Northlake Church Staff
Mark Schmutz
SENIOR PASTOR
Fueled by copious amounts of coffee and dark chocolate, Mark Schmutz arrived at Northlake in October of 1996, with his wife Jana and their three children, Christian, Meredith, and Mackenzie. When he’s not busy serving Northlake and the local community, Mark enjoys riding his bike, quoting Lord of the Rings, and enjoying time with his three granddaughters, Evelyn, Bailey, and Georgie.
Christian Schmutz
PASTOR of worship and spiritual growth
After growing up attending Northlake Church, and then leaving to complete an undergraduate degree in music, Christian joined staff as pastor for Worship and Spiritual Growth in 2018. In 2021, he married Christie Kirkpatrick and they moved to Seattle where Christian began working toward his MDiv at Fuller Theological Seminary (anticipated completion: Dec 2024) while Christie completed her internal medicine residency. Christian rejoined staff at Northlake in 2024. Christian loves community, conversation, cardiovascularly challenging adventures, sushi, craft coffee, and a good book.
JOSHUA WENZEK
YOUTH PASTOR
Northlake runs in the family for Joshua. His grandparents, Terry and Fran Miracle, started attending in 1967 until they passed to glory! Joshua has worked with youth and kids as a teacher at Three Rivers Christian School for five years and two years in Kona, HI, but since 2016 youth ministry has been his main gig. He has a passion to see the youth of our region grow in their walk with Jesus and others through weekly gatherings on Wednesdays and Sundays and impromptu hang outs at the Lake or in his urban farm. You can occasionally find him on stage on a Sunday morning doing his best Fiddler on the Roof impression.
Bitna Yi
Youth Intern
Bitna is a TRCS graduate, Class of 2025. Now she is going back to school to become a teacher while interning at the Northlake Youth Group where she's learning that patience and a good sense of humor can go a long way even when she loses her keys. She mostly runs on pictures of her cat and a lot of nap time. She is here because she loves serving others and impacting the world for Christ.
See Bitna’s book recommendations here.
Ali Wenzek
CHILDREN'S PASTOR
Ali grew up in the Pacific Northwest where she learned to love God and worship Him best in nature. She married the love of her life who just happened to be the farm boy next door in 2009, together they've had some amazing adventures like teaching in Hawaii, adopting their son Genesis in 2014, fostering 10 children over the years, and a 3 month mission trip in Middle East/Asia. Ali has a bachelors degree in Bible and Ministry from Prairie Bible College. When she's not dancing and singing with Northlake Kids, you can find Ali baking sourdough, tending her garden, or doing messy crafts with any kid who will join her.
TERRI HOPKINS
PASTORAL COUNSELING
Terri was born in Longview, moved out of the area at age 12, returned and has been living in the community for the past 48 years. She has been married to husband Rick for 48 years and raised two children and has five grandchildren. Terri is also known for baking delicious scones.
Meredith walthall
Office Manager
A coffee connoisseur and lover of tattoos, Meredith joined the Northlake staff in 2024 after spending most of her childhood training for the office manager job. When she’s not in the office, Meredith can be found running her photography business, working on her accounting degree, and spending time with her husband Jason, and their daughters, Evelyn and Bailey. Meredith is also a big fan of naps.
Erin Hart
Superintendent of Three Rivers Christian School
While Erin began working at TRCS in 2009, her history at the school began as a child in Mrs. Thompson's Kindergarten class. Erin and her husband Seth, an IT Analyst, have two daughters, Ruby and Scarlet. Erin holds a BA degree in Writing and Communications from Evergreen State College, a MA in Educational Leadership from Concordia University, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University.
See the Three Rivers Christian School website here.
See Erin’s book recommendations here.
See the 60th Anniversary video here.
Marchelle Knapp
Campus Towers Administrator
Marchelle Knapp serves as the Administrator of Campus Towers, our affordable senior housing ministry in Longview. Since stepping into this role in 2016, Marchelle has been committed to enhancing the quality of life for the senior residents.
Outside of her professional life, Marchelle is a wife to Scott, loving mother and grandma to seven children, six grandchildren, and approximately 19 chickens. Her family is her greatest joy.
See the Campus Towers website here.
Alyssa Root
Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Area Director
Alyssa grew up in MT and attended FCA Camp 27 years ago where she first encountered how personal and intimately God knew her and loved her. Her heart yearns for the joy and hope that comes in a relationship with Jesus Christ to be known. Alyssa struggled in college and finding her identity outside of sports and after graduating was able to call her FCA mentor from high school that pointed her back to Jesus and it was then she surrendered to Jesus as Lord. Then as her relationship deepened in the Lord as she was working in her Physical Therapy career, she was praying over going into ministry more and more each year and after 10 years got a call and opportunity to come on staff full time with FCA. To be able to share the love and intimacy of Jesus like those who poured into her in her earlier years was a dream come true. She is thriving as she walks alongside people helping them along the path of spiritual restoration that is found in relationship with Jesus Christ. When the opportunity to take 2 things she loves – faith and sports- came about, she could not miss that opportunity. She now get the opportunity to pour into coaches and athletes to help them grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. The world is hurting and needs Jesus and we see it all around us and she feels like FCA is so well positioned to make an impact in a multitude of lives for an eternal impact.