Remember that professor in college? The one who pushed you
to the wall- made you prove what you knew? We all had them;
whether we loved or dreaded them was another story. This was
Joe’s
track, college professorship complete with a pipe and leather patches
on his elbows, until one day he was approached by some men in black-
didn’t know the church had those, did you? They had a proposition
that was so intriguing that it changed the whole plan. Three years
later Joe and Sarah stood in Bemidji, MN hoping not just to affect
young students, but every age, every station in life. There were
people falling through the cracks of traditional church, people
who had no spiritual home to call their own. Why? Because they
couldn’t (or wouldn’t) follow the script, insisting
on asking those questions that made people squirm, discussing
those doctrines already settled upon by church hierarchy. Now
we not talking about your average rebellious kid with a tattoo
and an authority problem, nor are we talking about the average
liberal who wants to rewrite their Bible to suit their feelings
or ethics. We are not even talking about the fundamentalist
conservatives, who only ask what they think they already know.
What we are talking about are thinking individuals, truth seekers,
young and old alike who simply could not live with pat responses
to the largest questions in their life, people who desire to
dig deeper, know more, grow closer to this God they serve.
Joe’s teaching runs the gamut from straight Bible to
church history to philosophy and academic theology. His passion
is teaching, and welcomes those who desire to learn and grow.
MA Theology, Bethel Theological Seminary (St. Paul, MN)
MA Philosophy, Bethel Theological Seminary (St. Paul, MN)
BA Bible, Religious Studies, OH Christian College
Sarah Holt
Doer of all things, Sarah is wife, mother, teacher and first
lady of the Gathering. The axis upon which things turn. Hostess,
encourager, woman of faith, Sarah helps with the details so
Joe can keep his head in the clouds and think big thoughts.
Gerald Illies
The personable organizer of a never ending list of . . . something. Caregiver,
evangelist, disciple, discipler and all around good guy. (Hey
ladies, he's single, take pity)
Remember that professor in college? The one who pushed you
to the wall- made you prove what you knew? We all had them;
whether we loved or dreaded them was another story. This was
Joe’s
track, college professorship complete with a pipe and leather patches
on his elbows, until one day he was approached by some men in black-
didn’t know the church had those, did you? They had a proposition
that was so intriguing that it changed the whole plan. Three years
later Joe and Sarah stood in Bemidji, MN hoping not just to affect
young students, but every age, every station in life. There were
people falling through the cracks of traditional church, people
who had no spiritual home to call their own. Why? Because they
couldn’t (or wouldn’t) follow the script, insisting
on asking those questions that made people squirm, discussing
those doctrines already settled upon by church hierarchy. Now
we not talking about your average rebellious kid with a tattoo
and an authority problem, nor are we talking about the average
liberal who wants to rewrite their Bible to suit their feelings
or ethics. We are not even talking about the fundamentalist
conservatives, who only ask what they think they already know.
What we are talking about are thinking individuals, truth seekers,
young and old alike who simply could not live with pat responses
to the largest questions in their life, people who desire to
dig deeper, know more, grow closer to this God they serve. 
Doer of all things, Sarah is wife, mother, teacher and first
lady of the Gathering. The axis upon which things turn. Hostess,
encourager, woman of faith, Sarah helps with the details so
Joe can keep his head in the clouds and think big thoughts. 
The personable organizer of a never ending list of . . . something. Caregiver,
evangelist, disciple, discipler and all around good guy. (Hey
ladies, he's single, take pity)