Kevin Walzak

Lead Pastor

Kevin’s passion is summed up in the words of Isaiah 26:8; “Your name, O Lord, even Your renown is the desire of my soul”. 

Pastor Walzak’s desire is that we, as the body of Christ, would strive together to become the kind of church described in the Bible: one with relevant teaching, heartfelt worship, authentic friendships, saturated with prayer, expressing compassion and care for those in need. 

His goal for the Mountain Lake Christian and Missionary Alliance Church body is for there to be genuine and contagious Christianity, that can influence and encourage the whole community and beyond. 

Kevin and Linette have six children and  8 grandchildren

Nik Strom

Student Ministry Pastor

Nik Strom is our Student Ministries Pastor. Nik's desire is to see God reach students in Mountain Lake so much that they begin to live, breath, and commit their lives to following passionately after Jesus. 

Nik volunteered in student ministries for nearly 3 years and has been on staff full time since January of 2008.

God's journey for Nik has been an adventure. Nik grew up in a Christian home, graduating from a Christian school; he later attended Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington, Minnesota. Having a passion for students and history Nik enrolled at Southwest Minnesota State University. After graduation, he spent one year studying education at Minnesota State University Mankato. For 2 years following that he worked in the construction sales industry.

Nik earned a B.A. in History from Southwest Minnesota State University and recently finished his Masters in Christian Studies from Crown College. 

Nik and his wife currently live in Mountain Lake, Minnesota and have one son and two daughters.

Ricardo Renteria

Music and Media Pastor

Ricardo Renteria is our Music and Media Pastor at Alliance Church. His desire is that the church can worship God through music and song and that they can experience God's manifest presence every time we get together and praise our Savior!

He grew up in different places of the United States. He finished high school in Mexico City where he married his wife Miriam. He has been involved in worship ministry since he was 10 years old! Ricardo, Miriam and their two girls, Abi and Cristy, have lived in Mountain Lake since 2010. Miriam is the Spanish teacher at Mountain Lake Christian School, where their girls attend.

Ricardo oversees the music ministry as well as the areas of sound and media. All of these that are an important part of our worship services.

Candice Bartel

Director of Children's Ministry

Candice Bartel is our Children’s Ministry Director. Her passion and enthusiasm for children and the Lord is shown through her activities within her church, community, and home. Candice has been active in children’s ministry since 2008 and joined the staff in August of 2015. 

Candice grew up in St. James and married her high school sweetheart, Lucas, shortly after her graduation from Waldorf College in 2006. In 2011, Candice earned her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Crown College. 

At Alliance, Candice oversees all the programming for children from birth through 6th grade. Her goal is to support and encourage families as they seek to spiritually grow and train their children. 

Lucas farms and owns a custom body shop. Together, they have 3 daughters and 1 son.

Colleen Johnson

Office Administrator

Colleen Johnson is our Office Administrator. It is her great pleasure to try to ensure that the church runs smoothly by providing communication that is always open and available to church staff and the entire congregation. She has a passion for keeping people connected with God and with each other. Along with her personal passion for prayer ministry she enjoys the creative elements of working on all the church communications that come through the office on a weekly basis.

Colleen grew up in Mountain Lake and moved back to the community in 2001. She has both a Bible and Elementary Education degree from Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. She has also attended Minnesota State University, Mankato for further study in the communications field. Colleen has taught at the local Christian and Public Schools and held the position of Children’s Ministry Director before taking her current role as Office Administrator t in late 2016.

Colleen is married to Doug and has three adult children; Jonathan and wife Mariah, Joanne and her husband Connor and Jason. Plus a beautiful granddaughter Harper. Doug is employed at Toro Manufacturing. If you would like to follow her blog click HERE