Staff
Pastoral Staff
Pastor Michael Jackson – Senior Pastor
Michael Jackson accepted the call to New Life Assembly of God In November, 1999. He came to Janesville after pastoring the Assembly of God in Willmar, Minnesota. He was called into the ministry in 1966 and has been a pastor since 1970. Prior to pastoring, Pastor Mike served as a director with Houston, Texas Teen Challenge for three years.
Our pastor graduated (B.S.) from Southern Bible College in Houston, Texas. He also taught there part-time. He also received Emergency Medical Technician Special Skills Certification at Lee College in Baytown, Texas.
Through the years he has spoken at numerous district conferences, revivals, and seminars here in America as well as overseas. Jackson is a published author. His material has been carried in such periodicals as Enrichment journal, The Pentecostal Evangel, The Pentecostal Messenger, Advance, Ministries journal, Pulpit Helps, American Family Association Journal, as well as several other magazines and newspapers. He was also a contributing author for a Global University textbook. Jackson has also written and directed one Christian drama.
Charisma magazine honored Pastor Jackson as one of the “Outstanding Pastors in America” in 1987.
He has served on many boards and committees including the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, the Executive Presbytery of the Wisconsin-Northern Michigan District, as well as on the presbytery in both the South Dakota and Minnesota districts. He has also served on the Northern California-Nevada District Missions Board, and the Northern California-Nevada District Teen Challenge Board of Administration. He was also honored to serve as the Chaplain of the Nevada State Assembly and Senate. A highlight of pastor’s ministry was serving as the Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives in Washington DC on July 12, 2006.
Since May, 2001, New Life Assembly of God has planted four churches including Sanders Creek Community Church in Edgerton, Wisconsin, Living Waters Church in Elkhorn, as well as a Korean and Hispanic work in Janesville.
Pastor Mike has been married to his wife Marilyn since 1969. Marilyn leads Open Heart (Women’s Ministry) here at New Life. She has also served as a district leader in Women’s Ministry, editor and writer. Marilyn has spoken at various ladies functions on both the local church and the district level.
The Jackson’s have two daughters. The oldest one, Michelle, is married to Pastor Todd Pope, Sr. Associate Pastor at New Life. They have two children. Marci, the Jackson’s youngest daughter, lives in Janesville and is married to Aaron Johnson. The too have two children.
It is Jackson’s passion to make Janesville and area Christ Conscious.
Pastor Todd Pope – Senior Associate
Pastor Todd joined New Life as Senior Associate Pastor October 1, 2003. His main emphasis is on Family Ministries (L.I.F.E. Groups, “Homebuilders”, Partnering with Parents Sunday School, and Cross-Connection). After being called into the ministry at the youth camp before his Senior year, he immediately started preaching every other week at a little country church in Missouri. He then went on to Central Bible College and graduated in 1993 with a Pastoral Ministries degree and minor in Counseling. After graducation and a semester of Seminary, he became youth pastor in Mountain Home, Arkansas. In 1999 he was called on to be youth pastor in St. Charles, Missouri. While in Missouri he also served as the Assistant District Youth Director. As youth pastor, he was there to build upon what the parents should be doing at home, so in 200 he began hosting Parent Retreats. Now as Pastor of Family Ministries, he is excited about continuing these and beginning Marriage Retreats as well. He has a passion for helping families, because so many “things” today try to tear the family unit apart. Pastor Todd married Michelle (Pastor Mike’s daughter) on Jun3 9, 1990. She graduated from Central Missouri State University with a Legal Secretary degree. She enjoys playing piano and clarinet and helping where needed in the church. They have two sons, Carson and Bryson.
Pastor Todd Pope
Senior Associate Pastor
popetodd@nlag.net
Pastor Ben Breit – Youth Pastor
Pastor Ben has been serving at New Life since December of 2005. Prior to coming to New Life, Pastor Ben served as a youth pastor in Minnesota. He also spent six months in Argentina serving along side of Rocky and Sherry Grams. His wife Sara served at King’s Castle in El Salvador for two months. Together they have led district missions trips, and are helping to update some of the creative ministry used by teams going overseas. Pastor Ben and Sara serve the youth and young adults of New Life. For the young adults they have started a ministry called Segue. Segue exists as an effort to reach across denominational lines to minister to young adults in Janesville and the surrounding areas. Sara leads worship and is very involved in the ministry. In 2005 she spoke for the Minnesota District statewide campout. She has also participated in many other girls events, both speaking and singing. Pastor Ben has spoken for youth retreats, ministered in several countries, and for a spiritual emphasis week at a Christian school. Pastor Ben and Sara both attended North Central University and both hold their ministerial credentials with the Wisconsin Northern Michigan District. They have been married since 2004 and have one daughter, Ellie Me’, Who was born on their anniversary in July of 2007.
Pastor Ben Breit
Youth Pastor
bbreit@nlag.net
Pastor Jason Herzog – Fine Arts Pastor
Pastor Jason joined the New Life Assembly pastoral staff on November 1, 2007. His main area of ministry is in the fine arts. He oversees such things as the praise and worship, special music, children’s choir, drama, and visual arts. Pastor Jason graduated from Evangel University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in music education. Feeling a strong call to ministry, after graduation he became the Youth Pastor of First Assembly in Danville Illinois and was the music teacher at their Christian school. After 9 years, he felt called to move on and took the Youth and Music Pastor position at First Assembly in Sullivan Missouri. After a pastoral change while in Missouri in 2007, Jason felt the Lord moving him on again and accepted the Music and Creative Arts position here at New Life.
Jason met his wife Valerie at Evangel University and they were married in June of 1993. Valerie also has a music education degree and has been an elementary music teacher since 1994. She has also been active in the youth, music, Sunday school, and children’s ministries in every church they have served in. She especially enjoys leading the children’s choir. Jason and Valerie have three daughters, Katherine, Grace, and Madalynn.
Pastor Jason Herzog
Fine Arts Pastor
jherzog@nlag.net
Pastor Laura Fowler – Children’s Pastor
Pastor Laura Fowler joined the staff of New Life Assembly of God in July of 2009. She serves in the area of Children’s Ministries. She grew up attending New Life Assembly of God and was very active in the youth group and drama team. She has received her education from Southwestern Assemblies of God University majoring in Church Ministries with an emphasis in Children’s Ministries. She interned with the Oaks Fellowship in Dallas, TX for two years. Her second year she ran the Children’s program for kindergarten through fifth grade at a Hispanic church plant of the Oaks Fellowship. She was also in the Oaks School of Leadership which is an intense discipleship program. She felt a call into ministry when she went on a missions trip to El Salvador her sophomore year in high school. Her internship experience solidified her specific calling into Children’s ministry. She has a heart and passion to reach every child in Janesville and surrounding area with the love of Christ!
Pastor Laura Fowler
Children’s Pastor
lfowler@nlag.net
