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 four granddaughters, Evelyn, Bailey, Georgie, and Pyper, and two grandsons, Patrick and Samuel.
Christian Schmutz
Pastor of Worship and Spiritual Growth
Christian grew up going to Northlake church starting in 1996, he graduated from TRCS in 2009 and then went away for ten years to study music in British Columbia and then Boston, MA. Hearing a call to ministry while in Boston, Christian moved back to Longview in 2018 to serve on staff at Northlake. After a three year hiatus for seminary in 2021 he has been serving as pastor for Worship and Spiritual growth, helping people fall more in love with Jesus. Christian and Christie, married in 2021, just welcomed their first child, Samuel in June of 2026. In his free time Christian can be found enjoying time with family, friendships, cardiovascularly challenging adventures, sushi, craft coffee, and most books he can get his hands on.
Joshua wenzek
Youth Pastor
Joshua and Alicia Wenzek met on Whidbey Island as teenagers and fell in love while working in youth ministry and farming together. They were married in 2009 and have enjoyed doing life together ever since! In 2014, God placed a newborn baby in their arms and, through adoption, Genesis became their son officially in 2016. That is the same year Joshua came on as the youth pastor here at Northlake! In 2026, the Wenzek family expanded through the adoption of their 10th foster child, Malachi! Malachi is every bit of a pre-schooler and full of life and joy! The Wenzeks love being part of this growing youth ministry at Northlake and desire each student to know that they are loved, valued, and to find the full amazing life God has for them in relationship with Him and each other! Starting in the spring of 2027, Joshua will start a new adventure by attending Western Seminary in Portland Oregon! He will be working towards his Masters Degree in Ministry and Leadership. He believes this will help round out his education in the ministry that he has been doing for the past several years and to whatever God has for him into the years to come! 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.
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 sons, Genesis in 2014, and Malachi in 2026, 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.
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 working on her business degree and spending time with her husband Jason, and their daughters, Evelyn, Bailey, and Pyper. Meredith is also a big fan of naps.
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.
Steve Bilger
Campus Towers Administrator
Steve serves as the Administrator of Campus Towers, our affordable senior housing ministry in Longview, stepping into the role in 2026. Steve and his family moved to the area in 2001 to help launch Young Life in the Lower Columbia Area and served as the Area Director locally until 2012 and subsequently Territory Director overseeing Young Life from Seaside to The Dalles, OR. He has continued to serve as a volunteer leader/committee member in Young Life. Steve and his wife Amy have been married for 28 years and have 4 grown children and one grown son-in-law. Sophie (Marcus), Ella, Ben and Luke. Steve enjoys reading, cooking, hunting, hiking, exercising, and any excuse to hang out with Amy.
Erin Hart
Three Rivers Christian School, Superintendent
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.
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.