OUR CHURCH LEADERSHIP

Get to know the Grace Life Church team

Ministry at Grace Life is overseen by our elders and carried out by our members. Our ministry team leaders coordinate and strengthen that work across the church. We also have a staff team, some of whom are elders or ministry team leaders, who are supported financially to serve the church day to day.

ELDERS

We Aim to Shepherd God's People

Our goal as a leadership team is to submit ourselves to the authority of scripture and use our God-given talents for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS

We Don't Do This Alone

Our ministry team leaders are instrumental in carrying out the mission and values of our church.

Stacy Bacon

Operations

Joe Book

Worship

Debbie Channell

Member Care

Steve Curren

Finance

Joe Desaulniers

Kids

Stacy Bacon

Operations

Joe Book

Worship

Debbie Channell

Member Care

Steve Curren

Finance

Joe Desaulniers

Kids

Braden Hogan

Pastoral Assistant

Rebecca Johnson

Ordinances

Jennifer Olson

Treasurer

Andrew Owen

Facilities

Braden Hogan

Pastoral Assistant

Rebecca Johnson

Ordinances

Jennifer Olson

Treasurer

Andrew Owen

Facilities

Alan Anderson

Elder

What do you do for a living? I work at an online education company called CoachingActuaries that helps aspiring actuaries pass their exams and go further in their careers. My responsibility is to develop software and to oversee and mentor the software platform development team. I also own Crown Cleaners, a dry cleaning and laundry service in West Des Moines. My responsibility at Grace Life is to mentor the leadership team.

When did you begin serving as an elder? 2016

What is your testimony of faith in Christ? The Lord saved me at the age of 13 when I recognized my sin and the need for His Grace. I did not grow in the Lord but drifted in life for about 12 years. At that point, I was exposed to a local church that preached the Word with power and clarity and a few key people in that church loved me. Wow, His Word has gripped my soul ever since.

Family? Barb and I were married in the spring of 1981. We have 5 children and 12 grandchildren.

Where are you from? I grew up on a ranch in Nebraska.

What are some books (other than the Bible) that are favorites? How People Change by Paul Tripp, Knowing God by J.I. Packer, Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray

What are some of your hobbies and interests? I like hiking and spending time with friends and family.

Seth Channell

Lead Pastor/Elder

What do you do for a living?
I am the lead pastor of Grace Life Church.

When did you begin serving as an elder? 2012

What is your testimony of faith in Christ? Since I was a child, I have been surrounded by the gospel. I professed faith in Christ when I was eight and then came to a fuller understanding of my sin and the gospel when I was fourteen or fifteen.

Family? I married Debbie in 2004, and we have five children.

What is your educational background and pastoral experience? I have been in pastoral ministry since 2004 and have a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Southern Seminary.

Where are you from? I am from Russellville, AL.

What are some books (other than the Bible) that are favorites? Spiritual Depression by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Nathan Coulter by Wendell Berry, George Whitfield by Arnold Dallimore

What are some of your hobbies and interests? I enjoy watching sports, science-fiction, and historical dramas. I enjoy traveling to national parks, historic sites, and baseball stadiums. I enjoy reading almost everything.

Doug Hanna

Elder

What do you do for a living? Doug is an Assistant Pastor at Grace Life Church and a
Writer and Online Content Creator.

When did you begin serving as an elder? I have served at Grace Life since 2025.

What is your testimony of faith in Christ? Raised Roman Catholic, I became a Christian as a teenager after a spiritual hunger led me to search for Christian content online. I heard the gospel for the first time in the fall of 2011 and immediately believed it. I was overjoyed to find forgiveness for my sins and help to conquer them and grow. I joined a Bible-believing church shortly after.

Family? I am married to Lydia and we have three kids.

What is your educational background and pastoral experience? I have my Master’s of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I have served at a number of churches as a lead pastor, elder, youth minister, and other roles.

Where are you from? Maryland.

What are some books (other than the Bible) that are favorites? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, The Poetry of Emily Dickinson, The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges, Finding Your Best Identity by Andrew Bunt, Dominion and Dynasty by Stephen Dempster, Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund, The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson

What are some of your hobbies and interests? I like spending time with friends and reading books and comics.

Nate Koenig

Elder

What do you do for a living? Since 1997, my career calling has been to serve as an entrepreneur and business developer with a heart toward helping to hold the rope of the local church and related ministries. I currently serve as Chief Strategy Officer of The Integration Group, a domestic and international third-party logistics company. I also hold various other ownership interests and board seats in companies in real estate and ecommerce. My responsibility at TIG is to help mentor the leadership team, support growth strategies and guide mergers and acquisitions.

When did you begin serving as an elder? 2016

What is your testimony of faith in Christ? I was raised in a religious home and schooled in a parochial school where the word of God was present, but it wasn’t until my early twenties that I truly was confronted with the Gospel and rescued from my sin. From there I professed faith in Christ and began to walk in a manor worthy (though not perfectly) of the sacrifice that Christ paid on my behalf. Amazing Grace How Sweet The Sound That Saved a Wretch Like Me!

Family? I was married to my wife Carrie in February of 2004 and we have 6 living children (3 boys and 3 girls).

Where are you from? I grew up mostly on small homesteads in rural Iowa County with most of my time on my grandfather’s farm near Marengo Iowa.

What are some books (other than the Bible) that are favorites? The Cross of Christ by John Stott, Spiritual Depression by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Attributes of God by AW Pink, Knowing God by J.I. Packer

What are some of your hobbies and interests? I love hosting people, young and old, to our property for various activities. I enjoy working outside on projects with my family, cutting wood, watching Michigan sports, lifting weights, hunting/fishing and riding horses or anything motorized.

Grace Life Church is now meeting at the North Polk High School Auditorium, located at 13930 NE 6th Street, Alleman, Iowa.