Instructors and Staff
LAURIE BESONEN, Executive Director
(Most people who know me well know that I am a natural encourager with a big laugh and a willingness to listen to whatever is on a person’s heart. I grew up in New Mexico with three siblings and parents who loved Jesus. I trusted Christ in Elementary school through the influence of my family and the church we attended. But it wasn’t until my first year of college that I understood what it means to surrender my whole life to follow Jesus. After that, I learned to rely on God’s word as my daily nourishment for life, to share my faith and help young believers grow. After getting a degree in Speech Communication, I felt that God was calling me to full-time ministry of evangelism and discipleship. I worked with Cru, Campus Crusade for Christ’s college ministry, for 33 years. During this time, I also got a Master of Divinity from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and led a program that trained the next generation of leaders for Cru nationally. For the last three years, I have been working with The Navigators, focusing on staff development and member care. In 2007, I married Ron Besonen and we started our life together in Colorado Springs, CO. We adopted our son, John, from China in 2010 when he was two years old. We are active members of our church and volunteer with the AWANA program that John participates in. Last fall we got a golden doodle puppy named, Penny.)
Dr. Harvey Martin, pastor and Teacher
Dr. Martin taught at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, for 21 years. He is a graduate of Dallas Seminary and received his Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Harvey has had a life-long passion for evangelizing and has been involved with a Polish evangelical mission for many years. He is currently the pastor of the Dale Evangelical Free Church in Harris, MN. He and his wife have three daughters, all of whom are accomplished violinists.
JENNIFER DOUGAN, TEACHER
Jennifer Dougan is passionate about sharing the powerful message of God. With over 20 years of experience in church ministry, leading Bible studies and participating in women's and couples' retreats, she loves teaching God's Word. She often speaks at mothers' groups, women's retreats, conferences, camps, and adult Sunday Schools. Jennifer holds a BA in Communications and Bible from the University of Northwestern - St. Paul and is actively involved in ministry alongside her husband in the Twin Cities, where they raise their three children.
Ryan Habbena, pastor and Teacher
(Ryan Habbena is the Pastor of Preaching and Teaching at Conquering King Fellowship in Eagan, Minnesota. He also serves as Director of Signet Ring Ministries, a teaching and resource ministry. He has degrees in Biblical and Theological Studies from Bethel University and Bethel Seminary. Ryan has written articles and books about the Bible. He lives near St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife and three children.)
LETSON KAMWANA, TEACHER
Letson is a missionary from the Full Gospel Church in Fish Hoek. He works with the people of Masiphumelele. Letson is from Malawi and has studied at Rosebank Bible College, UNISA, and Capet Theological Seminary. He holds a Diploma in Ministry and an Advanced Bible Course Diploma. He has worked in churches in Malawi and South Africa as a Sunday school teacher, youth mentor, and mission organizer. Letson enjoys traveling, playing sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, and tennis, and reading. He lives in Fish Hoek with his wife and daughter.
Dr. Titus (Tito) Wanyonyi, Teacher
Dr. Tito Wanyonyi teaches virtual classes for pastors in Tanzania and Kenya. He has 132 pastors attending in Tanzania. Tito, born in Kenya, is the oldest of 23 siblings. He's married to Alice and they have two grown sons. He started his theological studies at Bethel Seminary in 2018 and recently graduated with a Doctor of Ministry Program. He's an ordained pastor and enjoys teaching at Village School of the Bible, fulfilling his calling to teach the word of God.
Warwick Alcock, Director of Strategic Operations
Warwick is from South Africa and studied at several universities there. After moving to the USA in 1998, he met Monty Sholund. He has taken the Cover-to-Cover course multiple times and taught it in both a regular classroom and as an online mentor. He was on the Village Schools board from January 2014 to June 2015, and joined the staff in July 2015. Warwick and Trish have two children and seven grandchildren.
TAMMY CREASY, Administrator
My husband John and I got married in 2000. I became a parent to his two sons. I play the flute and John plays percussion in the St. Cloud Municipal Band. I'm involved in the Civic Betterment Club, Bethel Christian Reformed Church's Coffee Break, Passing the Bread, Mille Lacs County Agricultural Society, and the Mille Lacs County Historical Society. We attend Zion Lutheran Church in Princeton. I graduated from PHS in 1983, got my B.S. in Business/Accounting from SCSU in 1988, and my CPA license from the Minnesota State Board of Accountancy in 1991. I've worked in public accounting for most of my career, but in recent years, I've focused on the non-profit sector. I frequently say, "God is good, all the time."
Board of Directors
Dr Samuel Asuma
Bob Boyer
Doug Schroeder