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Ministry Staff Dave Motta, Senior PastorServing as pastor at Calvary UMC since 1996 has been a joy and a privilege! I grew up in Palatine, Illinois, and with my family attended Barrington UMC. I met Mary, my wife, our freshman year at Westmar College. Attending on a wrestling scholarship and Mary on a music scholarship, we found mutual interests in singing and loving Jesus! We married in 1977, and our love has continued to grow through the seasons of marriage. Following college, we moved to Milbank, SD, where I served as the youth worker for Central UMC. During that time, God's call to pastoral ministry became clear and we relocated to Lake Bluff, IL, to attend Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (from 1980-1984). My first pastoral appointment was Stickney UMC in SD. What a great church and a wonderful place to raise the most precious gifts God has given us, our children, Elise, Leah, and John! The next appointment was to First UMC in Aberdeen, SD, to serve as associate pastor. Our five years there included lots of time and activity with a super youth group and their families. In 1996, the call to Calvary came and Fargo has become home. Our kids have moved into adulthood, but our dog, Taffy, is still at home!
My interests include all kinds of sports, canoe camping, music, and hunting for arrowheads. Mary is a quilter, musician, and reader. Our trips to Mary's mom's cabin in northern MN are a highlight each summer, as we truly experience the glory of Psalm 8. We continue to trust in Ephesians 3:20, 21 that God "...Is able to do more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
 Blake & Becky Carlson, Youth DirectorsBlake & I grew up in the Midwest--Blake in Plymouth, MN (on Medicine Lake), and Becky in Sioux Falls, SD. We met at NDSU in the fall of 1997 and have been lovebirds ever since. We were married in August of 2000 and have three sons, Samuel (born in 2002), Benjamin (born in 2004) and Noah (born in 2007). All are sweet little redheads who keep us EXTREMELY busy. Blake & I have been trained in various aspects of youth ministry and church leadership through Tentmakers (based out of the Twin Cities). Besides sharing youth ministry leadership, Blake also works in architectural consulting. We both love to camp, hike, swim, and be outdoors. When it's time to hang around the youth, we're never sure who will cause more trouble--the students or us! We pray that the Lord would continue to "fan into flame" the gift of God within us, and allow us to serve in HIS strength – with "...a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline...." (2 Tim. 1:6-7).
 Nycol Piekarski, Children’s MinistryI grew up in Watertown, SD, and received a degree in Elementary Education from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD. I have served in full-time ministry for 13 years, including one year as a missionary in Bolivia, South America. As a South Dakota girl, I vowed never to move north, but God had other plans. I served at First United Methodist Church in Bismarck for six years, enjoying wonderful friendships and many lessons from the Lord. While serving in Bismarck, my husband, Brian, and I met while testing for our black belts in Tae Kwon Do. After marrying in August of 2003, I moved to Minnesota and our two beautiful girls (Eden Hope and Mylie Grace) were born in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
I enjoy reading, playing guitar, traveling, and all kinds of sports. I cherish my time with Brian, Eden, Mylie, and our extended family. Brian and I are so excited about the church family the Lord has given us at Calvary. I feel very blessed that God has called me here to ministry. I look forward to the future of our children’s ministry as we strive to learn what it means to “...train a child in the way he should go....” (Prov. 22:6). May Jesus continue to reveal Himself in a way that spans the ages.
Ruth Danuser, Church Administrator
ruth@calvaryfargo.com
I grew up on a farm in Crystal, ND, the middle child of sorts. I have one older brother who is a missionary in Singapore, a twin sister who is my opposite in every way, a brother and sister who are also twins, and last but not least, a baby sister. I grew up in a Methodist Church which has always been a home away from home for me. I graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead and lived in the Twin Cities for 20 years before moving to West Fargo in 2003. I love the craziness of working with activities and events, but also enjoy the solitude of long distance bike rides and sewing/embroidery/crafts. I married Reed Danuser December 23, 2008 and am proud to be the wife of a wonderful Christian man. I have two beautiful, red-headed children. Amanda is a beautiful young woman trained as a Paramedic and Firefighter and is Marine. She and I are good buddies and I love her caring spirit and happy smile. Jake is also a Marine and from October 23, 2009 through mid May, 2010 he is serving as an infantry assaultman in Afghanistan. I ask for your prayers! He has a tender heart and loves people, especially children. I'm looking forward to getting to know Calvary from the inside out, meeting new people, and going to heaven one day to reunite with my mom and other loved ones. "Those who live in the Lord never see each other for the last time." God has blessed me with a loving home, a loving family, a loving church, and a loving, forgiving Savior.
The FOCUS Team
The FOCUS Team (made up of paid staff and a variety of volunteers) meets weekly to help coordinate and balance the ministries and purposes of our church. FOCUS team meetings are open to all interested members or guests. For more information about specific ministries within the church, the following contacts are available: Missions Ministries: Bonnie Anderson or Paul Schlosser; Fellowship Ministries: Kathy Spriggs or Kathy Mitchell; Worship Ministries: Molly Olson or Mary Motta; Discipleship Ministries: Peder Anderson; Administration Ministries: Ruth Danuser; Children's Ministries: Nycol Piekarski; Youth Ministries: Blake & Becky Carlson. For more information about ministry staff, volunteer opportunities, or the FOCUS team, call the office at 232-5650.
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