Boise Valley Christian Communion

Ministry Leaders

JOEL BARKER
Treasurer

Joel Barker has served as BVCC's Treasurer for six years. He has been at BVCC since the beginning in 1976, when he was a member of the High School youth group. Joel was saved in Vacation Bible School when he was in the Second grade, and has continued to draw closer to the Lord from that point forward.

Joel graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1982 with a degree in Accounting, and earned his CPA certification the following year. While serving on the mission field in Europe, he met his wife, Donna, working with the same missions organization in Brussels. He planned to "pop the question" in a grandiose manner one evening after a church service. They were on their way to a historical landmark and ended up on a one-way dirt road with only a lone dairy cow to witness…and the rest is history! They later returned to BVCC upon settling in Boise. Joel and Donna have committed themselves to BVCC because it is a community of believers that they know as "family." Joel quotes this about the Body, "We know that in a family, people can be real…and there is always a place to serve and be served."

Joel is an avid sports fan, and enjoys playing tennis and golf. He especially enjoys spending time and traveling with Donna and their two teenage sons, Christopher and Jeffrey.

CHRIS MAJORS
Praise & Worship Leader
Chris Majors was born and raised in Boise and has been a part of BVCC his entire life. He started playing the guitar when he was only fifteen years old and felt really drawn to worship ministry. He graduated from high school in 1999 and attended college at Point Loma University in San Diego, CA and at Boise State University. He felt led to missions from an early age, and consequently decided to join Youth With A Mission. While with YWAM, he ministered in New Zealand, India and Mexico.
His "tent making" is building houses. He has worked with his father’s company since he was able to hold onto a hammer. He loves having this skill to use for God’s glory, but his heart definitely abides in worship and ministry. He is eager and waiting to see what God has for him. Chris knows that he is currently walking out God’s will, but feels as if there is something bigger and deeper on the horizon. He is serving the Lord with joy as he continues to wait on Him.

Chris enjoys all sports, by either participating or watching them and also loves to travel.

HOLLY MAJORS
Leader of Youth Ministries

Holly was born and raised in Boise and has been a part of BVCC since birth. She came to know the Lord as a young child, but it was not until her late teen years that she truly encountered God and came into a life-changing relationship with Jesus. After graduating from high school, she attended a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with Youth With A Mission in Brisbane, Australia. During the time she spent in Brisbane and during the outreach phase in Ethiopia, God gave Holly a heart for the lost and hurting all over the world. From that point on, Holly knew she was ruined for the ordinary.

After returning home in the spring of 2003, Holly felt called into the youth ministry at BVCC and began volunteering as a girls small group leader. She continued serving on the youth ministry team over the course of the next few years. In the Fall of 2004, Holly began an intensive Bible and Leadership Training School called Vineyard Leadership Institute. Shortly before completing VLI in the summer of 2006, Holly stepped into the Youth Ministry Team Leader position at BVCC. Holly considers it an honor and privilege to serve in the church she considers home and alongside her closest friends and family.

Holly enjoys reading, listening to good music, taking her chocolate Lab Maisy to the river and spending time with family and friends. She is always looking forward to the next opportunity to travel the world and experience Jesus through the eyes of another culture.

IDONA MAJORS
Children's Minister of Deeper Roots Ministry

Idona came to know the Lord through a divine appointment in her teenage years. In the summer of 1972 she went to visit her older sister, who had been sending her letters talking about "Jesus" and how He had radically changed her life. Prior to the trip she injured her back in cheerleading practice and was told by doctors that she would not be able to attend cheer camp. Disappointed and in pain, she went to visit her sister who took her to church for healing prayer. She was immediately healed and at that moment she asked the Lord to reveal the truth of who He was, the gospel was presented to her and she asked Him into her heart.

She and her husband, Randy, moved from Southern California in 1978 and visited BVCC from a reference of a local realtor. They plugged into growth groups and found significant relationships…many of which they still have today.

She officially began serving as the Children's Minister in the summer of 1996, although she had been actively involved for several years prior to joining the staff. When asked what her vision is for the Deeper Roots ministry she gave this statement, "this ministry is to partner with parents or guardians to help their children become rooted and grounded in the love of God, the saving grace of Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit and prayer." This prayer and vision is grounded in Eph. 3:15-19.

Idona enjoys reading, going to the river with her Chocolate Lab, watching "happily ever after" movies, scrapbooking, taking long walks and playing games with her family in McCall. Idona and Randy have three adult children and a son-in-law: Heather and Kelly Guizzo, Chris and Holly.

SCOTT NELSON
Overseer of Growth/Life/Change Groups and Evangelism

MELISA PEARSON
Administration and Personal Pastoral Assistant for Montie Ralstin

Melisa is a native of Idaho and has lived in Boise her entire life. In high school, a couple of close friends invited her to a church service where she was given the opportunity to ask Jesus to be the Redeemer of her life. That night she started a living and growing relationship with Jesus.
In 1996, Melisa and her husband, Kip visited Christian Communion and felt loved and cared for by the congregation. They both started serving at Christian Communion in the children's ministry area.

After working in the corporate world with Albertsons in the legal field for over 27 years, Melisa came on staff at Christian Communion in 2005 as Administrator and Personal Pastoral Assistant for Montie Ralstin. This change has opened the doors to full time ministry serving the leaders and the Body at Christian Communion as well as being involved in making Jesus known in the community - which is Melisa's heart. She serves as Treasurer on Treasure Valley Festivals and as a board member on That's Extraordinary! Women living fearlessly in Christ.

Melisa and Kip have been married for over 25 years. Melisa enjoys being creative with crafts and quilting and loves adventuring with Kip and spending time with family and friends.

KATHY PIPAL
Prayer Minister

Kathy was led to the Lord at the age of 3 after her grandparents led her in the Sinners Prayer. She went forward as a public confession of her faith and to be baptized when she was 12. She was then baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1974 at the First Presbyterian Church.

She was part of the founding group at BVCC. This is also where she and her husband, Owen, call home and consider their family. Her greatest desire is to love and serve this body of believers. Kathy has served the Body in many capacities through the past 30 years. She taught Sunday school (all ages), taught adults in Sunday school and in MMF, served three years as Christian Education Director at the Warehouse, served on the MMF Board three different terms and served as Director/Chairman once, served on the Worship Team for five years and has hosted and taught small groups. Prayer ministry has been a constant calling through the years and she is currently serving as prayer minister and also serves as prayer coordinator/Board member for the Treasure Valley Festivals and is active in Valley-wide prayer.

Kathy was raised on a farm in the Magic Valley and was active in 4-H and Riding Club. She put herself through college raising Holstein Cattle and graduated from University of Idaho with a Home Economics Education degree.

She loves reading the Word, gardening, traveling, taking college classes and spending time with family. She works full-time with her husband at Pipal-Anderson, Inc. in accounting and as a commercial line Customer Service Representative. She is an active member and past president of Boise Insurance Professionals.

ANN RALSTIN
Teaching Coordinator

Ann has been actively involved in various ministries at Christian Communion for the last 30 plus years. Currently she is serving in curriculum development coordinating with other ministry leaders. The purpose is not only curriculum development but also providing resources for various ministries at Christian Communion.

Her life made an abrupt change in 1974 after being widowed. Ann moved to Boise to be near her family and a friend took her to Praise and Prayer at First Presbyterian Church. There she found not only the Lord as her Savior but a community of believers who began teaching her the Word of God. Freely she received and now serves to facilitate others in learning about Jesus, the Word of Life.

Ann has a degree in Education from Texas Tech University and has taught in public and private schools. She enjoys reading, hospitality, needlework, scrap booking, and "cabin time" at Cascade Lake. She and Montie have two married daughters and three grandchildren.

GRACE RUDDY
Director of Women's Ministries

Grace Ruddy, the daughter of a Methodist pastor and missionary, grew up in Oregon and Liberia, West Africa. She gave her life to the Lord at the age of nine. She grew in her relationship with Jesus, and began being involved in leadership in her college fellowship group. In 1984 Grace married Rocky. They lived in Tacoma, Washington for ten years.

They have three teenage children Kaylyn, Mitch and Brent. In 1994 they moved to Boise and have been involved in ministry with children, youth and adults. In the past few years Grace has had a growing desire to see women healed of wounds and released to greater intimacy with the Lord. God has been so faithful in her life. She wants to share this hope with other women. She has been on the Mary Martha Leadership team since 2006 and became the team leader in 2007.

DANIEL WILMOT
Overseer of Man to Man Ministry

DANIEL & BETTY WILMOT
Overseers of Care Ministry