 |
|
Meet the Staff
Greetings from the Pres House Staff! Let us introduce ourselves… Mark Elsdon, Campus Co-Pastor/Executive Director
As a pastor I continue to find that God is bigger than me or my attempts to talk about God. And that excites me! Jesus Christ is more than a concept, more than an idea, more than an image on the cover of a magazine. He is the living Word of God, constantly challenging me to live a love-filled, grace-filled life. He is an event, an experience, a person. And he is bigger than my doubts and questions. Which is why I am free to voice and ask them. So I do. Again and again." Born in the Midwest, Mark has also lived in the southern, western, and eastern parts of the United States. Born to English immigrants he lost his British accent when he entered kindergarten, but he still uses words like blimey. Mark enjoys numerous hobbies including cycling and making home movies, but spends most of his time dancing with his two beautiful daughters Emma and Sophie. Mark has a BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Erica Liu, Campus Co-Pastor
That was about a decade ago but I am still listening, as well as sharing what I have found to be true. God’s love and power transforms lives and brings healing, redemption, and reconciliation. I am looking forward to seeing how this truth will be embodied in the community at Pres House." Erica is a second generation Taiwanese-American who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. During her years at Berkeley, she became a Christian in spite of her best efforts not to—she now finds herself serving as Campus Co-Pastor at Pres House. When she’s not eating popcorn and watching movies, she can be found running after her daughters Emma and Sophie, and laughing with her husband Mark. Erica has a BA in Mass Communications from UC Berkeley and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Brandon Donkersgoed, Accounting and Finance Manager I grew up in Hammond, WI and graduated from UW-Whitewater with a degree in accounting. I currently live in Marshall with my wife Natalie and 5 month-old son Tyler. I love playing, watching, and talking sports (especially football and baseball). I spend as much time as possible golfing and spending time with my family and friends. Elisabeth Platt, Fund Development Manager I grew up on the west side of Michigan and migrated to the east side of the State for my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I joined Pres House in the summer of 2004. I left a year later to live in England and the Netherlands for two years while my husband conducted research for his PhD. It was a great time of travel, self-discovery and meeting people from all over the world. I am now back at Pres House in the role of Fundraising Manager. I actually never thought I would be in fund raising. My earliest career aspirations at the age of nine involved being a fashion designer, however a lack of art skills and fashion sense that continues to this day squelched those short lived dreams. Many years later during university I decided I wanted to work in the non-profit field. I felt a deep sense that God was calling me to love the world in a tangible way through my career. Through work in event planning and volunteer coordinating I fell into fundraising. Fundraising has allowed me an opportunity to give individuals an opportunity to be faithful stewards of their resources while supporting organizations doing amazing work. When not at Pres House I enjoy just about anything to do with popular culture – great movies, television shows, music and books. I will fully admit that every year the anticipation of a new television season sends shivers down my spine. Lest anyone think I only care about superficial entertainment activities, I also enjoy long hikes outdoors, going to the gym and spending time with friends. Tracy Nolan, College Chaplain Intern
I'm excited to be in Madison working at Pres House, because I believe community and conversation are so vital to faith. I love to listen to friends discuss their faith and questions; honest conversation energizes me. Faith means working through questions together and trusting in the amazing way that God's grace covers every inch of our selves and every one of our questions. I grew up in a Christian environment, though my spiritual journey has gone over hills and through valleys. God's living Word, working in our hearts and minds (and through our hands!), has lead me through joy and struggle. My friends have been the strongest support in the journey - I pray that Pres House Residence may similarly become a supportive, open community in Madison." Mark Ahrens, Administrative Assistant Student ROOJAHS (Royal Order Of Joyful Assistants in our Home):
Travis Agnew, Musician in Residence
Travis grew up in south Florida, finished high school in Colorado, and eventually made his way back to Madison. He is 29 years old, married, and blessed with a 3 yr old son.
|
"I entered college very sure of my faith. That was both good and bad. I spent more time at church than I did in class. That too was both good and bad. As a student at UC Berkeley I found that my image of God, though strong, was actually quite small. Spending time in the dorms talking with friends and on the streets talking with homeless people opened up my perspective on faith. I found that God was in fact much bigger than any of my conceptions. 
"Until I entered college, I thought Christianity was mythology and that Christians were weak-minded people. But I ended up sharing my dorm room with a Christian and to my surprise, we became friends. During that year, I was challenged to examine what I believed about life and community. I stopped saying what I knew about the church, and started listening a little more. 
"I grew up in Edinboro, PA, a small college town in northwestern Pennsylvania. I graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where I majored in Religion and Exercise Science and played ice hockey and lacrosse. I don't have any siblings - but my family does have four dogs and six cats whom I love very much! In my spare time, I can usually be found reading news articles, working out, or attempting to play acoustic guitar. During the past two summers, I have worked in urban ministry settings in Erie, PA and Minneapolis, MN.
I've been obsessed with music since freshman year of high school when I began bass guitar lessons for the first time. I had roots in church hymnal music growing up, but nothing ever gripped me like this- heavy rhythms and syncopated beats with aggressive hypnotic melodies. It brought life and energy to an otherwise flat lined existence- boring and mediocre. I began to search out music like a lost starving man in the desert. I started playing and writing music for the soul purpose of music and success. When I was 19, God got my attention when everything I was living for fell apart. He met me in that place of brokenness and desperation and gave me peace and real purpose. It was there that I found the fullness of a music experience that engaged my spirit with the ever-present and Almighty God. From that point on I decided I only wanted to share music that declared truth and restored hope. I desire to see God break through the lies and despair of this world and set people free to sing a new song of joy. I love to celebrate the goodness of God; it's only then a proper perspective is attained. Identity is found in being a loved child of God and nothing else!| About Pres House | Calendar | Student Housing | Worship | Groups | Trading Post | Pub/Café | Hospitality | Supporting Pres House |
| web presence by vivid media |