Church Staff

Marc Eix, Lead Pastor
marc@redwingfirstcov.org

Pastor Marc comes to Red Wing from a Covenant church in Manistee, MI, a city on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, where he pastored for 13 years. Prior to his time in Manistee, he was Associate Pastor for Youth at North Park Covenant in Chicago for 9 years. Pastor Marc and his family join us in our continued journey to know and worship God. Pastor Marc grew up in a Christian home in Dearborn, MI where he was nurtured in the Christian faith. He attended college at North Park and graduated with a degree in Secondary Education. During the summer following graduation, Marc felt the call to the ministry through various members of Christ’s Body and entered North Park Seminary in the fall. While at seminary, he served as youth pastor and later associate pastor for North Park Covenant. Pastor Marc has gifts in preaching and teaching, a deep sense of compassion, a genuine love for people, and a healthy sense of humor. He has guided the 130 year old Manistee church through a process of revitalization and finds joy in serving distinct groups from youth to seniors. During moments of free time, Marc enjoys time with family, reading, running, and playing hockey.

Mike Bechtold, Associate Pastor for Youth
mike@redwingfirstcov.org

Mike comes from Mankato, MN where he served as the Youth Pastor for the last several years at Crossview Covenant Church. Mike grew up in central Minnesota where God grabbed his heart for the Church. He then attended Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, MN where he met his wife, Anna. After school, Mike continued to serve at the Covenant Church in Bemidji until making the move to Mankato. While in Mankato, Mike began his seminary journey at Bethel in Arden Hills, MN and is expected to be done next year. Mike is passionate about youth ministry and teaching God’s word. They have two daughters, Annika and Molly.

Sarah Benidt-Grave, Office Administrator
assistant@redwingfirstcov.org

Sarah joined the staff of First Covenant in January 1999. As the Office Administrator, Sarah creates the weekly bulletins, e-news, the Messenger, worship slides, and posters. Sarah’s other responsibilities include updating/maintaining the church database, scheduling the Family Life Center, accounts payable, and assisting staff and ministry leaders in their responsibilities. Sarah and her husband, Gene, have been married 30 years and have two grown children, Alicia and Aaron. She enjoys watching tennis (is a big Roger Federer fan), camping, biking, hiking, snowshoeing, walking, sailing, bottom line…anything fitness. Stop by my office anytime to say “hi!”

Darold Glander, Custodian

I was born and raised in Red Wing and reside in Red Wing along with my wife, Julie. We have two adult sons, Andrew and Matt. In March of 2014, I retired from the Red Wing Police Department following over 32 years of service. I started my Law Enforcement Career with the Goodhue County Sheriff’s Department and worked there fourteen months before starting with Red Wing. Shortly after retiring, I started delivering flowers for Hallstrom’s Florist a couple days a week and plan to continue with that work. Julie and I enjoy camping and spending time with our families. In my spare time I enjoy tennis, racquetball and bicycling.