Our Staff

MARCUS BRATSCH
PASTOR

Marcus is responsible for the leadership team, staff and overall operation of the church. He leads our Elder team and is actively involved in helping and encouraging the staff members. He is the primary speaker on Sunday mornings. He has a deep passion for the Word of God and discipleship at all levels, and for all ages. He deeply desires for others to grow deeper in their relationship with the Lord and others.

Marcus & Kristen have two little boys, Ezra and Nehemiah, who they love spending quality time with. In their “spare” time they are ballroom dance instructors!  Marcus likes sports and can be found on a local golf course on a nice day. He is also an avid reader and always has a good book or newspaper close at hand.

info@riveroflife.org

319-393-3709

KEATON HULL
WORSHIP & YOUTH DIRECTOR

Keaton is River’s Worship and Youth Director. He leads the Worship Team on Sundays and preaches to the Youth on Wednesdays, as well as contributing to our various Media outlets through editing and videography work.

Keaton was born in Kansas but claims Waverly, Iowa as his home. He and his wife, Sydney, are graduates of the University of Northern Iowa, where they met through the Panther Marching Band. They were also both on the leadership team for the campus ministry Chi Alpha. They married in June of 2018 and have three children, Lance, Roseanna (Rosie), and Annemarie (Annie). In his spare time, Keaton enjoys playing board games, playing guitar, working on his LEGO city, and watching Army West Point football and the Kansas City Chiefs.

info@riveroflife.org

319-393-3709

JOANNA MANTZ
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY DIRECTOR

JoAnna is our Children’s Ministry Director. She leads the team of volunteers that minister to the children ages birth-5th grade.

JoAnna has a passion for making the Bible come alive to each child she comes in contact with and helping parents disciple their little ones.

She is married to Michael and her daughter Hannah is a freshman basketball player at the University of Iowa. The Mantz family loves basketball (and sports in general) and can be found at one of Hannah’s games most any weekend. She also is a wonderful seamstress and crafter. You’ve seen her work in the Children’s Ministry hallway this year. If you ask her nicely, she just might show you her fancy bedazzled basketball shoes!

info@riveroflife.org

319-393-3709

EMILY SPINDEN
PREACHING ASSOCIATE

Emily contributes through collaboration during weekly sermon reviews, strategic communications support, and occasionally preaching during our Sunday service. She also serves as a LIFE group coach.

She has deep compassion for those who have yet to know Jesus’ love, and a passion for integrity with God’s Word. Once our full-time Community Life Director, Emily’s now with us just a few hours weekly because she finds great value pouring her energy into her husband and five children.

info@riveroflife.org

319-393-3709

JONI TIBBITS
BOOKKEEPER

Joni, the ROL bookkeeper, is the one who is in charge of all things financial. Joni helps keep track of all the giving and paying the bills. She is only here a few hours a week but she’s got a big job to do. The staff is thankful for the help she gives them and for writing their paychecks as well! She is a gardener and makes use of the the ROL coffee grounds in her compost pile. We are thankful that she keeps the lights on for all of us. Thank her for her service when you see her around the church!

info@riveroflife.org

319-393-3709

JILL ZECK
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR & OFFICE MANAGER

Jill is responsible for all things administrative. She loves to make lists, check things off the list and has never met an office supply she didn’t like! She will administrate anything that isn’t tied down. Her help in running the office and keeping the staff on task is priceless. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Robert, and they have one son, Jayden (8), who keeps them on their toes! They love to travel as a family and have lots of fun together; especially if a beach is involved. On the weekends you can find them curled up together watching a movie and sharing a big tub of popcorn.

info@riveroflife.org

319-393-3709

CHAS HABERKAMP
CUSTODIAN & MAINTENANCE

Chas, ROL’s custodian and maintenance man, is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and he loves the Lord with all his heart! He has been serving at ROL for over 5 years now as the resident “handy man”. He keeps the inside of the building looking good on a weekly basis and helps our Deacon of Facilities, Terry Shields, with the upkeep and maintenance of the building and grounds. Chas has been a huge part of the clean up and remodeling efforts after the derecho in August 2020. When you see Chas around the building say hello. (He also loves coffee and tacos!)

info@riveroflife.org

319-393-3709