Who We Are
We are a local community of Christians
We live in the Staples and Motley area. We send our kids to the same schools, shop the same stores, and drive the same streets. Chances are that you already know many of us.
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We have learned that coming together as believers in Jesus is a great help to us in our daily lives. We are convinced that belonging to a church family can be just as meaningful to you.
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We are part of a world-wide movement
The Christian and Missionary Alliance is a Christ-centered, global movement of more than 6 million Christians. Our international family of churches is inspired by Jesus’ love and empowered by His Spirit to passionately take the good news of Jesus to our neighborhoods and our world.
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Check out the 2025 Impact Report.
What we believe
We believe in Jesus
Jesus is at the very center of all that we believe and do. We want to know Him better and grow to become more like Him every day.
We believe the gospel
We believe that God sent Jesus to die for our sins and that He rose again as Savior of all. Those who turn to Him in faith are forgiven of all their sins and receive His gift of eternal life. This is the good news at the heart of all we do and proclaim.
We believe the Bible
The Bible is God's Word, inspired and true. It is our standard for what we believe and how we live.
If you would like to know more about what we believe, you can read our full statement of faith.
Meet our staff
Jonny Olson
Associate Pastorsenior pastor
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Pastor Jonny comes to Minnesota from Southern Wisconsin. Having grown up in a Christian home, Jonny came to know Jesus as Lord in Elementary school. Continuing to grow in his faith through middle and high school, Jonny loved being a part of the youth group, sports, theater, summer camps, band and mission trips during this time.
After graduating High School, Jonny was called into ministry, attending a School of Ministry in Fond Du Lac, WI. Jonny graduated the program with a certificate of Pastoral Ministry with a focus in Children’s Ministries. Jonny served for 3 years as the Children’s Pastor in Breckenridge, MN.
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During his time in Breckenridge Jonny met his wife, Lisa, and they married in 2016. In 2016 Jonny moved to Iowa to work as the Youth Pastor at an Alliance church. In March of 2022, Jonny, Lisa and their daughter, Violetta, moved to Staples MN. Since then, Jonny and Lisa have added two boys to their growing family, Cedric and Oaken.
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In Jonny’s spare time you will find him spending time with his family, in the wood shop (humbly trying to make something that won’t break), playing video games, hunting, or painting miniatures for tabletop games.
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Some of Jonny’s favorites are Jazz music, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Brandon Sanderson books, and swimming.
John Pavlica
Lead Pastorsenior pastor
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Pastor John has served in ministry leadership for over 20 years. Growing up in New York, he began serving with the Alliance in Pennsylvania before he and his wife Jennifer made Minnesota their home.
He’s a graduate of Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN where he received his Bachelors Degree in Ministry & Cultural Studies along with a Masters Degree in Global Leadership. Along with serving as our lead pastor he also serves as an online adjunct professor at Crown College, teaching Biblical Leadership.
Pastor John has traveled on missions to different Latin American countries and has coached at different missions and leadership training conferences. He has a gentle shepherd heart that focuses on equipping and encouraging the church to live the Spirit filled life and serve people in our communities.
In his free time you’ll find him playing music on guitar or piano or enjoying the outdoors with his wife Jennifer. Activities like kayaking and hiking are their favorites. They have four adult children, each of whom has served alongside them in missions.