Intentional Interim Pastors

Director, Intentional Interim Pastor Division

Dave Miles

Dave Miles is the founder of VitalChurch Ministry. Dave loves the church and enjoys the challenge of working with churches in transition. It has been something he’s done, to one degree or another, since 1994. He is particulary passionate about helping churches understand what Christianity is and why it makes sense. He has pastored churches in New York, California, Hawaii, Washington, Connecticutt, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. He likes to surf, run marathons, play golf, and read books. Dave has a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dave and his wife, Jan, have been married since June 1980. Together they have three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Associate

Geoff Bohleen

Geoff Bohleen graduated from Bethel Seminary with his M.Div. and Fuller Seminary with his D.Min. and has served in a variety of leadership roles in churches ranging in size from 150 – 8,000. Geoff has a strong desire to help churches flourish in their ministry, and he believes there is no limit to what God can do through a local church, especially when it has the courage to face its challenges and leverage its strengths for God-honoring life and service.

Geoff and his wife, Joni, met on a blind date and have been married since 1984. They have three married, adult children and several grandchildren. In their spare time, they enjoy time with their family, good friends, road trips, good books and movies, and the North Carolina beach.

Associate

Rick Foster

Rick Foster served as a “permanent” pastor for 25 years before making the transition to an interim pastor. Since 2012, he has served as an intentional interim pastor in widely divergent churches, literally from coast to coast. Rick has a B.A. from Wheaton College and a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Rick and his wife, Lucy, have three grown children and six grandchildren. Rick enjoys both road and mountain biking, hiking, and good coffee.

Associate

Rick Gering

Rick has served in full-time pastoral ministry since 1994, leading churches with between 500-1,800 people. Rick has been instrumental in helping hurting and wounded churches heal and become vital places. He’s been married to his wife, Cindy, since 1986. They have two adult daughters and numerous grandchildren. Rick received his education at Moody Bible Institute (Biblical Studies), and Moody Theological Seminary (Christian Leadership). He loves the outdoors, exploring new places with Cindy, family time, fantasy sports, and his beloved Wichita State Shockers. He is certified with Church Answers (Thom Rainer) in church revitalization.

Associate

Wayne Harris

Wayne Harris has served the Church in local churches ranging in size from 50 to 4,500. He has also served in denominational roles, as well as with an international mission organization, and most recently as a church consultant and intentional interim pastor. Through these wide-ranging experiences, God has developed in him a deep passion for His Church and leaders. By leading churches down pathways of spiritual discovery, Wayne equips, empowers, and encourages leaders to hear from God as they clarify their focus and align themselves and ministries with His heart and passion resulting in greater Kingdom impact.

Wayne is married to his college sweetheart, Carey. Together they enjoy hanging out with their two adult children and spouses, as well as their five grandchildren. Wayne enjoys the out of doors, whether it is a round of golf, hanging out on the beach, or the occasional road trip with Carey—especially when it involves camping.

Associate

Steve Ignash

Steve Ignash resides in Southern California and is a graduate of Talbot School of Theology. He has a wide range of ministry experience, including work at small, bible-teaching churches, as well as at Southern California megachurch, Saddleback Church. Steve enjoys reading, spending time at the beach, and working out. In addition to his work as an intentional interim pastor at VitalChurch Ministry, Steve serves with an outreach ministry that plants churches in transitional living facilities.

Associate

Steve Miller

Steve Miller has been serving as an intentional interim pastor in numerous churches since 2002, and before that worked in a wide variety of roles, including senior pastor of smaller and larger multi-staffed churches, adjunct professor, church consultant, retreat speaker, university trustee, denominational board member, and stewardship foundation representative. Steve earned an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Talbot School of Theology. He enjoys golf, fishing, travel, reading, and spending time with his family, the latter being a challenge now as they are spread all over the country. Steve has been married to his wife, Marlene, since 1976. They have four married children and many grandchildren.

Associate

Craig Ray

Craig Ray’s lifelong passion is to come alongside churches in transition and raise them up into spiritual maturity and vitality so they will be poised to reach people for Christ. Craig draws from years of varied ministry and leadership experiences, such as church planting, revitalization, youth ministry, overseas missions, and most recently, a six-year pastorate in central Vermont that culminated in transitioning two churches into one. In 2017, Craig began volunteering with VitalChurch as part of the diagnostic division before moving into a full-time associate role with the team. Craig has a B.Min. from the Antioch School of Church Planting and Leadership Development and is currently completing an M.A. in Leadership. Craig and his wife, Brianna, have three sons. He enjoys coaching, playing, and watching baseball.

Associate

Rich Schoenert

Rich Schoenert served as a senior pastor for 43 years before moving into interim pastor ministry. The last 24 of those years were spent at Calvary Church, Roseville, Minnesota, a multi-site congregation. Since “retirement,” he has served numerous churches as an intentional interim pastor. Rich also continues to train and equip pastors and other church leaders in Ukraine, something he’s done for over 30 years. Rich graduated from Gordon-Conwell Seminary with both the M.Div. and D.Min. degrees. He and his wife have three adult children and many grandchildren.

Associate

Gary Taylor

Gary Taylor loves to start ministries and make things better! He has planted two churches and now wants to focus his energy on helping churches in transition find and fulfill their redemptive potential. Gary is an agent of change and he wants people to see that change can be a good thing if done well and for the right reasons. He has a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Gary and his wife, Suzy, have been married since 1995. They have three adult children and one grandson. Gary loves the beach, golf, and hanging out at coffee shops.

Associate

Kevin Walzak

Before joining VitalChurch, Kevin Walzak was a lead pastor for 34 years, as well as a church planter. He has served in Virginia, New York, and Minnesota. Kevin has a doctoral degree from Gordon Conwell Seminary. Kevin Walzak is married to Linette, and they have six children and many grandchildren. He enjoys golfing, fishing, and exercising. Kevin is also the inventor of the Mango Splitter and was a collegiate national champion in wrestling.

Associate

Daniel (Dan) Werthman

Dan Werthman is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), a licensed attorney, and a Certified Christian Conciliator with the Institute for Christian Conciliation. After serving for 15 years as a senior pastor in three EFCA churches, Dan felt a calling to use his experience and abilities to help churches navigate conflict and change through intentional interim pastoral ministry. Dan earned his M.Div. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and his J.D. at Hamline University School of Law. Dan has also served as a military attorney (Judge Advocate) in the United States Air Force. Dan and his wife, Cindy, have three grown sons. Dan enjoys grilling and barbecuing, and is slowly section-hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Associate

Dave Young

Dave Young has been pastoring churches since 1996, serving in America, Europe, and Asia. He has degrees in Bible and Counseling, and a D.Min. from George Fox Evangelical Seminary. His doctoral dissertation focused on moving churches from an oasis paradigm to missional thought, community, and practice. Dave is an advocate of being changed and bringing change – knowing that God is always deepening our dependency on Him and encouraging our experience of Him during times of transition. Dave and his wife, Maryanne, have been married since 1987. They have two adult daughters.