Staff Team

Andrew Peterson

Lead Pastor

The Petersons (Andrew, Brittany, Avery, Judah, and Oakley) moved to SLP to start CityVision Church (now Park Community Church) in August of 2012.

Andrew and Brittany met at Crown College, where Andrew received a B.S. in Youth Ministry and M.A. in Christian Studies, while also serving on the pastoral staff at a church in the west metro for seven years.

Andrew is passionate about declaring the Word of God and seeing God’s kingdom advanced through the establishment and multiplication of the local church. Andrew & Brittany love their kids, family, friends, neighborhood, baseball, nachos, and TV.

Ben Brandt

Pastor of Music & Ministry Development

ben@parkmn.com

Ben and his family moved to the SLP area in 2013 to help launch the church plant that merged to create Park Community. His primary roles at Park are overseeing Music, Ministries, and Operations. He loves coming alongside ministries and leaders to help them flourish.

Ben grew up in Grand Marais and met his wife, Jenni, during his years at Bethel University where he received a BA in Sacred Music. They like each other, and their three kiddos, Ellie, Claire, & Bjorn, and their dog, Daisy, and this church community. Ben also enjoys eating, hiking, and songwriting.

Drew Ballanger

Interim Youth Ministry Director

drew@parkmn.com

Drew and his wife Molly, both grow up in the Twin Cities. He moved to St. Louis Park in 2016 as he was completing his degree in Special Education at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. They have been attending Park Community since 2017 and have been blessed greatly by how Park has helped transform their lives. They now live in Plymouth, sharing a home with Mollys parents and helping care take for her brother Joe.

During the school year, Drew teaches 18-21 year olds in Richfield Public Schools work on independent and employment skills. He has a joy in supporting youth build relationships, exploring how God is at work in their lives, and creating memories that last a lifetime. In his free time he likes to bird watch, go on bike rides, cheer on Minnesota sport teams, and go on trips with Molly.

Lauren Schierloh

Kids Ministry Director

lauren@parkmn.com

Lauren and her family moved to the Minneapolis area from Oklahoma in 2018. Shortly after, they found Park Community Church where they were welcomed with open arms. Lauren graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Elementary Education and taught 2nd grade for 6 years.

Lauren has served in multiple ministries within Park including Hospitality, KidsPark, assisting with coordinating Moms Connect, Wedding Coordination and most recently Ministry Assistant. She is very excited to be able to continue serving Park through her new role as Kids Ministry Director.

Lauren lives in Eden Prairie with her husband, Joel, and two boys, Cooper and Brecken. When not at home taking care of her boys, Lauren enjoys teaching barre fitness classes, going on walks, organizing spaces, and sipping coffee.

Trent Senske

Director of Spiritual Formation

trent@parkmn.com

The Senskes (Trent, Laura, Audrey, Eva, Isaiah, Jude, and Ivy) joined Park Community Church after 7 years of church planting in South Minneapolis. On the regular, you will find them making up silly songs, frequenting their local urgent care, playing too much soccer, and enjoying summertime at the lake.

Trent is passionate about connecting the gospel to real life, developing leaders in/beyond the church, and walking with others toward maturity in Christ. For the next year, he will serve as the Director of Spiritual Formation — working to provide clarity and structure to make more disciples of Jesus marked by intimacy, authenticity, and simplicity.

Kelly Bjerkaas

Ministry Assistant

kelly@parkmn.com

Kelly has lived in the Twin Cities since her college years but grew up in Little Falls, MN. She graduated from North Central University with a B.A. in Business Administration. She has enjoyed being able to work from home for a few different companies since having children.

Kelly and her husband, Nate, were part of the church plant that merged with Park Free and have lived in St. Louis Park since 2009. She has enjoyed helping the people of Park Community Church through her role as Ministry Assistant.

Kelly and Nate have four children. She loves spending time going to Americana/folk concerts, swimming, reading and spending time with friends.

Ginnie Rajcula

Communications Coordinator

ginnie@parkmn.com

Ginnie grew up in a small town in northwestern Minnesota and moved to the cities to pursue her undergraduate degree at Bethel University. She graduated in 2021 with a B.A. in Communications. Shortly after, Ginnie began attending Park Community Church with her sister. She has served as a youth leader with ParkYouth since the fall of 2021. She loves seeing students develop relationships with each other and grow stronger in their faith.

Ginnie lives in Bloomington with her husband, Jake, and their bernedoodle, Olive. The two of them enjoy camping, going to trivia with friends, and cheering on the Minnesota Twins. In her freetime, Ginnie enjoys grabbing coffee with friends, embroidering, and tending to her ever-growing plant collection.