Works of Art Investing in Works of Art.
“For we are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance.”
— Ephesians 2:10
Inspire Family Fellowship was born with a vision to reach people in the Bismarck/Mandan area with the life changing story of Jesus Christ. Inspire especially feels called to reach struggling families; recognizing that many forces in the world are pulling families apart and away from God. One of our highest values is to provide worship experiences that the whole family can relate to, grow from, and enjoy.
At Inspire we take the use of the arts in worship seriously, and passionately seek to use every creative tool to help people experience the power and hope of Jesus anew in their lives. We feel the story of Jesus is worth every effort to communicate it clearly. We believe in doing life together within an honest and authentic community of imperfect people journeying together with a perfect God. We believe that in an ever-changing world, the unchanging Word of God still points to the true source of life – Jesus Christ.
If you are someone seeking more out of life, or have a family whose compass is spinning and haunted by the idea that you should be living a better story, then come be a part of the Inspire movement.
We don’t expect you to have it all figured out. At Inspire you can belong while you learn to believe and as you believe you will experience the joy of becoming a new person with new meaning in life. Join us!
BELONG | BELIEVE | BECOME
RANDY UPGREN
INSPIRE’s lead pastor, Randy Upgren, has been in full-time ministry since 1991 – first building Charity Lutheran’s (Bismarck ND) youth ministry for 13 years, and then serving as Teaching and Preaching Pastor. He has his Bachelors of Music from Minnesota State University (Moorhead) and his Master’s of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California – one of the largest and most respected Evangelical seminaries in the world.
Randy is also the author of two books, The End is the Beginning, and Becoming Dangerous in All the Right Ways. Randy is native to Bismarck and has served the community in various capacities. He speaks for various groups on leadership, God, life and faith. He and his wife, Pam, also run a nonprofit ministry from their ranch called Providence Ranch Ministries – where they serve, free of charge, at-risk youth using their horses. Randy and Pam have been married for almost 25 years and have two boys Josh (21) and Jordan (19).
ERNIE HOCKETT
Ernie Hockett has been involved in ministry for 39 years as a pastor, youth leader, worship leader, and counselor. He wears many hats around Inspire as our Community Care Pastor. He also has been hanging out with our senior high group on Wednesday evenings.
When he isn't at Inspire he is with his lovely wife Kris and his kids Naomi, Nate, and Nick. He can't help himself, he loves people and will become your best friend after meeting you for 3 minutes. Don't worry, he's mostly harmless.
TIM PESKE
Tim is a founding member of Inspire who has been serving Jesus for most of his life. If he is not at Inspire, he is with his wife Beth, and his daughter Piper who is growing up much faster than her father is prepared for. Tim is an active member of the worship band at Inspire as well as several local bands in Bismarck. He decided to follow Jesus in junior high at a worship service that was created by Pastor Randy. Before he was the Ministry Coordinator he was a teacher at Century High School in Bismarck for four years. As the Ministry coordinator, he gets to work with staff and volunteers who are passionate about serving Jesus and expanding the impact that Inspire has on the local community. He loves working at Inspire because of all of the great people he sees and works with every day.
Youth & Children's Director
CAROLE JACOBSEN
Carole has been the Youth Director for Inspire since opening. She loves each and every kid and teen at Inspire. She is originally from Williston, ND and graduated UND with a Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology. She has been working with kids and teens for many years in a wide variety of experiences, such as preschools, clinic setting, elementary schools and running a home daycare/preschool. She is currently a SLP/Special Education Teacher at Mandan High School.
She is a mother of two amazing and busy kids; Joycee (13) and Jettler (12), and a fur baby Zuri, a 5 year old half border collie/husky.
SUPPORTING STAFF
BOB PESKE
Sunday Worship Leader
SAGE WALZ
Wednesday Worship Leader
KRYSTAL WROLSTAD
Prayer Team & Adult Ed Leader
KATE LITTLE
Youth Assistant
RHONDA FRITZ
Children's Ministry Leader
MARIE SCHAFF
Food Team Leader
BREN HAUSAUER
Library
JEN WALZ
Nursery
