Our Team
Carolyn Yerxa
YOUTH DIRECTOR
Hello! My name is Carolyn Yerxa, and I am the Youth Director here at New Spirit Church. A little over ten years ago I felt called by God to answer a need for volunteers with a local youth group. That call to volunteer has developed into a passion to reach the youth of our community and tell them about our amazing, loving God!
A little about me and my family. I am supported and helped by my husband, Kyle Yerxa with youth ministry. I am originally from Ohio and moved to Maple Valley, WA right before high school. Kyle grew up in Auburn, WA. We met at a church after high school and within two years were married. We have lived in the Enumclaw Community for about 15 years.
Before starting the youth group at NSC, I served 11 years in youth ministry. The first four years as a volunteer and almost seven years as Youth Director at another church. During that time, I also served a couple of years as a leader in our local Rainier Hills Young lIfe.
My husband Kyle went to the University of Washington and earned his bachelor's degree in Construction Management. He works as a Project Manager at a commercial electrical contractor in Kent, WA. Kyle has supported and helped in youth ministry with me for nearly seven years.
We have three amazing kids: Gabriel (18 and a Senior), Eliana (16 and a Sophomore) and Elijah (also 16 and a Sophomore). They love to spend time with friends and family, draw, swim, kayak, hike, camp and play video games. We love to be together as a family and we often like to go on adventures; camping and visiting various places throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Laurie Evans
WELCOME DIRECTOR
My name is Laurie Evans, and I am the Welcome Director at New Spirit Church. What began as a quest to spend more time with family (my daughter Cari, son-in-law Jeff, and grandchildren Roman and Ryleigh) led to the discovery of a loving and kind church family!
I initially offered to help on the Welcome Team baking cookies, which eventually turned into an offer to lead the team. It has been such a pleasure to do so, and aligns with my desire to grow my relationship with the Lord.
Not only do I get to lead an incredible team of people, but also get to greet our church family and guests each Sunday. I love the joy that being involved with New Spirit has brought to my life and have been blessed with so many valued friendships since coming to this wonderful church.
Another blessing is that my mother now attends regularly and it’s an honor that I get to sit with her each week to hear Pastor Ben’s message and worship with our incredible Worship Team. I know that my prayers to fill my heart with joy are being heard, and now negativity has no room. I thank God for his goodness every day!
My desire is for guests that come to NSC to feel welcome and loved, from the first greeting at the door until they leave after the service. I hope as they enjoy the coffee, treats, and fellowship, they can taste and see that the Lord is good.
Currently, I serve as secretary of the Black Diamond Museum and work occasionally as a substitute para-educator. My favorite way to spend time is with family. I also love to quilt, craft, read, and work in the yard.
Mark Havens
WORSHIP DIRECTOR
Hello there! I’m Mark Havens. I am the worship leader at New Spirit Church.
I grew up on South Hill in Puyallup and graduated from Rogers High School. I come from a large musical family. My dad was the choir director at Puyallup High School. My dad’s excellent musicianship inspired me to develop my skills. My love for music was planted in me at a young age.
I spent much of my life in bondage from substance abuse and wild living. However, the Lord had other plans for me. In 2003, God did a major work in my life. At that point, I was an addict with no hope for freedom, but in my addiction, I encountered the Lord Jesus Christ in a very real way. Since then, my life has never been the same. I found a love for Christ through the scriptures and my desire for drugs and alcohol was replaced by a desire to know and love God.
By the grace of God, I continue to live a clean and sober life. I hope to be an inspiration to anyone who feels the weight of addiction. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
In my day job I work as a Concrete Finisher. I have been with the same company for 20 years and am a member of Local 528.
Serving the Lord at New Spirit Church has been such a joy. I am overwhelmed by the love of God displayed through the people at New Spirit Church. I continue to be amazed by God's grace.
Cari Enticknap
CHILDREN'S DIRECTOR
Hi, I’m Cari Enticknap, the Director of Kids Ministry at New Spirit Church. My prayer is that every child encounters the love of Jesus every Sunday at New Spirit Church through the kindness of their teachers, the depth of our curriculum, the fun of our play space, and the joy of our enrichment activities. I sincerely hope your kids wake YOU up on Sunday mornings because they don’t want to miss church!!!
I’ve been working in kids ministry for more than 20 years, starting as a VBS volunteer, then Sunday School teacher, Awana Sparks leader, nursery coordinator, and eventually serving as children’s ministry leader at two different churches. It has been one of the greatest blessings of my life!
I’m a former public school teacher turned homeschooling mom to my two wonderful kids: Roman (17) and Ryleigh (15). I’ve been married to my husband Jeff for 20 years. Together we enjoy traveling, gardening, football, serving others, and participating in church activities.
Ben Auger
LEAD PASTOR
Hey there! I'm Ben Auger, and I'm the founding pastor of New Spirit Church. In 2021, God impressed upon my heart the need for more people to be reached, served, and saved in our area. That's when He called me to plant New Spirit Church. In 2022, my family began gathering people in our living room and building the church family. There's still so much to do and we're loving every minute of it. We welcome you to be a part of the journey with us!
I am from Seattle, WA, and my wife Jen is from Ontario, Canada. We became best friends at Trinity Western University and got married after graduation. We worked and traveled overseas and then moved to Enumclaw so that I could accept a call to youth ministry and Jen could begin graduate courses in marriage and family counseling at Seattle Pacific University.
Before planting NSC, I served in full-time ministry in Enumclaw for over a decade, earning a Master of Divinity degree from Liberty University along the way.
Jen completed her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and opened a counseling practice in Enumclaw, where she helps people heal from personal and relational issues.
We have three incredible children: Judah (11), Evangeline (10), and Moses (8). They love soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, music, drawing, Jesus, and their church.
As a family, you can catch us planning our next trip to a national park or cooking ethnic foods from one of the 45 countries we've traveled to.
Hunter Burgess
APPRENTICE PASTOR
Hello! I’m Hunter Burgess, the Apprentice Pastor of New Spirit Church. I recently accepted the call to ministry that God put on my heart many years ago. I’m so excited to be a part of a young church that is reaching people with the good news of Jesus!
I grew up in South Carolina, and graduated from Anderson University with a business degree. That’s where I met my amazing wife, Nikole, who grew up in Washington. Together we moved back to the Pacific Northwest, where we have called home for nearly a decade. During much of that time I worked in the Finance Industry managing projects and relationships. In 2020, we dealt with serious health issues and career burnout, taking a year-long Sabbatical in rural Arizona. That was an extremely difficult season which God ultimately used to prepare me for ministry. In 2021, God brought us to Enumclaw and we immediately fell in love with this beautiful community. Life on the plateau is truly special!
Together Nikole and I live with Anya, our senior Siberian Husky who we rescued. As a family, we enjoy hiking in the mountains, gardening, road trips, and cozying up by the fireplace with a good book and a hot beverage.
