Danny & Brenna Capon

Danny was born in the state of Washington while his parents were living in Ketchikan, Alaska. During his family's time there, God worked to move them to Iowa for Danny's dad to attend Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa. It was shortly after arriving in Iowa that Danny's parents accepted Christ as Savior and Danny made a profession of faith as well. A few years later, he was baptized by his dad.  Danny grew up as a "Pastor's Kid."  His family and home life were positively Christian.  He knew nothing else.

Although both were born into unbelieving families, Brenna's upbringing was much different. Brenna was born and raised outside of Williamsburg, Iowa and raised in a home where she encouraged her parents to attend church, but mostly went on her own or with her grandparents. Even then, it was just a lifeless ritual and a duty.

Around the age of ten, Danny began to question the nature of his faith - Did he have faith in Christ or faith in a prayer spoken at the age of three? Danny spoke with his mom who shared with him 1 John 5:17 "."  From God's Word, Danny knew that he could know for sure he was saved from his debt of sin.  After speaking with his mom, Danny placed his faith in Christ and His work on the cross and was re-baptized by his father not long after that.

A few years later, Brenna also started questioning what she had known her whole life - empty religion and a distant God. Several events transpired that shook Brenna's understanding of life and God's role in it. Around this time, God led her to attend a Bible Study for teens in the home of a local family where she experienced clear, accurate teaching from the Word of God for the first time in her life. It was through these Bible studies and her relationship with Faith Baptist Church in Iowa City, Iowa that she came to understand her sinfulness and trust the finished work of Christ on the cross instead of the vain works she had relied upon before.

When Danny began looking toward college and his future, he decided it was best to start off with a couple of years of Bible college before transferring to a liberal arts school to study art.  During the Spring semester of his freshman year at Faith, God granted Danny an undeniable burden and desire for full-time vocational gospel ministry.  Danny saw God leading primarily toward pastoral ministry so he completed his bachelor's degree in Pastoral ministries and went on to receive a Master of Divinity.

It also took Brenna a few years to see God's direction after high school. She began by attending the University of Iowa to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering with the goal of working in Pyrotechnics. While a student at the University of Iowa, Brenna became connected with Campus Bible Fellowship and began to sense God moving her life in a different direction. Seeing her greatest need being a solid understanding of God's Word and her greatest desire being to teach that Word to young people, Brenna decided to transfer to the closest Bible College to study Elementary Education.

It was while at Faith that God worked to bring us together. We met during Danny's freshman year and were married after Brenna's first year of teaching and before Danny's senior year of college. We began attending Grandview while Brenna was student teaching and were happy to join the membership when Brenna was hired as the high school math teacher. After joining the church, Danny was quickly drafted into leading the college ministry, Journey, and enjoyed almost 7 wonderful years of teaching and serving there. We have also had the privilege of serving individually or jointly by teaching Kids' Bible Club, coaching and refereeing Upward, working in the Nursery and serving as a coordinator, speaking in AWANA, several terms of deacon ministry, participation in drama and instrumental groups, offering pre-marital counseling to engaged couples, leading Bible studies, planning showers and ladies' events, and co-leading the team that recently visited Peru to encourage our missionaries. After this latest opportunity for Danny, a need arose in Student Ministries for a regular teacher and leader. We are excited and humbled that God has led us to this point and continues to choose to use us how He sees fit. We greatly anticipate serving Him in the days ahead together as a couple, together as Student Ministries and together as Grandview Park Baptist Church.

John Veach

Erin Wahlstrom

I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home and attending Grandview Park Baptist Church. I knew from a very young age that I was a sinner and that sin had consequences. However, I never understood that sin had eternal consequences. While attending Sunday School one Sunday, I listened to my mom teach about Lazarus and the rich man. She explained that one day both of the men died. The rich man had never trusted in Christ as his Savior. Because he was a sinner, he went to hell. As she told the story, for the first time in my life I realized that I was a sinner and on my way to hell. As any young child would do, I became panicked. One of the teachers observed that I was upset and came over to talk with me. She asked me to tell her everything I knew about Jesus. I began to explain to her the stories I knew and I ended with the fact that Christ had died and risen again. When she asked me if I was aware of why Christ had died. I couldn't give her a response. She explained to me that his death was a payment for my sin and that if I trusted in Him as my Savior, I could spend eternity with Christ in Heaven. It was that day that I placed my faith and trust in Christ as my personal Savior.

It is my privilege to be involved in Student Ministries, a ministry that has had such a tremendous impact on my life.  It is the through the work and ministry of teachers and youth leaders that God has shaped and molded me to become more like Him. What an honor to now be in that same position helping others come to know and follow Christ! My goal as a leader is to point students to “the way, the truth, and the life,” and to show them that it is Christ, and only Christ, that satisfies.

Psalm 73:25-26
Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Cameron Campbell

Krisanna Root

God has blessed me with a wonderful Christian family.  My family has attended Grandview since before I was born and I feel very privileged to have such a wonderful church family along side of my own family.  It was here at Grandview when I was four that I realized for the first time that I was a sinner on my way to hell and in need of a Savior.  After my parents walked me through verses like Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 I understood that the punishment for my sin was death and separation from God forever.  But I also learned that God offers each of us hope and eternal life with if we accept His free gift of salvation and believe that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again three days later.  As a four year old I understood this enough to know that I needed Jesus as my Savior, and so I asked Him to forgive me of my sins that night with my family beside me.  As I grow older and understand more the greatness of my salvation, I can’t help but praise God for His sacrifice and love!

I am so thankful for Grandview Park Baptist Church and how the people here have taught me so much all the way from Sunday School through Student Ministries and beyond.  I am excited to be working with our teens in Student Ministries and see how God works in their lives, along with my own, to not only grow them in the knowledge of God’s Word, but also see them serve in this church and community.

Psalm 25: 4-5
Make me know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long

Jonathan & Emily Burkhart