Our Staff
Lead Pastor: Paul Bernard
Born in the Mojave Desert of Southern California, Pastor Paul Bernard was raised in Joshua Tree, CA. He grew up in the Catholic church and committed his life to Christ in his late teen years through Inter Varsity. He studied English at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he earned his B.A. and a teaching credential. He went on to teach middle school English for 6 years and then stepped into youth ministry for another 8 years. He earned his Master’s degree from A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary with an M.A. in Intellectual Leadership. Pastor Paul served as Lead Pastor for 6 years at Lake Almanor Community Church in Northern California. He was called to Crossroads Christian Fellowship in spring of 2021 where he currently serves as Lead Pastor. Paul and his wife Carol have been married since 1996 and they have a beautiful daughter named Samantha. She is the highlight of their days. Paul’s passion in the church is for preaching and teaching, and he loves being out in God’s wild places hiking, backpacking, snowboarding and rock climbing.
Associate Pastor: Randy Passons
Randy was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and grew up on a farm in Minnesota. After high school he lived about 12 years in San Diego, California. While attending the “School of Evangelism,” he went on a mission’s trip to Montana and was invited to come and help with the Jr. High ministry. He packed his bags and moved to Bigfork in the summer of 1997. The next few years he volunteered with the youth at the church and attended school. He received a Bachelor of Biblical Studies degree from Trinity Biblical University in June of 1999. In January of 2000, he was asked to come on staff full time as a youth Pastor. The following June he was Ordained, and five months later he purchased a home and moved to Woods Bay, just south of Bigfork. Randy married his beautiful bride Schelby, on July 22, 2022. Randy and Schelby have a great love for the outdoors and feel blessed to live in such a beautiful place. Most of their hobbies take them outside where they enjoy the beauty of Montana. The two of them enjoy fishing, hunting, hiking and playing golf together
Director of Communications: Kendra Wolfe
Kendra grew up in north central Illinois surrounded by corn fields. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL, where she met her husband Dan over 25 years ago. Kendra was an elementary public school teacher in Illinois for eight years before moving to Bigfork in 2021. She and Dan have three adult sons and enjoy spending time outdoors and with friends as much as possible. During the week you will find Kendra in the church office keeping you “in-the-know” as our Director of Communications. You can also find her volunteering in the Preschool Room during the 11:30 am service every Sunday as she is passionate about helping our KIDS know and love Jesus.
Executive Pastor: Dan Wolfe
Dan grew up in northwestern Illinois where he answered God’s call to full-time ministry at the age of 16. He attended Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL, where he met his wife Kendra and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies. Over the last twenty-four years, Dan has been a youth pastor, outreach pastor for a skateboarding ministry, KIDS pastor, and the Director of Family Ministries. He is passionate about building volunteer teams to help people get involved in the ministry of the church–equipping and releasing them to serve in their areas of giftedness.
Young Adult/Young Married Pastor: Joseph Haug
Joe became a follower of Jesus in 6th grade but got on fire for the lord his junior year of High School. He started serving in Middle School ministry while in high school and after graduation became a paid intern summer of 2004. He went to college at Eastern Washington University and got a degree in Secondary Music Education in 2009. During college, he served in youth ministries and officially became a Youth Pastor in 2007 in Kennewick, Washington. Joe was a music teacher and youth pastor for many years in tandem. He met the love of his life Leslie, and they married in December 2010. She has been serving alongside him in youth ministries ever since. In June 2013, Joe and Leslie felt the call to sell everything and move to Bigfork, Montana. Joseph started working for Intermountain Children’s Agency, working with troubled youth and then took a job teaching music at Swan River School while serving the youth of Crossroads. In 2014, Joseph came on staff at Crossroads as the Youth Pastor, where he runs High School and Young Adult Ministries. After a long 7.5 year process, Joe and Leslie adopted 2 children from Haiti, Samuel and Evy.
Worship Pastor: Ben Erickson
Ben Erickson loves to use his musical ability to bring honor and glory to Jesus. He is a gifted worship leader who loves to lead a team and the congregation into a closer relationship with each other and the Lord. Ben and his wife Megan have two kids, Remi and Rhett, and they love being together as a family.
Youth Pastor : Alex Mulcahey
Alex Mulcahey grew up in Illinois where he accepted Christ during his freshman year of high school. At the end of his junior year he decided that he wanted to work in ministry for the youth. Alex graduated from Lincoln Christian University with his Bachelor’s degree in Youth and Family ministry. During his time at LCU, Alex worked as the part time Youth Pastor for the high school and middle school students at Jefferson Street Christian Church. He moved out to Montana in faith, and now he is excited to serve the Kingdom of God as the Youth Pastor at Crossroads.
Finance Manager: Karri Linder
Karri Linder grew up in Denver, CO, and has also lived in Charleston, SC, and Charlotte, NC. She grew up in a christian home where both parents served as staff members in the churches she attended. Serving in the church has always been a part of her life. Kari studied business administration in college and has worked in finance since 2009. Karri married her husband, Jordan, at Crossroads in August of 2008. Together they have three amazing girls. She enjoys homeschooling her three girls, gardening, and raising animals.
Director of KIDS Ministry: Mary Rising
Mary was raised in Hamilton, MT. She attended MSU Bozeman, where she met her husband Jordan Rising. The two were married five years later in 2013. Mary graduated with a nursing degree and worked in a variety of hospitals in three different states. Jordan and Mary had their son Cade in 2018 and after a few moves landed in Kalispell, MT (right as COVID hit!). They shortly after welcomed their second son Beckett. Their life with two boys has been wild, sweet and so enjoyable. Mary served as a volunteer Kid’s Coordinator at a local church for just shy of a year. In March of 2024, the Rising family made Crossroads Christian Fellowship their home church. Her passions are spending time with her husband and boys, hiking, running, boating, swimming, backpacking/camping and enjoying all that Montana has to offer! She is very passionate about Kid’s Ministry and encouraging the next generation of believers!
Family Life Coordinator: Mary Lange
Mary grew up in Redmond, Oregon. She studied Intercultural Ministry at Boise Bible college from 2010-2013. In that time, she and a few others launched a children’s church program at her international church. She spent a total of four years in Uganda as a missionary, one at an orphanage and three years serving with Africa Inland Mission in a people-group called the Karimojong. Knowing the impact the Church had on her childhood, she loves being a part of kids' journeys to discovering the gospel. Outside of the church, Mary enjoys connecting with people through CrossFit, coffee, and dogs!
KIDS Ministry Curriculum Coordinator: Nikole Vigil
Nikole was born and lived in Minnesota until 2nd grade when her parents decided to move west. Her family then spent a couple years in New Mexico but moved to Colorado by Nikole’s 5th grade year. After high school, Nikole attended the University of Colorado obtaining a bachelor’s degree and later an alternative teaching license. Not raised in a Christian home, Nikole accepted Christ while at a Young Life military retreat in 2006. During her time as a public school teacher in Colorado, Nikole met her husband Dan Vigil and they have 5 children. They moved to Montana in June of 2014 and started a small business together. Blessed to have found Crossroads right away in 2014, they have volunteered in KIDS since 2015. Nikole & Dan (along with their 3 oldest children) volunteer each Sunday during the 10:00 service. Nikole works part-time during the week preparing the KIDS curriculum and classrooms. The Vigils have a heartfelt desire to help raise up the next generation and are dedicated to the Crossroads family!
Faith Community Nurse: Alicia Hinshaw
Alicia was born and raised in Modesto, California. Raised in a Christian home she accepted Christ at Hume Lake Christian Camp at the age of 11. Educated at Biola University in California, Alicia graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She practiced as an RN in the Emergency Department for 21 years. Her experiences include Flight Nursing, ambulance nursing, education and instruction in EMT and paramedic training programs. For the last 6 years of employment, before retiring, she was the EMS Coordinator for Modesto Fire Department and was responsible for teaching and training in OSHA compliance and infection control. She and her husband Gary have been married since 1994 and have a married daughter and 3 grandchildren who reside in Colleyville, Texas. She is passionate about this position as it allows her to share Jesus and provide encouragement to the congregation with education and spiritual support during the hardship of illness or injury.
Faith Community Nurse: Cindy Love
*This position is provided by the Logan Health Foundation through philanthropy.
Cindy was born and raised in Twisp (no it’s not a typo), Washington. After her parents divorced, she moved to Bigfork as a high school sophomore. She met and married Monte, before finishing high school. She has 3 grown children, sons Adam and Lance who live here with their wives and a daughter, Danielle who pastors alongside her husband Joe, in Las Vegas. Cindy accepted Christ shortly after the birth of her first child. She is grandmother to 11—ranging from newborn to age 30. She worked as a waitress for many years. After doing a personal Bible study on “a purpose driven life,” at age 46 she returned to school, pursuing a Nursing degree. She graduated from Salish Kootenai College in 2008 and went to work at Brendan House for 2 years before transferring to Kalispell Regional Hospital where she worked until recently retiring. Cindy is grateful to have opportunities to minister to people spiritually in this new FCN role. It is an honor to pray and share scripture with patients and encourage them in their walk with the Lord.
Worship Associate: Nathan Young
Nathan was born in South Florida and grew up in Alberta, Canada. Raised in a Christian home, he has felt called to ministry since the age of six. After graduating high school, he interned at Crossroads before being hired as a Worship Associate. He loves playing and recording music with his friends, serving in youth ministries, and working with technology.
Maintenance: Steve Chenard
Steve grew up in southern California and graduated college with a degree in accounting. After a time in public accounting and private industry, he changed careers and spent 30 years in sales, automating manufacturing processes and product distribution. Steve moved to Bigfork in 1991 to raise two sons in this beautiful area.
Steve started attending Crossroads from its founding. He began helping maintain the church facility around 2010.
Event & Project Coordinator: Kate Averill
Kate first came to Montana in 2006 for a summer job at Flathead Lake Lodge and never left. Today, she and her husband, Chase, are running the Lodge and running after their three young children: Brooks, Hank and Blake. She is excited to join the Crossroads staff and brings a contagious love for this church and the Bigfork community as a whole. With a natural passion for bringing people together in Christ, Kate will be coordinating church events and various projects. If you don't already know her, she looks forward to meeting you soon!