Meet Our Staff
Jon Cooke
Senior Pastor
Rev. Jon Cooke was born in Branson, MO and later attended Minot State College. In 1985 he married his wife, Pam. They have one child living at home, Courtney. Their oldest daughter, Lindsey, is married to Chris Swanstrom. Their Son, Caleb is student at SDSU in Brookings, SD.
Since graduating from North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, SD, Rev. Cooke has pastored churches in Tacoma, WA; Elgin, IA; Rapid City, SD; Dickinson, ND; and now Yankton, SD.
Pastor Cooke enjoys golfing, bike riding, and spending time with his family.
Email Pastor Jon
Terry Port
Associate Pastor
Terry Port was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio. He attended Bethel College in St. Paul, MN where he met his wife Sherill to whom he has been married since 1965. They have three children, Jeff, a professor in biology and ecology at Bethel University in Arden Hills, MN; Andrea, a pastor’s wife in Stromsburg, NE; and Allison who has been with the Lord since 2001. They are the grateful grandparents of seven grandchildren.
Terry graduated from Bethel Seminary in 1968. He and Sherill have served churches in Ham Lake, MN; Sawyer, MI; Forest City IA; and Cambridge, MN before coming to Yankton in March of 2006. They also served in cross cultural ministry in Costa Rica and Argentina.
His spiritual passion is to see people enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to see God transform them into true Christ followers.
Terry enjoys exercising, walking, reading, watching sports, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Email Pastor Terry
Jeremy Nelson
Youth Pastor
Jeremy Nelson was born in
and would later experience new birth in Minnesota. He headed south to
attend Northwestern College in Orange City, IA where he met Kirstin.
They were married in 2001 and both graduated in 2002.
God called Jeremy into vocational ministry and gave him
the opportunity to get prepared while earning his Master of Divinity
from Bethel Seminary in 2005. He’s been here at Calvary since the
summer of 2005. He is amazed by the glory of God and has a deep desire
for our students to find their joy, satisfaction, and life in Jesus.
Jeremy and Kirstin have been entrusted by God with two children so far,
Annika and Isaiah.
Jeremy enjoys laughing and living life with his family,
having deep discussions with friends, being a part of the church,
reading good books, running, cooking, and eating. When it comes to
eating, Jeremy prefers chocolate to fruit and has a strong dislike for
bananas.
Email Pastor Jeremy
Laura Kotalik
Children's Ministry Director
Laura was born in Sioux Falls, SD and grew up in Yankton where she graduated from High School. After attending SDSU (GO JACKS!!) for three years in animal science, she finished up with a BS in Elementary Education from USD. Laura continued at USD and received her MA in Education, specializing in early childhood. She has over ten years experience teaching in public and private schools and has served in many children's ministries at church. As well as the Children's Ministry Director, she is also the AWANA Sparks Director and Kids Hope Director. Laura is married to Tim and they have three amazing children, Andrew ,15, who enjoys hockey, baseball, and cars/stereos, Elsie, 13, who loves gymnastics and dance, and Oliver 10, who likes soccer, baseball, and hockey. Laura enjoys spending time with her family, crafts, quilting, reading, and flowers.
Email Laura