Meet the Elders

Steve Surprenant
Elder Chairman
ssurprenant@lakevc.org

Steve and Julie Surprenant have been married for 33 years and reside in Oregon, Wisconsin. They have one married daughter living in Madison. Steve is a Technical Support Engineer with General Electric Healthcare and has been connected with LakeView Church for 18+ years. He is involved in Men’s Ministry, Worship Art’s Ministry and the Elder board and currently serves as the chairman of the board. Steve enjoys swim officiating and outdoor activities like hiking and camping.

Mike Moll
Elder
mmoll@lakevc.org

Mike grew up in McFarland, received a Civil Engineering degree from UW-Platteville in 1990, and has worked for Moll Construction, Inc. as a Grading Foreman and Estimator since completing college.

Mike began attending LakeView in 1995. He met his wife, Dixie, at LakeView, and they were married in June of 1997. They have 3 sons and 4 daughters and live in Evansville.

Mike has been serving on the Elder Board since January 2005.


Dave Sheard
Elder
dsheard@lakevc.org

Dave and Edi Sheard met in 1980 in bible school in Howick, New Zealand.  Upon being married to Dave in 1981, Edi left her home in “beautiful” British Columbia, Canada and the couple moved to the Stoughton area where Dave was a water supply engineer with the Public Service Commission.  Dave is still with the PSC and is currently the Assistant Administrator of the Water Division.

Family is important to Dave.  Dave and Edi both grew up in Christian families and always have enjoyed being active in ministry.   They are the parents of two sons, Mark & Donald, a daughter-in-law Leah and have one granddaughter.  In 1986 Dave began his first term on the Church Board as Chairman.  He has been on the Elder Board and Chairman for many of the transitional years in the late 1980’s, 90’s and early 2000’s.  He lists his ministry passions as serving and giving to prosper Kingdom growth.  “Doing ministry has never for me been a sacrifice of time and resources; it’s all about the joy of serving and being served.”  Dave has also been involved in teaching and leading small groups and other areas of adult ministry.

Dave is excited to be on the Elder Board.  “I see God moving at LakeView in new and exciting ways.  I believe LakeView is uniquely positioned to make a tremendous impact on the families and individuals that are now entering the Dane County area.  Stoughton and our sister communities are growing and we can impact these families!  A devotional I once read dealt with the “Heart of the Church.”  It referenced the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Thess. 3:12-13, “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all…, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness.”  Two ingredients that are necessary for a successful body of believers…love for one another and holiness, or said another way “Love God / Love People.”  I simply want to be part of the next chapter at LakeView.  I want to expend whatever energies and abilities God provides in my life to serve the Church and to Honor Him, and make the only difference in a person’s life that truly matters.”

Jody Staveness
Elder
jstaveness@lakevc.org 

Jody grew up north of Madison in the small town of Pardeeville.  Jody and Mary currently live in Stoughton.  They were introduced to one another by a mutual friend, while attending a small group.  This was the perfect place to start a friendship that has continued to grow since their Spring wedding in ‘96.  Jody has worked in the engineering profession as a Mechanical Designer since he was 19.  He received his associates degree in 2001 from MATC after attending night school during his first 5 years of marriage (with Mary’s encouragement, of course.)

A tragic diving accident was the catalyst that prompted Jody to accepted Jesus as his savior when he was a teenager.  The accident left him paralyzed for several weeks.  During that time he contemplated, “Had I drowned, would I have gone to Heaven or Hell?”  Jody was blessed with a full recovery from his neck injury.  Exactly one year after his accident he committed himself to strive to live in a way that reflected Jesus’ teachings.  Jody’s initial commitment to believing in Jesus as his savior was based on not wanting to face an eternal judgment that separated him from God.  Over time, Jody’s relationship with Jesus grew into one that wasn’t based on necessity but rather on love, respect and gratitude toward a loving Savior.

Jody and Mary have enjoyed attending LakeView since the summer of 2003.  Mary has been involved in various ministries, using her administrative skills.  Most recently she directed registration for the Summer Vacation Bible School program.  Jody continues to serve singing on the Worship Team.  He has also been part of the Drama Team and co-leads a lifegroup with Mary.  Jody and Mary look forward to new challenges and opportunities to serve as Jody starts his first term as Elder in 2009.

Dave Wilson
Elder
dwilson@lakevc.org 

Dave married his high school sweetheart, Linda, in 1969 while attending UW Madison. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren. Dave and Linda lived in Janesville, Madison, Florida, Georgia, Guam, and San Diego before moving to Stoughton in 2001. Dave spent six years as a Navy officer and has worked with computers since leaving the Navy. Dave currently works for TomoTherapy as a Software Engineer.

Dave and Linda grew up attending church, but really connected with God while attending Calvary Chapel San Diego and later Calvary Chapel Poway, CA. They were involved in various ministry areas and helped start Calvary Chapel Poway in 1980. Dave served as an elder and board member while attending Calvary Chapel Poway. They started attending LakeView in June 2001. Dave has served as an elder at LakeView since January 2007.

Dave is passionate about helping people develop a deep relationship with Christ. He asks you to join him on the never-ending journey of becoming more like Christ. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Col 2:6-7

Graham Blaikie
Lead Pastor/Elder
graham@lakevc.org
873.9838 ext. 120

Graham is a proud “Kiwi” (native New Zealander) who fell in love with his wife, Doreen (from Rockford Illinois), and theology, while attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

The diminutive couple were then on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ for 14 years. Graham was senior pastor of Auckland Bible Church in NZ for almost eight years.

He likes reading, family vacations, music, sharing Culver’s soups with his wife, and playing Battlefield 2 on the internet with their oldest son who is 8000 away in Auckland. Their other three kids live with them and are in college, high school and elementary school.

He insists he feels “hugely privileged” to be at LakeView, despite the Wisconsin winter and the weird behavior known as ice fishing. His greatest buzz comes from seeing people exploring and getting excited about the Bible and their relationship with God.

Graham goes back to school about every decade. He has an MA in Apologetics, a Th.M from Dallas Theological Seminary, and has just begun doctoral studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

He has been in the lead pastor role at LakeView since early 2007.