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Covenant Pines Ministries
DAVE CAIRNS
CPM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dave’s history with Covenant Pines goes back to 1973 when his father was hired as the first year-round employee of CPBC. Since then Dave has worked for Covenant Pines on summer staff, as a Program Director, and as the Camp Director. In the Spring of 2015, Dave was hired as the Executive Director of Covenant Pines Ministries. Dave lives in the Twin Cities with his wife Becky and his three children, Trent, Drew, and Annis.
HOLLY ABRAMSON
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & OFF SITE MINISTRY
Holly joined the CPM staff in the fall of 2019. Holly is no stranger to Covenant Pines, growing up attending the Bible Camp as a camper, and summer staffer. Prior to working for CPM, Holly spent five years working as the Program Director at Covenant Pines Bible Camp and two years working at Minnehaha Academy. She and her husband Miles, live in Minneapoils with their son Otto.
Adventurous Christians
MATT WHITE
CAMP DIRECTOR
Matt White joined the AC staff in early 2019, after serving in a variety of camp positions covering over 20 years. A graduate of Honeyrock’s Wilderness Leadership Practicum (Wheaton College), Matt spent 6 years as a facilitator for Inter-Cultural Leadership Initiative in Northern Wisconsin. He worked two years as Camp Director of Camp Kaskitowa (MI) and Program Director of Camp Nawakwa (WI) for five years.
LINA SWANSON
Guest Service Director
Lina started her role as Guest Service Director in fall 2020. She came to AC through her history at Covenant Pines Bible Camp as camper, junior staff and counselor. After two years of teaching, she joined the AC team fall of 2018 as program staff. Lina has done most everything AC had a need for: leading trips, organizing gear, Retreats, Bobcat driving, training her new boss, running the kitchen and being up to help anybody with anything.
Covenant Pines Bible Camp
MATT BRAUN
CAMP DIRECTOR
Matt joined CPBC in the fall of 2012. He is originally from just outside of Chicago, but has also lived and worked at two different Covenant camps in Michigan. He is a graduate of North Park Theological seminary and a pastor in the Covenant Church. Matt and his wife Beth have three daughters, Malin, Elsa, and Ingrid.
Pam Lofgren
FOODSERVICE DIRECTOR
Pam joined CPBC as Foodservice Director in early 2017. Pam was introduced to Covenant Pines the summer of 2012 after feeling called to serve in camping ministry. Pam served four years on summer staff and two years on ministry staff. Pam grew up in the Covenant church and went onto Covenant Bible College-Ecuador and North Park University receiving a Psychology BA degree. Pam has spent many years in ministry working with various camps and YWAM in the US and around the world.
BRYAN SCHMIDT
FACILITIES DIRECTOR
Bryan joined the Covenant Pines staff at the beginning of 2021. The change for him and his family was an unexpected silver lining of the COVID pandemic and, more importantly, a result of God’s leading. Bryan and his wife, Lisa, both graduated from the University of Northwestern with degrees in ministry. Since then Bryan has worked for Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union in various roles all focused on improving the experience of their members. As the Facilities Director, Bryan oversees the grounds, buildings and maintenance at Covenant Pines Bible Camp. He and his wife Lisa live at camp with their two children.
Erin Burkstrand
Hospitality Director
After spending five years serving at Covenant Pines in many different capacities, Erin joined the Covenant Pines full time staff in the Fall of 2021. She graduated from the University of Northwestern in 2020 with a degree in ministry. She has a big passion for camping ministry, loves the outdoors, and has hiked at all the state parks in Minnesota.
Jared Jensen
Operations Director
Jared joined CPBC as the Operations Director in the spring of 2023. He grew up outside of Forest Lake, MN, and graduated from North Central University with a degree in ministry. He’s worked with youth in a variety of different camping, church, and after-school settings. He and his wife Kelsi met at a camp and they love camping ministry.
Casey Kongla
Interim Program Director
Casey joined the CPBC staff as the Interim Program Director in the fall of 2022. Casey grew up at Covenant Pines as a camper and eventually joined his first staff experience in 2019 as a summer staffer. Casey has been involved and has done some schooling with YWAM – gaining experience in the global missions field. He is excited to serve in this role – his title may say interim but his heart is fully there!
Mia Schaller
Ministry Staff
Mia is serving on Ministry Staff at Covenant Pines Bible Camp for the 2022-2023 retreat season. Mia is from Northern Wisconsin and before working at Covenant Pines, was a student at North Park University in Chicago and had experience at Covenant Point Bible Camp in Michigan.
Matteo Sosa
Ministry Staff
Matteo is serving on Ministry Staff at Covenant Pines Bible Camp for the 2022-2023 retreat season. Matteo is from Circle Pines, MN and grew up attending Covenant Pines as a camper. He grew up attending Plymouth Covenant Church and comes to CPBC after being a student at North Park University in Chicago.
Silver Beach Family Camp
COMING SOON!
Covenant Pines Off Site
Board Members
CPM BOARD
Tim Gosen, Excelsior Covenant Church; Tyler Klatt, Community Covenant Church Minneapolis; Sarah Verdoorn, Salem Covenant Church; Todd Joing, Wooddale Church; Sara Sosa, Faith Covenant Church; Whitney Cantrell, Sanctuary Covenant Church; Kendra Dodd, Plymouth Covenant Church; Dave Cairns, CPM Executive Director.
The Board of Directors consists of seven members. New members are elected at an Annual Meeting held each year in April. Members serve 3 year terms and are able to serve for two consecutive terms. Each owner church is allowed to send delegates at the Annual Meeting to vote on necessary business and elect board Members.