CHURCH STAFF
Our calling as leaders at Prairie Creek is to follow Jesus’ lead and help others do the same. We accept this role with great humility, always remembering that the head of Prairie Creek is Jesus, not us.
Ben Wedeking
Senior Pastor
Pastor Ben has been serving as our pastor since 2015. He loves preaching, teaching and watching people come alive with the Holy Spirit through the power of the Gospel.
Ben and his wife Julie have been married since 2004 and have two children: Elle and Isaac. He graduated from Wheaton Bible College in 1998 with his B.A in Christian Education and from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2011 with his M.A. in Theology. Ben is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church.
In his free time, Ben enjoys having fun with his family, going on vacations, exploring and going on adventures, exercising, going to the movies and connecting with people over coffee. He also loves going to other countries and has had the opportunity to experience a variety of cultures and countries in his travels including a life-long dream realized- to go to Israel.
Josh Dahm
Director of Worship Arts & Discipleship
Josh became our Director of Worship Arts in 2010 and added the role of Director of Discipleship in 2018.
He was a freshman at Asbury University when he felt called to ministry in the North American Church. He graduated with his B.A. in Music in 2003 then led worship for 6 years at a church in Kentucky while completing his Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.
Josh moved to Iowa for the sole purpose of cultivating worship at Prairie Creek. He stepped into the discipleship role because he believes a church that is growing deeply is a church that worships freely.
While in Kentucky Josh devoted much of his time and energy to performing, arranging, and recording music with the band Too Many Drummers- a band he joined while studying at Asbury University. Josh continues to write and arrange music today for our worship experience.
Josh has been married to his wife Rachel for 15 years and has three delightful daughters: Evelyn, Amelia, and Clementine. He spends most of his free time with his girls – adventuring, cuddling, and losing tickle wars. In the rare moment alone, Josh enjoys playing piano and classical guitar and dreaming of the day he can ski regularly with his family.
James Campbell
Director of Children’s Ministry
James came to Prairie Creek in 2012 with his wife, LeAnn and his children, Isaiah and Emily. Before attending Grimes UMC, James and LeAnn were consistently drawn to the church because of the church’s community involvement . Upon visiting, James was immediately struck by the spiritual nature of the conversations occurring around him and the way the church was actively seeking to know God.
James became our Director of Children’s Ministries in 2020 after volunteering with our children’s ministry since 2013. He feels blessed to have the opportunity to help our kids learn about Jesus and the central role that God wants to play in their lives. He views the Children’s Ministry as a critically important function of the church – a chance to point children toward Christ while they develop who they are.
When he is not working, James enjoys spending time with LeAnn and their family. He loves to play music and can often be spotted walking around Grimes while playing Pokémon Go.
Nicole Keuper
Youth Director
Nicole and her husband Nate have been members of Prairie Creek since 2010 when she was hired full time as the Youth Director. She originally went to college to become a nurse, but changed majors after listening to one lecture in her Christianity class. She graduated from Viterbo University with a degree in Ministry and a Minor in Psychology. She then went to Liberty University and earned her Masters of Religion in Biblical Studies.
After Nate and Nicole’s second child was born in 2015, they made the decision for Nicole to be a full time stay at home mom. They now have 3 children, Selah, Joshua, and Micah and homeschool all three. Nicole serves on the Board of Directors for their homeschool Co-op, Raising Arrows, and teaches religion courses for high school. She began volunteering in youth ministry again in 2021 and is now serving as co-director of student ministries for Prairie Creek. Her passion for youth ministry derives from her great desire for youth to know their worth and value in Jesus and to grow their relationship with Him.
Wes Schlenker
Youth Director
Wes became co-director of student ministries at Prairie Creek in June of 2023. Wes has a passion to teach and train students to become disciples and help them discover God’s purposes for their lives. Wes has been involved in ministry for 17 years. He served as a missionary in 13 different countries, worked with at-risk youth, served as Interim Youth Pastor at the church he grew up in and Associate Youth Pastor at the church he attended while in Bible College, and led a home bible study for 5 years at the last church he attended.
Wes graduated from Eugene Bible College in 2006, earning a bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies. Wes is a 3rd generation graduate of Dallas-Center Grimes High School and has a passion for reaching out to our local community.
Wes and his wife Rebekah met in Oregon at Eugene Bible College and have been married since 2004. They have a teenage daughter, Hannah. He enjoys watching movies with his girls at home, going on sushi dates with his wife. He enjoys gardening, hunting, trapping and shooting
Becky Duckett
Business Manager
Becky and her husband Dana joined Prairie Creek in 1995. Volunteering in all arenas of the church from Trustees, Finance, SPRC, and Leadership, as well as the VBS lunch lady. Becky has seen the growing pains and beauty of the church and the Holy Spirit’s guiding hand. Her heart and compassion for those in the church and the community is widespread and she devotes her time and energy in seeing how she can incorporate Jesus’ heart into every aspect of church – both in the people and the building.
Becky, having graduated from Simpson college with a business degree, she worked at Principal Financial for 36+ years. As a retiree she now serves as the Business Manager for Prairie Creek. She takes care of our building and the people in it.
Becky and Dana’s own children grew up at Prairie Creek and now have the privilege of watching all their granddaughters grow up at Prairie Creek as well. At any given time, you will find Branzley, Emmy, Kimber and Opal, in the hallways!