Pastor Mark VanValin - Lead Pastor

Email: mark.vanvalin@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I have been married to Linda for 30 years and we have three children: Kristin, who is married to Ben and lives in Jackson, MI, John David, in his second year at Asbury Theological Seminary, and Andrew, a sophomore at Spring Arbor University. We came to Spring Arbor in August of 2003. I was raised in Michigan and have never shed my Michigan sports loyalties – Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings, Wolverines, and the winning Detroit Lions!

I enjoy reading, home renovation, jogging, and fishing. (Catching anything is a bonus!)

Candy Brugger - Director of Kids Hope USA

Email: candy.brugger@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I am blessed to be the wife of Kent for almost 14 years and God has filled our home with three super kids: Ellie (10), Evan (8) and Emma (2). We have lived in Spring Arbor for the past 9 years, but I was born and raised in the small town of Beaverton, MI before I came to Spring Arbor University where I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. I love spending time with my family after a busy day at the office and family meal time is something I cherish and guard closely, even when I’m serving “Brugger Buffet,” aka leftovers.

Heather Castle - Director of Young Teen Ministries

Email: heather.castle@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I grew up on a very small farm in the town of Bronson, MI (by small I mean 5 cows, 4 horses, a few pigs, chickens and an occasional goose). I am the youngest of four girls and a pastor’s kid. Thus our house was full of God’s love, lipstick, hairspray, and lots of joyful craziness. I came to SAU in 2001 and met my husband on the very first day- Thank you Lord for Core groups! However at the time he was only my friend. Stephen and I got married on July 23rd, 2005 and 6 months later boarded a plane for Zambia, Africa with the U.S. Peace Corps. We spent 2 years living in a mud hut in the little village of Kang’ombe. Ask me about it sometime and I’ll talk as long as you want. Some of my favorite things are laughing with my husband, playing with my nephews and nieces, hanging out with 7th and 8th graders, and playing MadGab.

Pastor Adam Davidson - Worship Arts Pastor

Email: adam.davidson@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I grew up in Garden City & Westland, MI, suburbs that are so close to Detroit Metro Airport that I used to count windows on 747’s as they did their final approach to land. I was raised on a fairly wide variety of music—classic rock, jazz, choral, electronic and (sigh) country. I got my first keyboard on my 4th birthday and have been hooked ever since, both to birthdays and keyboards. Because my wife is a piano teacher, our kids (5, 4 and 1) are naturally finding their way into music. We are considering getting them a drum set. Pray for us.
I love coffee, I love reading, I love good music, and when all three happen at the same time, I’m thrilled. I’ve always dug Jeeps and have the honor of keeping an old Wrangler in running condition. Emily thinks the interior smells like a barn, to which I’m starting to agree. But that doesn’t matter because when it’s warm out, we take off the Jeep’s roof and cruise in the open air, smelling only the joy of the outdoors and the occasional barn.
Our family cooks together, plays together and travels to the the homes of various grandparents quite regularly. I’m an unlicensed electrician, big’n’ tall shopper and a rail fan. If I had a bike, I’d ride it. If I had a license, I’d fish. If I did both simultaneously, someone would get hurt. I’d rather run around with my kids in our backyard.

Debbie Grainger - Director of Counseling

Email: debbie.grainger@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I have been married to my husband, Grant, since 1977. We have two sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law, one soon-to-be son-in-law, and two wonderful grandchildren. I enjoy reading, flower gardening, walking, spending time with family and friends, especially when it involves eating and lots of laughing. We love South Carolina, especially the Greenville area, and envision settling there upon retirement. The climate, beauty, not to mention our daughter living there, continues to beckon us!

Wendy Grant - Dirctory of Children's Ministries

Email: wendy.grant@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I was born in Vermont and lived on a farm there until we moved to Pennsylvania where my father was appointed pastor to a church just outside of Pittsburgh. These two homes serve as a catalyst for two of my favorite hobbies, raising miniature horses, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers! I moved from Pittsburgh to Michigan soon after marrying my husband of almost 25 years, Eric. We have two children, Eric II (13) and Brianna (8). Eric serves as a local elementary school teacher as well as ministering to the children at church in both Children’s Church and Lil Kids Club. I guess you could say, “Kids Are Us.”

Earl Habecker - Pastoral Care Pastor

Email: earl.habecker@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I’m Earl Habecker and was featured on the front page of the October Echo with a funny nose, funny hat and red kerchief around my neck. The photo will be a collector’s item! Seriously I’ve been around a while, was born in Penn Yan, New York before the II World War. However, I have lived in Michigan the majority of my life, am married for 51 years to Elma whom I dearly love. Together we have three grown children and six grandchildren.

Sherrie Hittler - Adult Discipleship & Community Groups Pastor

Email: sherrie.hittler@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

…A dearly loved child of God! This truth feeds, strengthens and stabilizes every aspect of who I am.
….I’m a woman who very much loves my family and spending time with my 4 children, their spouses and our 6 grandchildren. A perfect vacation for our family would include camping, kayaking, hiking, and playing disc golf…..topped off each evening with a campfire and talking about the day.
…a person who greatly enjoys helping others experience the transforming love of God, the healing & sustaining love of Jesus, and the daily presence of Holy Spirit.

Rod Mathews - Family Center & Outreach Pastor

Email: rod.mathews@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

Grew up in Bloomington, IN, so I’m a Hoosier through and through!! Today I love being a husband and dad. Have the most wonderful wife, Toni, to whom I’ve been married to for 30 years…I think. My son Ryan just recently gave up his job here in the states and is now in China teaching English in a HS of 13,000 students. We miss him. Our daughter Becca has been working at a camp in Estes Park, CO and loves it. Yes, I’m envious as I love the mountains! Rachel, my youngest is in her sophomore year at Huntington University down in IN where she’s studying lots…I hope! She plays for the ladies soccer team. This keeps Toni and I on the road a lot catching her games.

Dottie Miller - Pastor of Hospitality & Assimilation

Email: dottie.miller@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I was born in Petoskey, MI, the 6th of 7 children. We had a 300 acre farm midway between Petoskey, Charlevoix and Boyne City. I love to ski in the Rocky Mountains with my husband and/or sons. I love to ride bicycles and to golf in the summer. The most beautiful place I’ve been is at Heavenly Ski Resort in northern California. To be at the top and look down the snow-covered mountain to Lake Tahoe is to understand the name, “Heavenly.” We have 5 children, 4 of whom are adopted.

Clint Rothell - Director of Senior Teen Ministries

Email: clint.rothell@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I am the husband of my favorite person in the world, Ingrid, even though I never call her Ingrid. I usually call her things like “Baby,” “Honey,” and “Snookums” (well, everything except Snookums and Ingrid). We met at the 99 Cent Store on November 7, 2005. As a poor student in seminary at the time, I knew this was “meant to be” or had to be! We were married just over a year later. We have a son, Isaac, born August 10, 2009. He is awesome. Not as awesome as God, but more awesome than pizza! (And I really like pizza.)
I enjoy reading (mostly nonfiction). Often, I read out loud to my sweetie. Because my wife and I desire our son to become a reader, I also read to Isaac, which usually sounds like this: “Isaac, check out what John Wesley says about Christian perfection and how it relates to our eschatological hope!” Then I change his diaper (that has not become a hobby even though I do it quite often now that I’m a dad).

Nikki Salladay - Director of Young Adult Ministries & Administrative Assistant for Adult Ministries

Email: nikki.salladay@springarborfm.org
Tel: 517.750.2400

I was born & raised in Louisville, KY in 1981 & moved to Michigan in 2006. In October of that year I met my husband, Adam, & we were married a little over a year later, November 10, 2007. We don’t have any kids, but we have a fabulously adorable Australian Shepherd named Yasha. I love to play sports (understatement), laugh, be outside, travel, laugh, spend time with people, read, laugh, & do ministry. Let me have a good book, coffee, & a deep conversation with friends & I would have a perfect day. My bulletin board is littered with photos, articles, prayers, & Garfield comic strips. I am an incredibly passionate & energetic person & I rarely do anything halfway. I love being alive, I love sharing Christ with others, & I love that moment when a new light bulb has come on in someone’s mind & they “get it”... whatever “it” may be at the time. That’s the best!