 years of experience in youth ministry across Upstate New York, Colorado, and Washington, I’ve had the privilege of working with young people from all walks of life. When I'm not serving, you’ll likely find me diving into a good sci-fi book or movie, riding my motorcycle, or simply connecting with others. But above all, my heart belongs to Jesus, and I’m grateful to serve Him and this community.

When I reflect back on my time here at Council Tree, it feels like this has always been my home. In reality, I came to Council Tree at the height of the COVID pandemic in December of 2020, broken and hurting, and was fully embraced by everyone here. I was a stay-at-home mom for more than 14 years before joining the staff here at Council Tree in November of 2022. My husband, Paul, and I have called Fort Collins home since 2011, but we’re native Midwesterners, dontcha know. Our two children were born in Utah, but we don’t hold it against them. I love a good book, a good laugh, and a deep conversation; blankets, sweaters, and tea; and knowing that the people I choose to spend my life on here at Council Tree accept me despite my many flaws (and despite my love for K-pop). For the record, I’m the funny one.

I have been blessed to be a part of the Council Tree family since I was born. This is the church my parents dedicated me and where I was baptized and I have been supported by this body in so many ways through my childhood and young adulthood. I attended university at Colorado Christian University and spent two years overseas serving youth in Bulgaria. Since returning to the US and Fort Collins, in the summer of 2024, I have been serving with the youth ministry at Council Tree and find great joy in nurturing these young believers. When I'm not running about the church with the middle schoolers and jumping in to volunteer with church-wide events, I enjoy reading, writing, and crocheting. You can nearly always find me with a cup of tea and a book or notebook in my bag. I love this community and am continually blessed to worship, serve, and seek God alongside you all.

Hi. My name is Rico Lighthouse and I'm the gardener here at Council Tree. I am a husband, father, and avid forager and craftsman. My specialty is native and wild plants, and their use as food, medicine and craft. I love ethnobotany, which is the relationship between people and plants, and my goal here is to grow a garden that is both hospitable and healing. In my spare time (whatever that is) I like reading, riding my bike, foraging with family and friends, carving wood, playing music and scythe mowing. I think about the Garden of Eden everyday.