Worship Arts Staff

Howie graduated from Arizona College of the Bible in 1987 with a double major in Bible and Church Music. He finished his master’s degree in Applied Music (Choral Conducting) in 1995 from the University of Houston. Before joining the gracespring staff in September 1997, Howie had 17 years of full-time experience in worship and music at three churches, including Kingwood Community Church near Houston, and Galilee Baptist Church in Glendale, Arizona. He met his wife, Dawn, in college in Arizona where they married in 1989 and they have three children, Madeline (born 1995), Tyler (born 1997), and Mackenzie (born 2000). Howie loves to lead and facilitate worship, and one day would like to write a book on worship. He believes that choirs, contemporary praise teams, and powerful dramas all have a unique role in leading people into an intimate encounter with God.

Nicki grew up in Charlotte, MI. In 1991, she earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from Ferris State University. After graduating from Ferris, she married her high school sweetheart, Stan McDonald. They are blessed with 2 wonderful kids – Becca (born 1995) and Ryan (born 1998). After leaving the corporate world soon after Ryan was born, she began her own in-home daycare and later worked for Gull Lake Community Schools. The McDonalds began attending gracespring in 2001 and are very thankful for the church family that they have found here. Her hobbies include scrapbooking, reading, off-road jeep trips and hanging out with friends and family.

Scott and his family started attending gracespring Bible Church in 1997; Scott has served on the Technical Team since 1998. His wife, Kim, is a homemaker who is active in gracespring's RBC softball and Children's Ministries. They have three children - Dustin, Dillon, and Abbigail. Scott has worked as a professional singer and musician, a residential carpenter, and in the manufacturing industry as a supervisor and plant superintendent. Scott feels the Lord has blessed him with a variety or work experiences that allow him to serve our wonderfully talented Technical Team.

Lori's interest in singing began in high school and led her to earn a bachelor of science in Music Education from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY. While in college, she traveled with college vocal groups and took a year off to tour with the Christian contemporary band "Free Spirit". After earning a master's in Vocal Performance from Western Michigan University, Lori began directing music and leading worship in Kalamazoo. She currently teaches voice at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and coaches private students in her home studio. God lead the Claussens to gracespring Bible Church in the fall of 2005 and Lori joined the gracespring staff two years later. As Pastor Howie's vocal assistant, she helps rehearse the choir and praise teams.

Karen is the wife of senior pastor Larry Kiser. She began gracespring's drama ministry in 1995 as the church was growing rapidly and moving to a more contemporary worship format. Her volunteer leadership of the drama ministry is a labor of love, though she is committed to a level of excellence that is in harmony with the entire worship arts ministry of gracespring Bible Church. Karen is a mother to eight children. In addition to her roles of wife and mother, she is also a dedicated educator in the area of high school literature and language arts. Karen's love for drama began as soon as she could talk, as she found the focus of every camera! Her dramatic flair found more expression in her high school and college years as she played a variety of roles in many productions.

Michele was born in Kalamazoo, and grew up in the small town of Lawrence. She received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Western Michigan University and then pursued further study at VanderCook College of Music where she received a master’s degree in the same area of study. When she’s not busy teaching music and serving as one of Gull Lake Community School’s band directors, Michele likes to scrapbook, play guitar, and go camping. She also enjoys photography and has been attending gracespring Bible Church since January 1998.