Our Leadership
staff
Deacon
David Newell
Deacon
David Newell

Timothy Pawley
Student Minister/Deacon
Timothy originally came to Grand County to live the mountain life as a ski instructor at Winter Park after years of ministry in youth summer camps. Now he's one of our beloved locals-for-life and serves as a Valley Life deacon and an all-star student ministry leader.
Deacon
David Newell

David Britnell
Administrative Assistant
David moved to Grand County in 2021 with his wife Kendall and son Edgar. They enjoy the slow pace and adventures of mountain life and are excited to build deep and long lasting community here in the valley. David helps with all things administrative behind the scenes.
Deacon
David Newell

Joseph Weissman
Worship Minister
Joseph Weissman learned the guitar at age 13, and has been serving in his passion for leading worship for 18 years. He is the husband of Rachel Weissman and a proud father of five. Originally from Estes Park, Colorado, Joseph has lived and worked at a short term Bible School in Fraser, CO since 2012. His heart for Jesus Christ and desire for others to know Him personally, inspire his leadership in the church, where he is committed to leading the body towards a correct understanding and practice of worship through music.
Deacon
David Newell

Andrew Dusing
Elder
Andrew has been involved with Valley Life since 2021. He works as the Property Manager at Timberline Lodge where he lives with his wife, Lisa, along with their three boys. He is often found tinkering in the workshop of enjoying the biking, hiking, or snow in Grand County.
Deacon
David Newell

Tyson Menke
Elder
Tyson and his wife Melanie have been members of Valley Life Church since 2003. Tyson has had many leadership roles at Valley Life including the stewardship team, pastor search team, kids' ministry teacher, and deacon. In addition to serving at Valley Life, Tyson works on the sites and facilities team at Crooked Creek Ranch (a Young Life Camp) in Fraser and Melanie is the manager of our Changes Thrift Store. They have two children, Joshua and Liana.
Deacon
David Newell

Greg Grooms
Elder
Greg served on the staff of L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland and the United States from 1978 till 1994. He was then director of Hill House, a Christian study center serving students at the University of Texas at Austin, while also on the pastoral staff of 2 churches in the Austin area. Greg and Mary Jane have been part of Valley Life Church since retiring here in 2022.
Deacon
David Newell

Alaina Young
Children's Ministry Coordinator
Alaina joined the Valley Life staff at the beginning of 2023. Before this, she and her husband Adam spent the last decade as church planters in the Denver Metro Area. Alaina loves all things coffee, exploring the outdoors with her family, camping, and reading. She is excited to be serving the kids and alongside her VLC Kids Team Members.
Deacon
David Newell

Joe Moctezuma
Deacon
Even though Kathy and Joe have been coming to the Fraser Valley for more than 20 years, they moved here in 2022. Both enjoy the outdoors, sports, activities and community that the valley offers. They volunteer year-round with the National Sports Center for the Disabled. With assistance from Timberline Lodge, they co-lead our Soup n Tune ministry which serves as an outreach to the local ski industry employees.
Deacon
David Newell

Melanie Menke
Changes Thrift Store - General Manager
Melanie and her husband Tyson have been members of Valley Life Church since 2003. In addition to being a valued member of Valley Life and serving in many different capacities, Melanie has led as the manger of our Changes Thrift Store since 2010. She and Tyson have two amazing kids, Joshua and Liana.
Deacon
David Newell

Kristie Spiewak
Care & Connection/Deacon
After many years as part time residents of Grand County, in 2018, Kristie, her husband Mark and their two daughters, Macy and Morgan, moved to Fraser full time and started attending Valley Life Church. Kristie began serving as the Connection Team coordinator in 2021. Kristie enjoys hiking with her dogs in all seasons, reading, baking, cooking, serving the church and chasing her family around. Food and fellowship are her love languages and she uses those to help encourage a warm and welcoming environment at Valley Life Church.
Deacon
David Newell

David Newell
Deacon
By God’s Grace, David embraced the Gospel of Christ and was born again in 1981, while serving as a Twin Otter pilot in American Samoa. That same year, he married his elementary school sweetheart, Danielle. He believes, early on, he was given the gift of teaching and employed that gift in assemblies located in Guam, California, Texas and Colorado. In addition to mission trips in Kenya, Poland, Uganda and Ecuador he was blessed with an opportunity in 2012-2014, to attend classes at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia as the spouse of a full time student. He has been in Grand County since 1997 and with Valley Life Church for 10 years. He has two wonderful children and 6 incredible grandchildren.
Deacon
David Newell

Dan Thomas
Elder
Dan has served as an elder with Valley Life since 2015. Additionally, he is the director of Timberline Lodge, a Bible school & conference center of Torchbearers International. Dan, his wife Sarah, and their three kids love the adventure of life in Grand County and you'll often find them ski touring, playing volleyball, or mountain biking as a family and with their Bible school students.
Deacon
David Newell

Sarah Sanford
Deacon
Sarah and her husband Codee moved to the mountains beginning of 2023 in their camper van to work seasonally as ski/ride instructors. Now full time residents, Sarah serves as a deacon and youth leader with a huge passion to build gospel centered community among the students. You’ll find her making coffee, backpacking, paddle boarding, skiing, scrapbooking, or watching Codee play disc golf.
LEADERS
our ministries

Changes Thrift Store and Food Bank is a ministry of Valley Life Church located in the Safeway shopping center. Changes serves those in need in Grand County and gives all net profits back into the community every year.

Valley Life hosts mountaintop worship services at the top of the Gondola during the ski season and a Christmas Eve service immediately following the Torch-Light Parade in the West Portal Building at the village base each year.

Soup N' Tune happens every Friday evening at 6:00pm during the ski season in the basement of Valley Life Church. Free food, good music, and wax and tuning of skis and boards. Did we say free?

Valley Life internships train and equip young adults through personal development, ministry training, and mountain lifestyle living. Summer and Winter Internships available for men and women 18-25.




