We are so blessed to have leaders that love to pour their lives into the students. Our leaders serve through ministry teams, discipling students and leading their breakouts on Wednesday evenings. Most of all, they lead by example and strive to show Jesus to the students in all they say and do. At Hillcrest, we are blessed indeed with a strong history of awesome leaders!!
Great news, Hillcrest! We have a new Student Ministry Pastor! After a fantastic candidate visit last week, Tyler Schonrock has accepted our offer and will be joining our staff team. Him and his wife, Amanda, will be making plans to relocate and join our team in the months ahead. Join us in thanking God for his generous and timely provision.
Our DV8 Leader Bios
Name: Morgann McCoy
Occupation: Owner, Designer, and Seamstress at A Well Worn Story
Hobbies: Hiking, biking, reading, travel
Relavant Personal History: I grew up in northern Illinois where my faith grew by attending our church youth group and traveling on mission trips. I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in fashion design and studied leatherwork at London College of Fashion. After college, I started my own business, moved to Wisconsin in 2018, and started attending Hillcrest that summer. I'm thankful for the relationships and spiritual growth I have found here.
Attended Hillcrest: summer 2018
Ways I have served: This is my first time serving at Hillcrest. I helped start a socially conscious fashion brand in Port-au-Prince, Haiti where we employ young women transitioning out of orphan care. I volunteer my time there teaching sewing and sharing God's word.
Most looking forward to: I enjoy helping people discover their spiritual gifts and use them to build God's kingdom.
Occupation: Owner, Designer, and Seamstress at A Well Worn Story
Hobbies: Hiking, biking, reading, travel
Relavant Personal History: I grew up in northern Illinois where my faith grew by attending our church youth group and traveling on mission trips. I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in fashion design and studied leatherwork at London College of Fashion. After college, I started my own business, moved to Wisconsin in 2018, and started attending Hillcrest that summer. I'm thankful for the relationships and spiritual growth I have found here.
Attended Hillcrest: summer 2018
Ways I have served: This is my first time serving at Hillcrest. I helped start a socially conscious fashion brand in Port-au-Prince, Haiti where we employ young women transitioning out of orphan care. I volunteer my time there teaching sewing and sharing God's word.
Most looking forward to: I enjoy helping people discover their spiritual gifts and use them to build God's kingdom.
Name: Brandon Courts
Occupation: Firefighter
Hobbies: Soccer, Cage fighting, Crocheting, Hazardous materials
I grew up in in a Christian home in central MN. I graduated from Crown College with a Major in Youth ministry. I met my wife Erin at college, got married the summer after graduating, and moved to Madison. We just celebrated our tenth anniversary and have four kids- Owen and Oliver(5), Maecy(2.5), and Taavi(1).
How long have you been attending Hillcrest?
My family starting attending Hillcrest a couple of months after we moved to Oregon in April 2017.
How long have you been serving in student ministries and what other ways do you serve?
I have served with student ministries for over 8 years in many different aspects from interim youth pastor to small group leader.
What do you like most about being a leader at DV8?
Building relationships with students and watching them experience the love of Christ and accept him as Lord of their life.
Occupation: Firefighter
Hobbies: Soccer, Cage fighting, Crocheting, Hazardous materials
I grew up in in a Christian home in central MN. I graduated from Crown College with a Major in Youth ministry. I met my wife Erin at college, got married the summer after graduating, and moved to Madison. We just celebrated our tenth anniversary and have four kids- Owen and Oliver(5), Maecy(2.5), and Taavi(1).
How long have you been attending Hillcrest?
My family starting attending Hillcrest a couple of months after we moved to Oregon in April 2017.
How long have you been serving in student ministries and what other ways do you serve?
I have served with student ministries for over 8 years in many different aspects from interim youth pastor to small group leader.
What do you like most about being a leader at DV8?
Building relationships with students and watching them experience the love of Christ and accept him as Lord of their life.
Name: Timm Schaeffer
Occupation: Engineer - primarily involved in certification and testing of building products and cooking appliances.
Hobbies: Computers - using and building for other people, reading, swimming, camping, watching the Packers/Badgers/Brewers/ Cubs, politics, watching old black and white movies, watching mysteries, sudoku, crossword puzzles, play around on my baritone horn, tinker with things - fix them or destroy them
Timm became a Christian when he was 6 years old and got baptized 10 years later. He earned letters in 3 sports in high school (Cross Country, Track & Field and Wrestling). He was also in band and played both the baritone horn and bass guitar. He was also in choir, forensics, swam competitively, was a lifeguard and swim instructor. He inhaled Chlorine in 1986 at age 20 going on 21. Almost died and still have permanent scarring of the lungs. He saw God really work in him in those couple of years following the accident. In 1987 I met the woman God made for me. But it took her a couple years to realize that God made her for me. I married her in 1993. He's been attending Hillcrest since October of 2017. He has experience in teaching, leading bible studies, coaching. He has started programs like AWANA, was a part of church boards and also acted as an elder in training.
Occupation: Engineer - primarily involved in certification and testing of building products and cooking appliances.
Hobbies: Computers - using and building for other people, reading, swimming, camping, watching the Packers/Badgers/Brewers/ Cubs, politics, watching old black and white movies, watching mysteries, sudoku, crossword puzzles, play around on my baritone horn, tinker with things - fix them or destroy them
Timm became a Christian when he was 6 years old and got baptized 10 years later. He earned letters in 3 sports in high school (Cross Country, Track & Field and Wrestling). He was also in band and played both the baritone horn and bass guitar. He was also in choir, forensics, swam competitively, was a lifeguard and swim instructor. He inhaled Chlorine in 1986 at age 20 going on 21. Almost died and still have permanent scarring of the lungs. He saw God really work in him in those couple of years following the accident. In 1987 I met the woman God made for me. But it took her a couple years to realize that God made her for me. I married her in 1993. He's been attending Hillcrest since October of 2017. He has experience in teaching, leading bible studies, coaching. He has started programs like AWANA, was a part of church boards and also acted as an elder in training.
Name: Ricky Boyle
Occupation: Technical Services at Epic
Hobbies: Sports, running, biking, guitar, hanging out and playing made up games
Ricky was born in Buckfield, ME and grew up in IA. He attended Central College in Pella, IA. He moved to Madison in May of 2014 to work at Epic, and started attending Hillcrest in the summer of 2014. He was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in high school and college. He was a leader at several camps for high school athletes, and served as the FCA President in college for two years.
More than anything, he enjoys witnessing moments where kids encounter real grace, hope, and love.
Occupation: Technical Services at Epic
Hobbies: Sports, running, biking, guitar, hanging out and playing made up games
Ricky was born in Buckfield, ME and grew up in IA. He attended Central College in Pella, IA. He moved to Madison in May of 2014 to work at Epic, and started attending Hillcrest in the summer of 2014. He was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in high school and college. He was a leader at several camps for high school athletes, and served as the FCA President in college for two years.
More than anything, he enjoys witnessing moments where kids encounter real grace, hope, and love.
Name: Ashlie Mackesey
Occupation: Processing Specialist
Hobbies: Cooking/Baking, spending time with friends & family, watching movies
Ashlie graduated from Verona High School and went on to get her BS in Business Administration from UW-Platteville. She married her high school sweetheart, Brandon, in 2013. They bought a fixer upper farmette in Oregon. Their first child, Braxton, was born on July 7th, 2015. This is her first time serving in student ministry. Before her son was born, she served on the setup team. She is looking forward to making connections with the students!
Occupation: Processing Specialist
Hobbies: Cooking/Baking, spending time with friends & family, watching movies
Ashlie graduated from Verona High School and went on to get her BS in Business Administration from UW-Platteville. She married her high school sweetheart, Brandon, in 2013. They bought a fixer upper farmette in Oregon. Their first child, Braxton, was born on July 7th, 2015. This is her first time serving in student ministry. Before her son was born, she served on the setup team. She is looking forward to making connections with the students!
Name: Brandon Mackesey
Occupation: Transportation Design Engineer
Hobbies: Reading, biking, working outside
Relevant personal history:
I grew up in Fitchburg, WI. I met my wife when I was a freshman at Verona Area High School. We both went on to UW - Platteville where we graduated in May 2013. We subsequently got married, rebuilt a house, and then had a baby.
How long have you been attending Hillcrest?
August 2014 and we’ve been members since May 2015
How long have you been serving in student ministries and what other ways do you serve?
This is my first time serving in a student ministry. I have been serving on the setup team since October 2014.
What do you like most about being a leader at DV8?
I am most looking forward to developing relationships with the students and helping us both deepen our relationship with Christ. I really enjoy having discussions about faith with people in all walks of life. In high school, I had some of the best open and honest discussions with an atheist. We were able to have such discussions because we each had a mutual respect for one another.
Occupation: Transportation Design Engineer
Hobbies: Reading, biking, working outside
Relevant personal history:
I grew up in Fitchburg, WI. I met my wife when I was a freshman at Verona Area High School. We both went on to UW - Platteville where we graduated in May 2013. We subsequently got married, rebuilt a house, and then had a baby.
How long have you been attending Hillcrest?
August 2014 and we’ve been members since May 2015
How long have you been serving in student ministries and what other ways do you serve?
This is my first time serving in a student ministry. I have been serving on the setup team since October 2014.
What do you like most about being a leader at DV8?
I am most looking forward to developing relationships with the students and helping us both deepen our relationship with Christ. I really enjoy having discussions about faith with people in all walks of life. In high school, I had some of the best open and honest discussions with an atheist. We were able to have such discussions because we each had a mutual respect for one another.
Name: Matt McCoy
Occupation: Log and Lumber Director at The Wood Cycle of Wisconsin
Hobbies: Biking, home improvement projects, farming
Relevant personal history: My wife and I raise sheep and cattle on our farm near New Glarus. and both work in the family business. We met at Iowa State University in the Landscape Architecture program and after graduating moved to Wisconsin and began attending Hillcrest. We are passionate about farming and our businesses, as well as our church and the relationships we’ve built.
How long have you been attending Hillcrest? Since 2014
How long you’ve been serving in student ministries and what other ways you may be serving: I have been serving in student ministry since 2016 and also help lead a life group at Hillcrest.
What you like most about being a leader at DV8?
Developing relationships with students that help both the students and myself grow spiritually. I’m passionate about helping students understand what they believe, why they believe it , how to defend it, and how to duplicate it, which is turn helps me to do the same.
Occupation: Log and Lumber Director at The Wood Cycle of Wisconsin
Hobbies: Biking, home improvement projects, farming
Relevant personal history: My wife and I raise sheep and cattle on our farm near New Glarus. and both work in the family business. We met at Iowa State University in the Landscape Architecture program and after graduating moved to Wisconsin and began attending Hillcrest. We are passionate about farming and our businesses, as well as our church and the relationships we’ve built.
How long have you been attending Hillcrest? Since 2014
How long you’ve been serving in student ministries and what other ways you may be serving: I have been serving in student ministry since 2016 and also help lead a life group at Hillcrest.
What you like most about being a leader at DV8?
Developing relationships with students that help both the students and myself grow spiritually. I’m passionate about helping students understand what they believe, why they believe it , how to defend it, and how to duplicate it, which is turn helps me to do the same.
