Church Staff

JIM MUPRHY, LEAD PASTOR
​jim@redwingfirstcov.org

Jim’s love for people and the church and his commitment to Christ and calling to ministry has sustained him as a pastor since he started serving in vocational ministry in 1992. He loves preaching and teaching, organizational leadership, and helping people find and follow Jesus. He is ordained to Word and Sacrament with the Evangelical Covenant Church and received his Master of Divinity from Bethel Seminary and Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies from Oak Hills Christian College. This is his fourth church, previously serving in Forest Lake, MN, Bemidji, MN, and Phoenix, AZ. He was also a project manager for ECC’s Embrace initiative, an adjunct faculty at Grand Canyon University, as well as a speaker and a blogger. Jim and his wife, Deanna, have been married since 1994 and have two daughters, Natalie and Greta. When he isn’t serving or leading in the church, he’s working on a house project, watching an action/adventure movie, golfing, snowboarding, traveling, or just playing games with friends or family.​

MIKE BECHTOLD, ASSOCIATE PASTOR FOR YOUTH
​mike@redwingfirstcov.org

Mike grew up in central Minnesota where God grabbed his heart for His Church. He attended Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, MN where he also met his wife, Anna. After school, Mike continued to serve at the Covenant Church in Bemidji until making the move to the Covenant Church in Mankato. While in Mankato, Mike started his seminary journey at Bethel Seminary in Arden Hills, MN before moving to us here at First Covenant. Mike is passionate about youth ministry and teaching God’s word. Mike and Anna 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.