Staff

Kristin is the Director of Children’s Ministry at Discovery Community Church. She has served in this role for more than 6 years and is thrilled to have been a part of Discovery since it’s first Sunday in 2001. In addition to working for Discovery, Kristin also teaches ballet at the Morgan Family Branch YMCA, where she has been a part of the dance program for most of her life.

Kristin has been married to her husband Bard for 5 amazing years and is more grateful each year for his leadership of their family. Together they have two beautiful daughters, Evelyn, a fun force of nature, and Cecilia, their sweet new baby.

When not caring for an infant and a toddler, Kristin loves having coffee with friends or curling up with a good book. And if there is any kind of event coming up, you can be sure she will want to help plan it!

Traci is the Worship Leader/Creative Planner at Discovery. She has led worship for over 20 years, beginning on her college campus and then as a college minister and eventually along side her husband Jon in church ministry. Traci is also an educator in the community- teaching kindergarten and directing children’s musicals in Tacoma for the past 9 years.

Pastor Jon and Traci started Discovery Community Church together in 2001. The day after Discovery launched the first public service, Traci gave birth to their 4th child.

Traci loves being Mom to Mary Karen, Hudson, Maggie and Charlie. She encourages them to find their own ways to be a part of Discovery’s ministry- from helping with media, to holding babies and taking part in drama and music.

“A great Sunday morning at Discovery leaves me in awe at God’s people coming together to help men and women encounter the living God..and if I have a bruise on my hand from my tambourine- I know it’s been a stellar day rocking the flock!”

Laura is the Connections Administrator, joining the Discovery team in March of 2012. She has attended Discovery since moving to Tacoma with her husband (Ben) in 2009. Married in 2008, Ben and Laura welcomed their first baby (Bennett) in January of 2012.

Laura became passionate about helping people connect at church after living in about 10 cities prior to settling in with the hubby in Tacoma. Church was how she found new friends in each new place, and sometimes it was difficult to jump in. Combining her love of people, organizational psychology, and processes, her desire is to help people find community at Discovery.

In addition to working at Discovery and being a new mama, Laura also enjoys teaching a Human Resources course, volunteering at her husband’s work (Stewart Middle School), spending time with her extended family, and drinking Earl Grey Tea Lattes.

Josh joined Discovery Church in February 2011 to head up the student ministry department. Josh has been married to his beautiful wife, Kelly for four years and they are expecting their first child this Summer.

Over the last seven years Josh has been a part of a number of teams in Tacoma that have sought to lead students to Christ by engaging them in their schools and showing them the love of God. The Van Wyhes love to function together as a team and have a passion to see young men and women realize their invaluable worth and calling as sons and daughters of God.

Josh and Kelly are very excited to be a part of the community and believe that God is going to do some great things in the Student Ministry.

Mandi currently serves as the Office Administrator for Discovery Community Church. She has served in several capacities at Discovery over the past seven years and is passionate about people. Mandi is wife to her best friend Troy and mother to two incredible children, Kyle (13) and Kailyn (10). She enjoys entertaining family and friends with her latest cooking techniques and often throws dinner parties well outside the capacity of her home – “the more the merrier”.

Mandi enjoys drinking coffee, long chats with friends, shopping for good jeans, camping (with electricity!), and anything else that deepens the relationship with her husband and kids; even if that means hunting, football and Saturday soccer in the rain.