Paul grew up inPaul Karsten grew up in southeast Wisconsin. He later moved with his wife Kelli and son Caleb to the west coast to take a role in IT. Paul and Kelli were active in their local church as ministry and small group leaders and played on the worship team. After his IT role was outsourced Paul began traveling as a project manager for the healthcare sector. Years later they moved to central Oregon where Paul continued his role in project management. They joined a local church in Redmond OR and quickly became involved in ministry and worship. In late 2014 Paul was laid off from his project management role and felt a deep conviction to shepherd God’s people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ by equipping them with the knowledge of God’s Holy Word. Incidentally this was confirmed by two separate pastors who recommended that Paul enter into full time vocational ministry. In 2015 after much prayer, Paul began attending Liberty University’s online for his Biblical and Religious studies degree. Paul has served as Senior Pastor for various churches in Oregon and Illinois. Paul and Kelli Karsten were married in 2005 and have one son Caleb born in 2008. Paul enjoys playing piano and bass guitar. His family enjoys traditional board games, watching movies and entertaining visitors. Paul is greatly encouraged to see lives changed by the radical faith we have in Christ and by the radical faithfulness of our God.
Steven Marshall grew up in Roseburg, Oregon. He later moved to Boise, Idaho his sophomore year of High School. He graduated from Centennial High school in 1994. Growing up he enjoyed all kinds of sports. He was a very successful swimmer and competed in State and Regional Championships and the West Coast Junior Olympics. Directly after High School Steven had dreams of teaching and coaching. He promised his dad in 1994 that he would go to one year of Bible College, before pursuing his dream. It was in that year that he decided there was nothing better to teach than about Christ. He started in part time youth ministry in 1995, and went into full time Youth Ministry upon graduation from Boise Bible College in 1998. Steven and his wife Becky have been married since 1997 and have three children, Ella, Shelsea, and Dylan. Steven and Becky love kids and young families, and desire to lead them in the Lord.
Rick grew up in Vale on his family run dairy. After graduating high school he started the custom haying business he has today along with working with his family on the dairy. He has been married to his wife, Marie for 28 years. They have 4 kids; Shiloh, Levi, Cody & Mariah. He became a member of VCC in 1992 and has been an active member of the elders for 12 years.
Jeff was raised in east-central Illinois, where, after serving several years in the Air Force, he attended the University of Illinois (U of I) College of Forestry. At this time, he met his future bride, Debbie, while going to the church where he grew up. They married prior to his graduation with BS in Forestry. He spent nearly 26 years in Roseburg, Oregon working at the BLM and raising 4 children; Melissa, Jeremy, Lindie, and Justin. In March of 2011, Jeff took a position at the Vale BLM District working as a HAZMAT Coordinator and Safety manager.
