Paul Cunningham of rural Pipestone is serving as our President. Paul has served 4 years. Paul leads our worship and prayer time at Noon on Tuesday and Thursday. He is also the one that comes around and checks on the maintenance of the building. Paul is our “jack of all trades” and helps us with anything we need. His full time job is Cunningham Telephone, setting up phone systems for businesses and individuals. Paul and Toni live on an acreage and have 3 married daughters and 6 grandchildren.
Karen Larson-Secretary
Karen Larson of Pipestone serves as our secretary, she has served 10 years for ATLAS. Karen is willing to help wherever she can. She is part of the “Comfort Care” program, leads Bible Studies and is the “Queen” of organizing rummages and other fundraisers for ATLAS. She is a delight to work with and always makes us laugh! Her gift of being a prayer warrior is her biggest gift to all of us at ATLAS. Karen and Bill have 3 married children and 10 grandchildren.
Ivan Vogel
Ivan Vogel of rural Chandler is our Vice-President and has served on the Board for over 12 years. He has a willing heart to serve and comes with a variety of gifts that benefits the board. Ivan is part owner of VIP Floral and Garden Center in Slayton. He is committed to meeting and helping with any construction we have here at ATLAS or emergency needs of a client. Ivan is married to Amy and have 2 children. We are so thankful for all Ivan and his family have done for ATLAS for so many years.
Lisa Hubers
Lisa Hubers of rural Pipestone has served as Board Member for 3 years. Lisa has an RN degree in nursing and is part time pastor in Jasper. Lisa leads many Bible Studies and mentors many women. She is a gift to our staff as she prays for us regularly. Lisa is very gifted in sharing God’s Word and praying with people. We appreciate her so much and her leadership. Bruce and Lisa have 4 children and 6 grandchildren.
Recently Pat Haag retired from our Board and we miss him greatly! We pray God’s richest blessings on him and his children.
ATLAS Staff/Volunteers
Roxie Mulder- Director
It has been a delight to be a part of the ATLAS ministry. It is a joy to see God work in people’s lives. Each step of the way, we have seen hard things, God things and God’s amazing provision. Often I am reminded of the verse in Malachi 3 that says “ Test me in this”, says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” He truly provides for our daily needs and brings provision just when we need it. It is humbling to see Him work in so many different ways! A true blessing for all of us working in the office.
My Husband, Arv and I live in Edgerton. He has his own shop called “Arv’s Repair”. We have 2 married children in Sioux Falls and 3 awesome grandkids. We love the opportunity to babysit now and then. I also continue “Roxie’s Tour and Travel” with a few tours every year. The Lord has blessed me with great variety in my jobs and I am thankful every day for His faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Judy Steuck – Accounting
Judy has recently retired from 42 years of service at First Bank and Trust on Pipestone. While employed there she filled various roles from a teller to a mortgage loan officer. She has been married to her husband, Bill, for 43 years. They are members of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Pipestone, where Judy is one of the pianists. The live on a dairy farm south of Pipestone. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Wendy and her husband Travis Blankespoor live in Rock Valley, Iowa with their two boys, Eli and Jonah. Jason and his wife Amy, live south of Pipestone, and have 3 girls, Alyssa, Lauren, and Hailey. Lance and his wife Brittany lie near Hawarden, Iowa with their girl and boy Hazel and Bennett. Judy enjoys spending time with family and gardening. It was Judy’s desire after retiring to work at a Christian based organization.
ATLAS Staff/Volunteers
Merle Knobloch - Mentor
It is a great joy to be a part of the ATLAS ministry and use what I have been blessed with to help others. Prayer is a part of who I am which is a foundational fit here at ATLAS through intercession, prayer blessing and ministry. I also enjoy mentoring and spiritually fathering which brings many blessings as people are set free and find the healing they so desire. The encouragement of 2nd Corinthians 12:9 is so real where Jesus says onto us, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast all the more in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” I grew up on a farm in southwest Minnesota near Hills MN and later was blessed to raise a family of two wonderful children while managing the family farm. Then, through a time of transition and transformation of several years, I found myself going from a farmer who cares for animals and crops to praying for and intentionally loving people. This became my life and it is my greatest joy to experience life as I walk alongside of others.
I live in Ihlen, MN and greatly enjoy my family and grandchildren. Along with being a mentor here at ATLAS For Life, I am also an active part of various prayer and evangelism ministries both locally and internationally as well as an active mentor and spiritual father. I’m continually amazed at His bountiful love and mercy in each of the endeavors that He brings to me!
I look forward each day to what new part of the journey God has for me and ATLAS is a big part of that journey!
Leon Hendriks- Mentor
Leon Hendriks grew up in Edgerton, Mn and lived there for 10 years before his family moved to southern California. There, he met and married his wife Connie and they moved back to Edgerton. They had 5 children who are all now married. All together, they have 11 grandchildren. All live relatively close by, except one family who lives in South Korea. Connie works as a dietary technician at an assisted living home in Edgerton. Until becoming disabled, Leon was in production and a machinist in a paper plant. He has worked with Cadets at his church and is presently the Vice President of our local chapter of Gideons, who look for avenues to distribute the Bible locally and worldwide. He also heads our Mobile Men’s Ministry here at ATLAS, which is in place to walk alongside men who labor against life’s struggles. Leon’s life verse is Proverbs 10:17, “Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” Leon says, “I work to always point myself to doing God’s kingdom work.”
Laurie Westerbur - Mentor
Laurie is a resident of Ihlen, MN, recently retired from 35 years at Pipestone Area Schools as a kindergarten teacher. She taught at Heartland Colony for 8 years and spent some time as a High Potential teacher and a math and reading tutor. She and her husband, John, are the parents of 3 and grandparents of 6. They enjoy hiking, camping, and fishing. Laurie has been a Sunday School Teacher for over 20 years and is teaching an overview of the Bible to Confirmation students. Laurie is excited to involve herself in the lives of those who would benefit from a listening ear and caring heart. She looks forward to sharing God’s love to women hurting from emotional or spiritual difficulties. The verse that speaks to her ministry at ATLAS is: Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in theirdistress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27
Mike Pater - Mentor
In the late 1990's while doing my first prison ministry service, I visited with an inmate who had a few months left of a 20-year sentence. I asked him how many visits he had in those 20 years. He said he had one visit. That touched my heart and inspired me to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the hurting.
We continued to do praise and worship services in prison and witnessed the Holy Spirit change people. I felt the Lord's leading to mentor those new believers. I worked at the South Dakota State Penitentiary for 2 years. Also, I have worked with those addicted to drugs and alcohol in Marshall for the last 18 years at Project Turnabout.
Murial and I farmed near Holland until our children were through high school. We moved to Marshall in 2004 and lived there for 16 years. I am now retired and we recently moved to Pipestone to be closer to family.
We are blessed with 3 children, a daughter in Sioux Falls and sons in Pipestone and Edgerton and 9 grandchildren and we enjoy spending time with them.
A meaningful passage for me for mentoring others is Paul's instruction while he was in prison. This comes from Colossians 3:2-3, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, and pray for us too that God may open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ."
