Staff & Elders

Staff

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Karl Helvig
Lead Pastor

Hey, I’m Karl, a runner, aspiring chess player, keeper of backyard chickens, lover of all things outdoors (and coffee, especially coffee while outdoors), dad of four kids, and husband to Mikkin. 
I grew up in Northern Minnesota where I learned to love water sports and winter camping and we have called Colorado home since 2005. 
After studying Classical Greek at St. Olaf College and Biblical Stidies at Denver Seminsry, my wife and taught University English in China for three years before moving back to Colorado and joining the staff of centennial Covenant. 
I’m glad you made your way to this page on the CCC website. I’ve been a pastor here since 2012, Lead Pastor since 2019. This is a community where people who have been hurt often find space for healing, who are searching find hope, and all of us learn to travel together on a journey of growth into the person God designed and desires us to be. 
I hope that’s what you find when you connect with us. I couldn’t be more happy to be part of a group of people taking seriously the call of Jesus to, “Come, follow me.”

David Dillon
Worship & Communications

I have the joy of guiding our many talented people and teams at CCC in areas of Worship and Communications. My heart is energized by helping people give and be their very best with how God has wired and gifted them. When I am not working, my play reflects similar artistic pursuits of making music, drawing or painting, or building guitars. Our family also enjoys spending time in the mountains where we love to hike, camp, and explore God’s beautiful world. Speaking of which, my wife, Heather and I have been married for 26 years, and we have 2 awesome teenage boys.

I graduated from the University of California, Long Beach with a B.A. in guitar performance. I received my M.Div. degree from Denver Seminary in 2001, and then completed a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from NorthPark Seminary in 2008. My journey with CCC began in 1993 when I began serving as a part-time worship leader. After completing seminary that role broadened in time and scope to full-time pastoral ministry.

Nicki Nickerson
Pastor of Children

 

Hey! I’m Nicki Nickerson and I have the wonderful privilege of being the Youth Pastor here at CCC. I was born and raised in San Diego, California and am the youngest of three girls.

I received a B.A. in Elementary Education from University of Northern Colorado where I met my husband, Ben. We have been married for six years now and have a dog, Samson. I graduated from Denver Seminary in 2020 with my Master of Divinity in Outdoor Leadership. I started working at Centennial in 2018 as the Middle School intern and became the Youth Pastor in 2019. One of my great passions is utilizing the outdoors to help others grow and encounter Jesus. I consider it a joy investing in the lives of students and getting to walk alongside them in this journey of life. And I love to have fun and laugh which is common when working with students.

When I’m not at work, my husband and I can be found at different coffee shops, playing games with friends, taking a hike or adventuring with our dog in the mountains.

Casey Hodges
Pastor of Students

Hello there! I’m Casey Hodges, and it is my honor to serve as the Youth Pastor at CCC.  

God has allowed me to lead a Young Adults group for seven years, serve as a Youth Pastor for two more years, and many opportunities in-between. I received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado Denver in 2020, and from Denver Seminary in 2023 with a Master of Divinity. I studied with No Concentration, specializing in Hermeneutics, Creation Care, and Women in Ministry. My other academic passions are ancient languages, systematic theology, and educational theory. 

My wife Sharon and I met on a mission trip to Bénin, Africa in 2018. We share a passion in international ministry, adventure, board games, and our dog. Sharon does not share my passion for Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, and any competitive sport ever created.  

YHWH has blessed me with a passion for leading youth. He empowers me to come alongside students to deepen their desire for God, knowledge of His Kingdom, and growth and obedience as His blessed children. God is Good!

Stefany Bergstom

Director of Adult Ministry 

What a blessing to serve at CCC! Centennial has been my home church for the past twenty years. I received my BA in Liberal Arts and Elementary Education from Colorado Christian University in 1991 and went on to receive my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado at Denver. Before having children, I taught elementary school in Iowa, Puerto Rico, Colorado. I am married to Roy and we just celebrated 29 years of marriage.

I began working at CCC as a His Kids Ministry Assistant twelve years ago. As an elementary educator, I have always enjoyed working with children. Recently, I felt called to participate in a two-year Spiritual Formation Program through Ruth Haley Barton’s Transforming Center. The program has revealed a deep desire to experience the love of Jesus and then pour that out to others and I have recently shifted from serving children to coming alongside of adults.

I love to be outside exploring beauty in nature. Writing, reading, learning, and traveling bring me joy as well as spending time with my three adult children and husband.

Kathryne Winter

Intern of Young Adult Ministry 

 

Crystal Bowland
Interim Lead Ministry Assistant

 

Lynda Hardin
Prayer & Care Coordinator

 

Elders

The Council of Elders is elected by the congregation to oversee and guide the church’s life, health and mission according to God’s Word and Spirit for His glory through the release of His gifts in His body. 

Todd Reisler, Chair

I am both excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Elder Council for Centennial. The Apostle Peter speaks of being a willing shepherd of God’s flock by serving, caring, and modeling one’s faith. I look forward to participating with others in leading that way, whether as a lay-member or in a leadership position such as elder.

Janet George, Vice-Chair

I’ve been a member of an Evangelical Covenant Church all my adult life: in Kansas, and then here, in 1992 back when CCC met in a strip mall. I admire and support the affirmations and resolutions of the Covenant denomination and this local church body, as noted under “What We Believe”. And, Centennial has truly been a warm and reliable church home for me and my family. Therefore, I am pleased to accept the call to serve as an elder and commit to praying, pondering and participating with the council and many others as we seek our Lord’s guidance.

Fran Blomberg

My ministry passion is mission to the unreached, the unwanted, and the uninterested. This passion was honed as I attended and then served as a pastor at Scum of the Earth Church in Denver. At the same time I was working on a Ph.D., studying how living in a consumer culture affects the ability to join and appreciate Christian community, particularly among young adults. I love the local church and love strategizing how to grow a congregation in personal Christlikeness and corporate witness to the world.  

Craig and I count it a huge privilege to travel the world, largely thanks to his teaching and my prior service as a missions director in a local church.  We also love to get to the mountains for little hikes, and at home you’ll often find me quilting.

Linda Bruce

My husband and I have been coming to Centennial Covenant since 2007. We have been very thankful to find a church with a balanced emphasis on the personal journey of transformation within a community, resulting in the expression of Christ’s love to our broken world. I am honored and energized by the opportunity to serve on Council and to participate in discerning the ongoing direction of the church. I am particularly excited by the potential of the Growth Challenge for individual development and increased connectedness within our church.

Jeff Warren

CCC has been a significant part of my adult life and faith journey since 1996. Council’s purpose is to seek, affirm and move toward God’s will for our church and, to the highest degree possible, steer our congregation towards him in all we do. I truly felt a calling to serve in this way when invited to be an Elder. This is a real adventure that invokes daily prayer & action. Time and time again, I’ve seen Council put God first, earnestly evaluating and celebrating how God is at work here as a church in order to see what he is calling us to do next. It is a blessing to be part of this process together with other dedicated, caring brothers and sisters in Christ.

Clayton Zylstra

It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as an elder on council “to oversee and guide the church’s life, health and mission according to God’s Word and Spirit for His glory through the release of His gifts in His body.” I see a twofold meaning in the release of His gifts in His body. One, God blesses His church – His gifts are good. Even in places of extreme persecution, believers speak to the goodness of God in the life of the church. Second, believers are bestowed gifts from God for the edification of His body – His church. It is a tremendous responsibility and joy to oversee the use and growth of these gifts for God’s glory.