Westchester Staff


  • Chuck Mullikin

    Lead Pastor

    Chuck was installed as Lead Pastor on June 24, 2018 after spending one year in a co-lead pastor role.  Before this, Chuck served as the Pastor For Adult Disciple-Making from August, 2013. Prior to Westchester, Chuck was in youth ministry for 10 years in Orange City, IA. He has an undergraduate degree in Christian Education from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA, and a masters degree in Christian Thought from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN which he earned in 2010, and was ordained in the Evangelical Free Church of America in 2011.


    Chuck and his wife Emily have been married since 2005 and they have four children.


    God has wired Chuck to exhort people, preach, teach, and to be compassionate.  Pastor Chuck is passionate about seeing Christians committed to God, loving people around them, and making disciples who make disciples who make more disciples. He also enjoys studying scripture with people, watching the Bible come to life in the people around him, and seeing the joy that comes when a person lives for the fame of Jesus instead of themselves. 

  • Austin Hilmer

    Associate Pastor

    Austin became the Associate Pastor in April of 2021 after 7 years as the Pastor of Corporate Worship. Prior to Westchester, Austin worked as a campus minister in St. Louis, MO and as a college ministry intern with Cru at Miami University in Oxford, OH. 


    Austin has an undergraduate degree from Miami University and a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

     

    Austin and his wife Ally have been married since 2012 and they have two daughters and a son.

     

    God has wired Austin to be a shepherd and a teacher.  Austin’s passion in ministry is to see others transformed by the word of God. He enjoys seeing this happen through teaching, discipleship, in times of corporate worship, and how we worship individually throughout the week.  Austin is passionate about using these gifts in meeting with others in discipleship and Bible study. 

  • Haitao Cheng

    Pastor of Chinese Ministries

    Haitao, a member of Westchester since 2008, began serving an internship as Pastor of Chinese Ministries in January, 2016.  In January, 2017 Haitao was called to continue in a permanent part-time position.  Prior to this position he served as the volunteer coordinator of Westchester Chinese Fellowship for five years.  Haitao worked as an orthopedist for 8 years in China before coming to the United States.  He earned a PhD in Bioinformatics from ISU in 2009 and a Master of Arts in Applied Biblical Study from Moody Bible Institute in August 2015.

     

    Haitao and Honghua have been married since 1994 and have three daughters.

     

    God has wired Haitao to be a servant, caregiver, and teacher.  He enjoys studying the Word with others, and sharing the gospel with non-believers. He believes that the Word, and only the Word can change lives.  He has a heart to come alongside people in need, leading them to experience the beauty of life in Jesus.

  • Michelle Van Wyngarden

    Children's Ministry Director

    Michelle has been a member of Westchester since 2006 and began serving as the Children's Ministry Director in July, 2018.  She has a passion for sharing the love of Christ with children and seeing them grow in their faith and knowledge of God.  She loves to have fun with kids while instilling the Word of God in their hearts and minds.  Michelle has an undergraduate degree from Central College in Pella, and has been working with children since.  She was a Youth Director for the YMCA, director of a day care center, and had a small home day care.  She has also been a Sunday school teacher at Westchester and served in the nursery.


    Michelle and her husband Scott have been married since 2006 and have three children.

  • Kaurie Tonemah

    Administrative Assistant

    Kaurie joined the Westchester Staff in 2021. Kaurie grew up in the Dakota's where she attended college for Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Psychology. She has spent time working in the medical field in various positions. Now at Westchester she is pleased to oversee the office administration. She praises the Lord for showing her grace upon grace, healing, and blessings too numerous to list. 


    In her free time she likes to read, be outside in nature, and spend time with her 3 adult children and their spouses. 

  • Adam Koester

    Pastor of Community Engagement

    Adam joined the Westchester Staff in 2022.  He has served previously as a College & International Student Pastor for 3 years and then 8 years in non-pastoral ministry roles including serving as a Business Administrator at a non-profit in central Iowa.  While at this nonprofit, he also served as the director of a women in crisis transitional living facility, a ranch for equine-assisted psychotherapy, and a boarding school for youth who had failed adoptions.  In the last 4 years, Adam served as the solo pastor of a rural church in Zearing, IA and as a missionary in Brazil.


    Adam has a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Iowa as well as a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.


    Adam married his wife Patty in 2006 and they have two daughters.


    God has wired Adam with a passion to see the nations come to Christ.  This starts at home and locally in our communities. His heart is to point people to Jesus whether they have no knowledge of Him or have been in relationship with Him for years. He loves training others to “love their neighbor” and to share the gospel.