Pastors/Elders* are servant-leaders at Cornerstone who shepherd, teach, and lead the church as undershepherds of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:1- 4, Acts 20:28-32). Elders keep watch over souls (Hebrews 13:17), manage the church of God (1 Timothy 3:4-5), teach the Word (1 Timothy 3:2), preach the gospel (2 Timothy 4:1-2), rule the body (1 Timothy 5:17), protect from wolves (Acts 20:28-29), pray for healing (James 5:14), contend for the faith (Jude 3), rebuke false doctrine (Titus 1:9), equip the saints for ministry (Ephesians 4:12) and set an example to the believers (1 Peter 5:3)—for which they are held to account by God (Hebrews 13:17).

Rick Gamache, Pastor

Rick has served on staff since 2000. Rick's primary responsibility is to advance the mission of Cornerstone through preaching and teaching the Word of God. Rick also serves as a Regional Leader for Sovereign Grace Churches in the Midwest/Northwest region. Rick was born and raised in the Chicago area and moved to Minnesota to attend college. He graduated from Bethel Seminary and worked at Desiring God before entering pastoral ministry. Rick enjoys a wide array of music, film, and literature. Rick and Delaine live in Burnsville and have five adult children. Email Rick

Ben Maurer, Pastor

Ben Maurer joined the pastoral staff in June of 2019. Ben's primary responsibilities are Outreach, Youth, and Worship ministries at Cornerstone. Ben received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota and is a graduate of the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. Ben enjoys laughing, discovering/playing music, working out, and spending time with his family. He and his wife Allie live in Burnsville with their four children. Email Ben

Jon Hansel, Pastor

Jon joined the pastoral staff in 2010. Jon's primary responsibilities are operational and strategic oversight of the ministries of Cornerstone and leadership of the pastoral team and staff. He also oversees Cornerstone Kids and leads the biblical counseling ministry of the church. Jon graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary, holds Certificates of Biblical Counseling from CCEF, and is a member of the Association of Biblical Counselors. Jon enjoys reading, warm-weather destinations, and once-in-awhile, pulling out his French Horn from his college days. Jon and his wife Tonya live in Burnsville and have four children. Email Jon

*The New Testament uses three main terms to speak of what we typically call a “pastor”: elder (presbyteros-Titus 1:5; 1 Tim. 5:17), overseer/bishop (episkopos-1 Tim. 3:1-2; Titus 1:7), and pastor (poimēn-Eph. 4:11). These terms, instead of indicating separate offices, are actually used interchangeably, giving us three different facets of the same office:

• Overseer/bishop indicates the role of oversight

• Pastor indicates the role of care

• Elder indicates the necessity of spiritual maturity

Acts 20:17-18, 28
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders [presbyteros] of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them… “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [episkopos], to care for [poimainō] the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.