Know someone who leads with wisdom and heart? Nominate them below.
Meet Our Elders
Brian Aulick
Brian is Engedi’s lead pastor and teacher. Before he came to Engedi, Brian was the pastor of young adults at Central Wesleyan Church for five years. He received his Bachelor of Science in business from Indiana University in 1997 and his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2000. He and his wife, Christina, have two sons, Jared and Evan, and a daughter, Kaylyn.
Dana Geurink
Dana fell in love with Engedi because of the mission, the worship, and the preaching. But she loves most of all the way Engedi challenges her to be different, step out of her comfort zone, and grow deeper in her relationship with God. Dana and her husband Aric have 3 children. Dana graduated from Grand Valley University with a Hospitality and Tourism Management degree. She is part-owner of The City Deli in downtown Holland. Dana loves snowmobiling, running, boating, and spending time with her family.
Fred Hekman
Fred has been glad to call Engedi Church home since 2017 because Engedi recognizes that churches need to cultivate an outward-facing posture. Worship time at Engedi draws believers into worship yet is structured to allow a visitor to feel welcome, and always includes an invitation to step into a closer relationship with Jesus. Fred also appreciates the strong emphasis on Global Missions at Engedi, and he and Karen feel privileged to serve as part of the Member Care team. Outward focus is something that churches can tend to lose over time, but it remains a clear priority for Engedi Church. Fred and Karen have six children with one teenager, Evan, still living at home. As a family, they enjoy traveling and especially love to visit children and grandchildren in Guatemala and friends in Mexico. In his spare time, Fred enjoys fishing, camping, and backpacking with his boys. Fred has Engineering degrees from Calvin College, the University of Michigan, and Stanford University. He currently writes affordable housing grants for Capital for Compassion in Holland.
Tyler McCoy
Tyler respects that Engedi’s missional focus includes not only sending missionaries out to unreached people groups but also a strong focus on the development of leaders to transform our local communities. “The emphasis on developing passionate and equipped disciples allows Engedi’s impact to transform significantly more lives than just those that we can reach within the four walls of our campus.” Tyler and his wife Sarah have two children, Shane and Quinn. In his free time, Tyler enjoys cycling, reading, kiteboarding, and mostly spending time with his family. Tyler has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.
Erica Ripley
Erica was drawn to Engedi because of the passion for Jesus & His people that was so evident. She and her husband Robb have been married 15 years and have 2 children, whom they homeschool. Erica graduated from Cornerstone University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Erica and Robb own and operate a small business in Holland. Erica enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking, camping, reading, and traveling, and loves anything to do with the water.
Nate Salinas
Nate was drawn to Engedi Church he values Engedi’s passion for missions in the local, regional, and international arenas. He is thankful that Engedi celebrates differences in backgrounds in a genuine way that creates a welcoming atmosphere and vibrant relationships, which in turn, foster deeper growth in Christ. Nate received his bachelor’s degree from Messiah College. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and then entered the United States Army where he received further training in Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery. Nate and his wife, Lauren, have three boys: Sammy, Penn, and Oliver. Nate enjoys spending time with his family, especially grilling, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and camping.
Jon Hekman
Jon was originally drawn to Engedi out of a desire to build community with others seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He has a desire to see the love of Christ shown throughout our community as well as around the world. on and his wife, Kim, have three young kids: Mackenzie, Addie, and Luke. He received his bachelors and dental degrees from the University of Michigan. Following graduation, they spent a year on the mission field serving in Honduras providing education and dental care to the poor. Since moving back to West Michigan in 2014 he has worked as a dentist in Zeeland. He loves spending time with his family as well as running, reading, and playing all types of sports.
