ABOUT US
Mission Statement God has called us together as a community of faith, to be a servant people, to become mature persons in Christ, to be His witnesses to our world, to be unified together as the Body of Christ, and to ministering in our communities and around the world.
Vision Statement The Great Lakes Conference exists to unite churches in a cooperative ministry that reflects the imperative of the Great Commission to win people to Christ, to build them up in the faith and to equip them to be disciple-making disciples.
MEET OUR STAFF
Dr. David Odegard, Executive Director
Dave was born and raised in eastern Montana. In 2011, God called Dave away from the 3rd generation family construction company he owned and operated to full-time pastoral ministry. He attended Winebrenner Theological Seminary graduating with a Master of Divinity in 2015. Dave continued his education and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Talbot Seminary in Los Angeles in 2020. He is currently working on a PhD. in Literature from Faulkner University and is an avid reader.
Mr. Tom Weaver, Financial Controller
Tom Weaver has been the Financial Controller since March, 2012. Tom and his wife, Jean, adopted their daughter, Michele, from China in February, 2009. In addition to his conference responsibilities, Tom is the Director of Finance at Winebrenner Theological Seminary. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Miami University, a Masters degree in Education Administration from Bowling Green State University, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Findlay.
Mrs. Kathy Odegard, Admin. Assistant
Kathy has been the Administrative Assistant for the Great Lakes Conference since the fall of 2023. She is a nurse by training but has not worked at the bedside since moving to Ohio in 2012. She and her husband, Dave, have six delightful children: Abigail, Hannah, Luke, Andrew, Matthew, and Sarah Grace. They also have a Blue Doodle, Rigby, whom they adore.