Senior Pastor

Troy Nelson

Troy became a disciple of Jesus in 1978 when he was growing up in Windom Minnesota. He attended Liberty University and then Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Lynchburg Virginia. Upon graduation he moved back to Minnesota and lived in the Twin Cities until accepting the call to be the Executive Pastor in January of 2020.  While working in the cities he met and married Barb. They have 3 grown children, Alyssa, Ryan and Joshua. They enjoy camping, playing games together and taking family vacations.  Troy’s hobbies include reading science fiction and running…running a lot. He competes in ultra-running which means running races longer than a marathon. His favorite distance is 100 miles because he says who wouldn’t like spending the day in the woods…and all night…and part of the next day.  Troy’s passion in ministry is to see people transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. He believes small groups and personal discipleship is the best way to see this happen.

Pastor of Youth and Discipleship

Mike Neumann

Mike was born in Calcutta India and adopted as an infant.  He grew up in northern Wisconsin in an area much like the Brainerd Lakes area.  His parents were teachers and he grew up going to church every time the doors were open.

It wasn’t until Mike was 14 that he made the decision to follow Jesus Himself.  This came on the heels of being at a youth conference where he saw thousands of other students admit to struggling with depression and suicide.  After coming home and processing all this, he made the decision to follow Jesus, knowing there was more than this temporal life and a hope that goes beyond.  Over his years, he has found a passion and drive regarding biblical counseling and apologetics.

He got his double major in youth ministry and Bible from the University of Northwestern-Saint Paul and his masters in pastoral care at Bethel Seminary.  He is married to Kathryn and they have three kids.  Mike has been in youth ministry since his internship in 2006.  He and his family moved to the Brainerd Lakes area in 2021 upon accepting the call to be The Log Church’s youth and young adult pastor.

Mike loves listening to music, watching movies, and playing video games.  Other hobbies include ultimate Frisbee, baseball, kayaking, and archery.  Waterparks are among his favorite places to be yet he enjoys the seclusion of the woods and water.

Children's Ministry Director

Karen Van Rooyen

Karen was born Jewish and grew up in the Reformed Synagogue. It was a little more lenient than the Orthodox community. She had Jewish and Gentile friends. Karen believes Jesus started to prepare her from a little girl, that He would one day be her Lord. She accepted Jesus in November 1978.

Karen has a teaching background, qualified in Remedial Education and specialized in autism spectrum disorders and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. She & Jan moved to the USA in 2001, and worked as a behavior analyst for a crisis organization serving the seven metro counties of Minneapolis. In 2015 she became a certified court-appointed guardian for individuals with developmental disorders and related conditions.

Since moving to Pequot Lakes in 2020, Karen applied for a teaching license and has enjoyed working as a substitute teacher, when time allows. She has now retired as a guardian.

Karen feels that God opened this position in an amazing way, and she is excited to serve the families and children at The Log Church.

Worship Director

Kathryn Neumann

Kathryn is a Worship Director at The Log Church, and is thrilled to be a part of the worship team. She has been told she prayed to “accept Jesus into her heart” at age 3, but really doesn’t remember a time when God wasn’t an integral part of her life. Music has been a lifelong passion, as well as the pursuit of true worship in spirit and truth. Kathryn plays several instruments but dreams of learning more.

Kathryn is married to Mike, the Pastor of Youth and Discipleship at The Log Church, and they have three young children. They have been doing youth ministry together since 2007! Much of her worship experience comes from leading for youth group over the years. Reading is an absolute favorite pastime, especially fantasy novels or British Literature. Kathryn also enjoys gardening, aggressive workouts, and coffee dates with Mike and with friends. Most of her time is spent hanging out with her children while one child in particular beats her at chess games.

Audio Visual Director

Logan Olson

Logan is a born and raised native of Crosslake.

Logan has been attending The Log Church since he was young and assisted with sound for youth group and the church. After spending time away for the National Guard, he returned to the area in 2019. When Logan returned to Crosslake, he began working for Tremolo Communications as a Network Service Technician. After a couple years of being back in the area, he felt a calling to reengage with The Log Church. He became the AV Director in December 2023.

Logan also serves as a Crosslake Firefighter and First Responder. His hobbies include hunting, fishing and spending time with his chocolate lab, Paisley.

Video Technician

Charlie Kluck

Charlie grew up in Isanti, MN and after having worked in the technology field for awhile he applied for a position in the Brainerd lakes area on a whim and as luck would have it, he got the job!  For about one year, he commuted to work before deciding to sell their home in Cambridge and move ‘up north’.  In 2017, wife Stephanie and Charlie relocated to Crosslake with their son Graham, embracing the chance to build a life in this community. As newcomers, they explored local churches but always felt drawn to The Log Church.

In 2020, his family expanded with the arrival of their daughter, Isla. In a cool twist of fate, she became friends with another little girl named Aila at our church, a heartwarming reminder of how small the world can be.

In 2024, Charlie made the decision to dedicate his life to Christ and was honored to be baptized, sharing the special experience with his son Graham who also made the decision to be baptized.  Before the following week’s sermon, Pastor Troy announced that the church was looking for someone to perform the video streaming on Sundays. Stephanie nudged him, and Charlie felt a tug on his heart to step up and apply for the opportunity.

When he is not working or serving in church, Charlie spends as much time as he can with family.  Charlie is an avid fisherman, taking full advantage of the natural beauty that surrounds us in Crosslake.

Communications Director

Mary Amiot

Mary is our Communicatitons Director.  She has two adult sons, Tony and Brian and grandson Michael.  In 2009, she and her husband left their careers in the cities and retired to their lake home in Crosslake to enjoy the peacefulness of the lake and the lifestyle that “Up North” living brings.  In 2015, retirement was cut short after Dewey’s death.  After revisiting priorities in life, she honed her graphic design skills through CLC and re-entered the workforce and brought purpose back into her life.  In 2019,  Mary began working at The Log Church using her graphics background to design Friday newsletters, posters, booklets and website management.  “It amazes me how God works miracles in such subtle ways  … I’m thrilled to be part of this caring community and the new family I’ve acquired.”

Administrative Assistant

Jaqlyn Darling

Jaqlyn came to Christ when she was 34 years old in Alaska.  She dedicated her life to Him (during an earthquake) and sent on to attend Alaska Bible Institute in Homer, AK for two years.  After 10 years in Alaska, Jaqlyn moved back to her native state of Minnesota.  While attending Open Door Church, she met Randy and they married two years later.

Always in the back of Jaqlyn’s mind was to move back to where she was born – Brainerd.  It took her 5 years to talk Randy into it!  They built a home in Crosslake in 2021 and moved in the fall.

Although Jaqlyn is a retired kitchen & bath designer, she enjoys administrative work also.  She loves playing golf, socializing with friends, cooking healthy, reading, and coloring on her computer.

Custodian/Maintenance

John Lindahl

John was born in Kansas to a military family and lived in Germany for four years during his dad’s deployment. In 1980, his family moved to Richfield, MN where he graduated high school.  He attended Bible College in Calgary and received a degree in Biblical Discipleship and Christian Leadership.  After relocating to Minneapolis, he enrolled in Dunwoody Institute, where he received a two-year degree in electrical construction and completed his apprenticeship with South Side Electric.  In 2005, John moved to the family cabin located in Breezy Point where he attends Eagle’s Nest Baptist Church.  After working in maintenance at Grandview Lodge, Deacon’s Lodge, Breezy Point, Moonlite Gas Station, he found his ideal job at The Log Church.  When John is not driving his 1964 Cadillac Fleetwood, he enjoys playing ball with his dog Sadie, mountain biking, swimming, boating, and fishing.

Finance Director

Marsha Morford

Marsha became the Finance Director at The Log Church in 2025. She grew up in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, in a family of ten children, and has lived most of her adult life in Minnesota. She enjoys the smalltown tourist vibe of the Crosslake area. 

She and her husband Avery have deep roots at The Log Church, having been members for over 30 years! Marsha came to Christ during her early years at The Log Church, being greatly influenced by the rich Sunday School teachings and attending BSF in Brainerd. She was later baptized in the waters of Lower Hay Lake during a Log Church baptism. Marsha and Avery’s children, Katie and Alex, were born into and raised in The Log Church family. Both are now married, and Marsha is the proud “Grammy” to Arden Marie. 

During Marsha’s long time at The Log Church, she has volunteered in many aspects of church life including the nursery, Awana & Kids Club, youth group, praise team, missions, pastoral search committee, Bible study co-leader, Celebration of Life committee and more. 

She has a bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and has worked various positions in the accounting field including being an auditor, accounting instructor, income tax preparer and general accounting positions. Marsha was also a stay-at-home mom and home educated her children. 

Marsha enjoys walking, biking, traveling, time with family and friends, autumn leaf drives, and drinking coffee!