MARK POSPISIL
Lead Teaching Pastor, Elder
Ever since the Lord called me to Himself as a late teenager, I have had a passion to share the good news of Jesus Christ with everyone. My deep desire is for people to know that Christianity is not what we do for God but what God did for us in Jesus. I am also zealous for the local church and seeing it built up and cared for with people being unleashed for God’s glory.
I am married to my wonderful and just plain amazing wife Kelsey. We have 4 beautiful children (2 boys and 2 girls) and are incredibly grateful to be their parents although the kids keep us busy (We planned for 3 but the Lord gave us 4!). I have pursued my education and completed degrees at Moody Bible Institute and Bethel College and I am always learning and growing in the grace of God. I have served in different pastoral and leadership roles in the local church for over a decade.
After much time in prayer seeking God on where to go next we moved from Indiana to Michigan to serve Jesus at The Lakes. I currently serve as the Lead Teaching Pastor and am also an Elder. I am passionate about The Lakes and so grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be here.
JOHN SORGEN
Executive Pastor, Elder
I have always believed and loved God but couldn’t stomach organized religion until God got a hold of me in the early 90s. That’s when I gave my life to Christ and began a growing relationship with Him instead of following a religion. For the next 15 years, I continued to grow in my knowledge and relationship with Him. Throughout that time, He blessed my family and career until I was promoted from the Manufacturing Manager in Pennsylvania to the Plant Manager of our Detroit facility.
In 2006, I had a strong calling to leave the corporate world and go into ministry full time. For the past 12 years, I have been truly blessed by the opportunities God has given me to serve Him and His people. A step of obedience has proven again and again that God is faithful. I truly love the local church and am passionate about seeing people distant from God come to a growing relationship with Him and becoming fully devoted followers. I am the Executive Pastor and Elder at The Lakes and have been here since the launch in January of 2011.
I have an Amazing wife of over 34 years, a 28-year old son that has a growing relationship with Jesus and a daughter, son-in-law and 2 grandchildren that attend The Lakes and continue to grow in their faith.
JULIE SNYDER
Manager of Office Administration
I was excited to move from the corporate environment, where I worked for over 10 years, to working “behind the scenes” in the church office where I could use my communication and administrative skills in helping to further God’s Kingdom. I have a passion to get people connected, especially working within the women’s ministry, to get them involved and informed within the church family so that they are excited to attend Sunday Services, volunteer, participate in The Lakes’ events, and grow in Christ.
I have been married to my incredible husband, Mike, for over 25 years and have two wonderful sons.
TREVOR GEISER
Children’s and Small Group Director
I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at church camp when I was 13. While my faith continued to grow, God deepened my heart for people that either haven’t heard of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or those that have already heard and just need a reminder of that truth.
Although I volunteered in both Kid’s Creek and as a Small Group Leader at The Lakes since its inception, it wasn’t until 2017 that I felt a calling to ministry and joined the staff full-time. Before then, I received my Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Kent State University and managed insurance fraud investigations and claims operations.
I direct both the Children’s (Birth-5th Grade) and Small Group Ministries at The Lakes. I am committed to raising the next generations to take the Gospel to the world and have a unique opportunity to work toward that mission in each of these important roles!
I was born and raised in central Ohio, but now consider Michigan my home. I am married to my beautiful wife, Elizabeth, and we have two incredible children, Paige and Kyle. I consider it an absolute gift to get to serve at The Lakes alongside my family, as well as with others that I love deeply and who share a passion for the Lord.
SERAH SPENCER
Kids Creek Coordinator
Hi! I‘m Serah! My Husband Alex and I have been attending The Lakes since its conception in 2011. We actually met in a small group that January! We brag about being the first "Lakes Love Story," and no one has contested us yet!!
I was fortunate enough to have grown up in a Christian home, but as a teen, chose to live for myself until I was 24 years old. Through some personal trials I finally decided to cling to Jesus and make my faith my own. I have been INSANELY blessed by His mercy and grace ever since!!
Alex and I both have a heart for young people, and have served in both the student and children’s ministries while attending here. I have been a part-time staff member since April, 2017.
We have four children from Minnows all the way up to The Well, and host the young adults small group in our Commerce home!
BRIAN ADAMS
Associate Worship Pastor
Christ has always been part of my language but, after serving as a Marine in combat, He has become my life. When I returned stateside I began to read God’s Word on my own time and through my studies at Rochester College where I obtained my bachelors degree in Biblical Studies, a whole new life of grace, mercy and love was opened to me. The Lord has done miraculous healing in my mind, heart and soul since the war and continues to do so. By His grace, my past has become a catalyst for the work He now uses me to do on behalf of His church.
My passion has always been in music and the arts and I am grateful for the platform I have been given leading worship at The Lakes. My passion is to carry out a ministry of drawing people together in unity of spirit to worship the Lord in song and praise.
I have been truly blessed with an incredibly supportive and loving wife and three kids that have and continue to shape who I am as a husband, a father, a man and, most importantly, as a child of God. To Him be the glory forever and ever!
BIRGITTE DEWAELE
Communications Director
I was born and raised in Denmark and fortunate enough to have parents that always pointed me to Christ. I don’t recall a time where I did not believe in some form, however, it was in my late teens that I fully started grasping what it meant to die to myself and be raised to life with Christ daily. It brought with it a deep passion to learn and live by God’s Word as well as spending my life sharing that truth with the world. This ultimately led me to Chicago in 2011 where I studied Communications and Pastoral Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. It was here that I met my husband, Connor. We have been married since 2013 and have two wonderful children, Luna and Charlie.
Before moving to Michigan in 2018, Connor and I worked together as house parents to at-risk youth in the Seattle area. I have otherwise worked in communications roles at a couple of different churches in Chicago and Michigan and have always dabbled in different art mediums, graphic design, and creative communications.
I am passionate about the local church and its role in communicating God’s love and truth carefully, purposefully, and effectively, so when God provided the opportunity for me to join the team here at the Lakes as we welcomed 2021, we felt strongly that it was the right move for us as a family. We couldn’t be more excited to see what God has for us here at the Lakes.
ERIC FRITTS
Worship Pastor
I grew up in a Christian home with wonderful parents who were actively involved in the church. They introduced me to Jesus at a young age and I became a believer and was baptized around the age of ten. Although I wandered through my high school and college years thinking that freedom meant being able to do whatever I wanted, I realized that the choices I was making were only leading to bondage. Upon this realization, I rededicated my life to Christ in my mid-20’s, recognizing that true freedom comes when we let go of the things of this world and surrender our lives to Jesus.
As I took my musical gifts and began using them to serve in the church with kid’s ministry, I met some wonderful pastors who discipled me and got me involved with students and young adults leading worship on Sunday mornings. At that point in my life, I grew more deeply in my faith as I walked in community with other believers and was eventually asked to join the staff at my church in 2007 leading worship for middle school, high school and college/young adult ministries. This was also the time when I met my incredible wife, Liz. We got married in 2008, moved to Rochester Hills and now have 4 beautiful daughters.
After 14 years on staff at my previous church, we felt God calling us to a fresh start but didn’t know where. Both my wife and I’s parents are local to metro-Detroit and we didn’t want to leave the area (although we were willing to go wherever God wanted us). It became clear this past summer (2021) that God was drawing us to The Lakes Church and we are super grateful to call this church our new family. We already see God doing a great work through this church and look forward to many years here being a part of watching souls transformed into the likeness of Christ.
JOSH BROYLES
Youth Pastor
I was fortunate enough to have grown up in a solid Bible believing home in the great state of Texas. Myself, my parents and my two younger sisters were involved in every church activity you could imagine. From the AWANA program, youth events, to mission trips, we were always involved with the church in some form or fashion. I gave my life to Jesus at the young age of six and was baptized shortly after. I followed Jesus all throughout school and a few months post my high school graduation, I was unsure what to do with my life and what route to take. I rededicated my life to the Lord in November of 2014 and started my pursuit of what my career would be. I had mentors tell me I would go into ministry but fought the calling for years. I chased an MMA career, radiology, and even firefighting. I finally took the calling God placed on my heart and made the ten hour drive to join my sister at Baptist Bible College.
I started an Intercultural Studies degree and changed a year into the program to finish with a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies. During my time at Bible college, I was able to travel for our school on the recruiting team. During this time I traveled to a large number of youth camps and conferences. This is when I found my passion for youth. It was also during this time that I met my incredible fiancé, Cassandra.
I fully believe in the local church and the role it plays in the community. I am passionate about raising the bar of biblical literacy for the next generation of youth. Cassandra and I are both extremely eager and happy to be involved here at the Lakes.