Meet the Pastoral Ministry Team Advocates
– BCI PMT Advocate Profiles
Across Iowa, pastors are gathering regularly for fellowship, encouragement, and prayer through regional gatherings led by the BCI Pastoral Ministry Team Advocates.
These pastors volunteer their time to help foster meaningful relationships among ministry leaders in their regions. Their goal is simple: create consistent spaces where pastors can connect, share ministry experiences, and encourage one another in the work of shepherding God’s people.
If you are a pastor in Iowa, you are invited to join a gathering near you or reach out to one of these advocates directly.
Steve Christiansen — East Des Moines
Steve Christiansen serves at LifeChange Church in Des Moines and is passionate about creating spaces where pastors can share life and pray together.
Steve believes ministry leaders often carry burdens that they cannot easily share within their own congregations. Regional gatherings allow pastors to let their guard down, share openly, and find encouragement among peers who understand the unique pressures of ministry.
He often reminds pastors that independent Christian living is failed Christian living, emphasizing the importance of mutual support and prayer among leaders.
Regional Gathering Info
- Location: Pizza Ranch, Altoona
- Schedule: First Wednesday each month
- Contact: steve@lifechangedsm.com
- Phone: 609-517-1000
Matt Heerema — Ames
Matt Heerema serves at Stonebrook Community Church in Ames, where he has been involved in ministry since 2000 and became lead pastor in 2020. Over the years, Matt has been deeply encouraged by friendships with fellow pastors and sees the Advocate role as an opportunity to cultivate those same relationships for others.
Matt describes the Ames gathering as a “heartbeat time-out” where pastors can share burdens, celebrate wins, and encourage one another as fellow “brothers on the wall.”
These gatherings offer pastors a valuable community of peers who understand the unique challenges of ministry and can offer wisdom, encouragement, and prayer.
Regional Gathering Info
- Location: Dublin Bay Restaurant, Ames
- Schedule: Third Thursday each month, 11:30am–1:00pm
- Contact: matt@stonebrook.org
John Janke — Cedar Rapids
John Janke has served at Northbrook Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids for over a decade and is grateful for the encouragement he has received through relationships with fellow pastors.
John hopes the regional gathering will provide camaraderie, meaningful conversation, and prayer among pastors serving in similar contexts. These meetings provide an opportunity for ministry leaders to encourage one another while learning from each other’s experiences.
His desire is that every pastor who attends leaves strengthened and encouraged for the work God has called them to.
Regional Gathering Info
- Location: Northbrook Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids
- Schedule: Second Tuesday each month, 10:30am
- Contact: john@northbrookbaptist.church
- Phone/Text: 641-751-5311
Jim Parker — Glenwood
Jim Parker serves at Calvary Baptist Church in Glenwood and brings a long history of gathering pastors together for encouragement and fellowship. For the past decade, pastors in his region have met monthly to share ministry updates, discuss important topics, and pray for one another.
Jim values the opportunity to strengthen communication among pastors and believes these gatherings help ministry leaders troubleshoot challenges while celebrating the work God is doing in their churches.
The ongoing relationships built through these meetings have proven beneficial for pastors throughout the region.
Regional Gathering Info
- Location: Pizza Ranch, Red Oak
- Schedule: Second Tuesday each month, 11:30am
- Contact: jimhero@cox.net
- Phone/Text: 402-250-0911
Jeff Ream — Cedar Falls
Jeff Ream planted Generations Church in Cedar Falls in 2022 and brings more than two decades of ministry experience to the Advocate Team.
Jeff is passionate about creating environments where pastors are strengthened spiritually, supported personally, and sharpened missionally. He believes isolation is one of the greatest threats to pastoral longevity and sees these gatherings as a way to combat that reality.
For Jeff, the goal is simple: help pastors know they have others walking beside them in ministry.
Regional Gathering Info
- Location: Famous Dave’s, Cedar Falls
- Schedule: First Thursday each month, Noon–1:30pm
- Contact: Text 319-504-0215
Daniel Southwick — Sioux City
Daniel Southwick serves as Senior Pastor of Southern Hills Baptist Church in Sioux City, where he arrived in 2024 with a passion for church revitalization. Daniel believes God has called him not only to serve his local church but also to strengthen churches and encourage pastors across northwest Iowa.
He hopes the regional gatherings will provide a place where pastors know they are not serving alone. With many bivocational pastors in the region, Daniel’s vision includes flexible gatherings that provide encouragement, fellowship, and possibly family events for ministry families.
Daniel believes pastors are strengthened when they walk alongside one another, living out Proverbs 27:17: “Iron sharpens iron.”
Regional Gathering Info
- Location: Northwest Iowa region
- Schedule: To be determined
- Contact: pastordaniel@southernhillsbc.com
- Phone: 661-965-9212
Eric Trout — Adel
Eric Trout planted Restoration Church in Adel in 2019 and is passionate about encouraging pastors throughout the West Central region of Iowa. Through his role as a PMT Advocate, Eric hopes to create spaces where pastors experience fellowship, accountability, and spiritual encouragement.
Eric believes pastors often need these relationships more than they realize, and his desire is to cultivate a culture where ministry leaders willingly lean into community rather than facing challenges alone.
These gatherings are designed to be relational environments where pastors can be honest, encouraged, and strengthened for the work of ministry.
Regional Gathering Info
- Location: Waukee / West Des Moines area
- Schedule: Typically the third week of the month
- Contact: eric@restorationadel.church
