Meet Our Staff

Pastor John J. Clark - Senior Pastor

John was born and raised on the west side of Traverse City. He attended Traverse City Central High School and graduated in 1985. John then attended and, in 1989, graduated from United Wesleyan College in Allentown, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pastoral Ministries and a minor in Psychology. In college, he was very involved in student government, serving as the junior and senior class president. He was also a key member of the college basketball team, winning three league championships in four years. His passion for the local church and the call of God is evident in every area of his life. Many describe John as a passionate, personable, out-going and humorous person. His life-application messages are filled with deep Biblical truths and humorous observations from his own experiences. His love for the outdoors and quality time with his family are also very important to him.

Marriage and Ministry:
Michele grew up in western New York on a dairy farm and was very involved in high school sports and her local church youth group. At the age of 16, she felt a clear call from God to be a pastor’s wife. John and Michele met each other the second day of college. They were engaged and married in the spring of 1987. Their marriage is the fulfillment of two individuals who God called to serve in ministry, and they have done so over the past twenty years. Together, John and Michele have led two very successful student ministry programs spanning fifteen years, and then they started West Side Community Church in the Fall of 2002.

Family:
The Clarks consider their family to be a priority and enjoy their time together. The joy of their marriage has been their four children, ages 8 to 18. Their children are very involved in high school sports, extra-curricular activities and the student ministries at West Side. They spend a lot of time as a family playing games together, such as hockey, basketball, wiffle-ball and splashing in the pool.

Send Pastor John an email: john@tcwscc.com
 

Pastor Lyle Deeren - Assistant Pastor

Pastor Lyle was born and raised on the west side of Traverse City. Lyle has a B.S. degree in Christian Ministries and has been a pastor for 15 years. Lyle has served at West Side for the last five years. His greatest joy in ministry is when he has been used by God to help make a difference in someone’s life. Lyle’s passions in life include spending time with his wife, Leanne and their two children Sierra and Shawn, archery and time spent with friends. Lyle has a sincere and transparent style that is inviting and heartfelt. Through a heart of compassion, humor and a spirit of humility, he encourages others to realize Christ’s love for them.

Marriage and Ministry:
Pastor Lyle has been married to his beautiful wife Leanne for 17 years. They met at a Church Camp after being set up by Lyle’s Pastor’s wife. Leanne earned a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. She serves as the Children's Ministry Leader at WSCC, and is currently a stay-at-home mom. Lyle feels very blessed with having Leanne as his wife, best friend and ministry partner . He couldn’t imagine life without her or his children.

Send Pastor Lyle an email: lyle@tcwscc.com

Pastor Rick Mavis - Family Life Pastor

Rick entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in the Traverse City Central High School auditorium at a Youth For Christ rally. He has been involved in leadership in Christian groups ever since. After graduating from Traverse City High School, Rick earned a degree in psychology from Alma College, a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theology from Bethel Seminary. Rick is a voracious reader, a published writer, and dramatist, but he is most energized by teaching. He teaches Table Talks and mid-week seminars at church and teaches undergraduate classes for Spring Arbor University.

Marriage and Ministry:
When Rick was in college, he met Sharon in a small group Bible study and they became friends. That friendship has continued through thirty-five years of marriage. They were married after graduation from college, and Sharon also received a Master’s degree from Asbury Seminary with a focus on Christian education. She has been a partner in ministry in the truest sense — supporting with music, hospitality and service.

The Mavises served in pastoral ministry in small rural churches in Minnesota and Iowa, where they both continued their passion for teaching God’s word and caring for people. In addition to pastoral ministry, Rick also participated in starting a church in Ames, Iowa, and owned and managed Lemstone Books, a Christian bookstore in Grand Traverse Mall, from 1998-2006, faithfully serving 15,000 customers.

Family:
All the previous accomplishments take second place to two special people, daughters Sarah and Rachel Mavis, who both live in Traverse City and serve in ministry. Sarah works at House of Hope, an amazing ministry to teens and their families. She sings and plays the keyboard on the worship team at West Side. Rachel is on staff as student ministries assistant at Bay Pointe Community Church. Photography is her second love. Both young women have a love for the Lord and a heart to serve.

Send Pastor Rick an email: rick@tcwscc.com

Andy Six - Worship Leader

Traverse City is home for Andy, his wife - Julie, and their boys Cameron and Carson. He loves being a husband and dad. His passions include playing and listening to music, running, cycling, and going to the beach with his family. Andy and family were drawn to West Side in July of 2009 because of it's authenticity and no stress approach to services; the whole family loved being greeted by the Pastor on the way in and out of each service. The "welcome as you are" philosophy struck a chord and it wasn't long before they began calling West Side "home". Andy's 12 year career as a professional musician in Northern Michigan eventually led to a burning desire to serve God as a worship leader. He began assisting and guest leading in 2005 and is now completing his Bachelors Degree in Worship Arts online. He hadn't been looking to West Side for the position of Worship Leader but God had better plans. Through a series of divine events, in December 2009, Pastor John invited Andy to join the West Side Team as Worship Leader. It has been a dream come true and ended a two year search for the place God had been leading him to all along. Andy is excited to see faith grow at West Side and is honored to serve Christ and His Body in the celebration of worship.

Send Andy an email: andy@tcwscc.com

Leanne Deeren - Children’s Ministry Leader

Leanne Deeren has been involved with WSCC for the past five years. She has been married to Pastor Lyle for 16 years. She is also the mother of two precious children, Sierra (7) and Shawn (6). Leanne graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1994 with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. She taught Elementary Music and Art in Muskegon County for 6 years. During that time she was the worship leader at Fremont Wesleyan Church. Leanne is currently a stay at home mom and is very involved in the children's ministry of our church. She enjoys going to the beach, playing games, traveling, concerts, shopping, garage saling, musicals, scrapbooking, reading and most of all time spent with dear family and friends.

Cindy Wright - Children’s Preschool Ministry Leader

Cindy was born and raised in the Traverse City area. She is married to her wonderful husband David, and they have four amazing children, Paul, Randy, Lindsay and Julia. Cindy’s personal interests are cross stitching, reading, listening to music and enjoying time with her family. Cindy’s greatest joy in leading the children’s ministry is helping the kids grow in their knowledge and wonder of who God is; seeing them capture this is truly rewarding. Cindy was drawn to West Side because of the worship and because she wanted to belong to a church where faith in action was not only a priority, but demonstrated. She is excited about the plans God has for West Side and the children’s ministry and the many lives He will impact through His love for His Kingdom.
 

Kim Goss - Middle School Ministry Leader

Kim, a native of Traverse City, graduated from Traverse City Central High School in 1998. She later went to college for one year at Indiana Wesleyan University with a major in communications. Kim works as a closing supervisor at Members Credit Union in Traverse City. Kim felt God call her to West Side in February of 2004, where she has served as the Middle School Youth Leader since August 2005. Kim has a bishon named Edward, and loves golf, playing cards, going to amusement parks and outdoor activities. She is passionate about serving God and others.
 

Dawn McConnell - Senior High Youth Ministry Leader

Dawn was born and raised in Port Huron, Michigan. After attending Ferris State University and receiving a degree in Respiratory Therapy, she moved to Traverse City in 1994 to work full time at Munson Medical Center as a respiratory therapist. Dawn became a Christian at a young age, but began passionately following the Lord in high school. This is one of the reasons she has such a passion for high school youth ministry.

Shortly after a mission trip in 2001, Dawn felt that God was calling her into youth ministry, and in 2002 she began leading the youth group at WSCC. Then in 2003 she started North Shore Outdoor Ministries, a non-profit organization that hosts youth groups in northern Michigan on mission trips. In 2004, Dawn quit her job as a respiratory therapist to pursue full-time youth ministry.