Hope Wesleyan Church
Staff

Pastor John Cupryna

Pastor John is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota. When he married his wife, Deb, in 1978, they made their home in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Pastor John and Deb have been blessed with three children: David, Sarah, and Jacob. In 1991, John answered the call to enter full-time ministry and completed his studies at Bethel Theological Seminary where he received a Master of Divinity degree. He has been the Senior Pastor at Hope Wesleyan Church since 1999. Previously, he served as Associate Pastor at Maple Ridge Church in Maple Grove, Minnesota; Associate Pastor of Waconia Moravian Church, and served an internship at Christ's Community Church in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Pastor John's life verse comes from John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Contact Pastor John at: pastor@hopewesleyan.org

Mike Steine, Lay Care Minister

Mike was born and raised in Decorah, Iowa. He received Jesus Christ as his Savior in the summer of 1971. Since that time, Mike has been involved in jail ministry, bus ministry, Sunday school, and personal evangelism. Mike is currently registered with the Wesleyan Church to begin courses for the Lay Ministry Program.

Mike currently represents Hope Wesleyan Church in the care ministry at the four care centers in Independence and has recently started regular Sunday morning church services at East Town Care Center.

Mike states his favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." When in need of motivation, he turns to Jeremiah 8:20 - "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."

Mike may be contacted at: hope@hopewesleyan.org

Deb Cupryna, Office Administrator

Deb Cupryna is the wife of Pastor John Cupryna. Deb acts as church office administrator and is extensively involved in many church activities.

Contact Deb at: hope@hopewesleyan.org

Becky Karsten, Director of Music Ministries

Becky accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior in 1974 at a revival meeting at the Nazarene Church in Cedar Rapids. She was heavily involved in the Youth Group in the Winthrop, Iowa, area as she was growing up -- even preparing and delivering sermons! Music is a special talent and blessing for Becky. She has been involved through the years in singing (both solo and in groups) in school and for her church, and was a member of the "Forever His" christian music trio which traveled throughout northeast Iowa presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. She has played alto saxophone, clarinet, accordion, guitar, and piano; and she has taken private voice, piano, and directing lessons.

Becky graduated from Gates Business College and currently is a real estate broker at Karsten Real Estate in Independence, owned by Becky and her husband, Larry. They have two children, Martha and Adam; and three grandchildren, Paige, Emma, and Logan. Becky enjoys serving the Lord by using her musical gifts as director of music ministries at Hope Wesleyan Church. She receives joy from seeing people blossom, and is a great encouragement to musical members of HWC at all age levels.
"I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Becky says, "Whenever a new job would open up to serve the Lord and someone would ask me to do it, I NEVER, NEVER felt competent to do it. I would pray and then pray some more until God would assure me I could do it with His help. He has always been and will always be my strength."

Contact Becky at: beckykarsten@lgkarsten.com