Years ago, Jim studied communications/journalism in college, with a goal to be a news correspondent and report the news of the world. However, the Lord led him down a different path, where his calling was not to report the world news, but to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the world!  While the career change was sudden, his ministry has been to communicate the Gospel of Jesus ever since!

   Jim and his wife Amy are the proud owners of rescue pets and are uncle and aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. He has met many good friends and has been a mentor to hundreds of children and youth over the years. His roles in ministry have been diverse, including Christian Education, Praise & Worship leader, and advocate for Community Outreach. 

   When Jim is not at work, you can find him hiking, biking, and enjoying outdoor adventure, including somewhat extreme sports like an occasional hang-glide, sky dive or remote snow shoeing in the northern wilderness. He also enjoys singing, sports of all kinds, photography, reading and writing, landscaping and going to concerts.

   Clancy Craven is first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ. Her degree in Child Development led her to work in many positions from being a nanny, to the P.A.I.I.R. program (Parents are important in Rochester), then homeschooling her children. She started attending Evangel in 1994 when she married her husband Mike. They have 3 children, Sophie , Ezra , and Elsie.  When her children were younger, Clancy shared her many talents by directing the children's choir, and sewing many of our children's fantastic costumes. She is also a wiz in the kitchen and has helped with many events. When her children were older, the position of Associate of Education became available and she found it to be just what she was looking for at the time.  

   Clancy enjoys traveling and studying the Bible from a historical perspective.

   Born in Rochester, Mike joined Evangel in 1999, but never imagined he’d be working there some 20 years later! In August of 2020, he married the love of his life, Kate Hocquard, a native of Midland, MI, and a neurologist at Olmsted Medical Center. She had no idea when she moved to Rochester for residency, she would eventually marry into a family of stubborn Norwegians. When not at work formatting Sunday bulletins, editing monthly newsletters, or listening to bad jokes from staff, Mike will be found hiking a National Park with Kate, taking care of their two dogs and three cats, drawing, painting, photographing nature, or re-reading “The Lord of the Rings” for the hundredth time.

A transplant from the south, Fant began attending Evangel as a youth in 1998. He continued attending regularly until he left Minnesota and joined the Navy in 2006. Fant has three children; Becca, Arya, and Thomas ranging in ages from 17 to 3. Fant has a passion for board games and tabletop RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons. His children share this passion and it is not uncommon for nerdy discussions to be the focus of family talks. They will also sit down and paint different figurines for these games as a family and use their imaginations to take them to worlds that can only be dreamt of. During the snow-free months Fant can be routinely seen riding a motorcycle both for fun and frugal financial fastidiousness. If you stop by his office you can regularly find the candy dish loaded with an assortment of treats with things like Mr. Goodbar, Butterfinger, and Sweet Tarts in ready supply. Fant is excited to be welcomed back into the Evangel family and already feels at home amongst the community.