Our Team | Cross Culture Community Church

Our Staff

Sam Snyder

Lead Pastor “I am passionate about knowing God and helping all people come to know Him! I grew up in Mexico and I have spent the last 22 years living, learning, and ministering here in the United States. I have been shaped by many ministry experiences from growing up in Mexico to now 22 years in the USA, from Bible school to Grad school, from small towns to big cities, from failed ventures to successful ventures, from youth pastor to church planter… but the experiences I love the most are being a husband to Sarah and a father to five kids.

My undergraduate studies are in inter-cultural ministry & biblical studies and I have a dual MA in Organizational Leadership & in Practical Ministry. I love helping people and organizations discover their identity and calling while also working to help them find creative solutions to overcome the challenges that prevent them from fulfilling their callings.

I also serve as co-leader of the All Nations Family of Churches, as a Regional Elder and the Global Connections Coordinator with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies, and as the International Ministry Director for the Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation.

I would love to connect with you sometime: Send me an email or catch me on a Sunday!"

Jonas Cortes

Spiritual Life & Creative Arts Pastor “I love worshipping God and helping others walk in relationship with Him! I’m originally a Northerner from Mexico who was raised in the South and now live in Northern USA! I began playing and leading worship at the early age of 9 and have continued growing, leading, and teaching others how to worship and come into the presence of God. My studies in Communications and Bible School were launching pads into my roles within Videography and Ministry. At any given moment you could find me playing music, handling a camera, or having fun with our kids."

Bet Cortes

Equipping & Empowering Pastor “I am passionate about loving God and sharing His love with others! Raised in the southern heat of Mexico, I have grown to love every place and people where God has taken me! After Bible school, the past 17 years have been well-lived as I’ve served in ministry in Mexico, New York, and now among the beautiful people of Minnesota. My aim is to walk in God’s joyful presence, live for His purposes, and help others as they do the same. Jonas & I enjoy spending time with our three children, sipping a good cup of coffee, and connecting with others. Send me a time that’s good for you, and let’s meet up!"

Emily Beck

Pastoral Assistant "I grew up in the northwestern suburbs of Minneapolis and now live in Columbia Heights. I am a graduate of the University of Northwestern - St. Paul and I currently work part-time at Cross Culture and part-time in marketing and communications. I have considered Cross Culture my church home since 2017 and I joined the Cross Culture staff in February of 2022. There are many things I love and appreciate about this community, including the emphasis on everyone participating and taking an active role in church functions, worshiping in different languages, and the mindset of living for God's purposes at all times!"

Our Elders

Felix Amenumey

Elder “I am originally from Ghana, West Africa. I graduated from the University of Minnesota, with a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership Policy and Development. I have been a member of Cross Culture since 2006 and I am passionate about empowering people in prayer and intercession. My wife, Sheila and I reside in St. Paul with our three children.”

Agnesgrace Auko-Kambeke

Elder Emeritus “I am originally from Kenya, East Africa. I have 4 adult children, three boys, and one daughter. I went to school at the University of Minnesota, where I earned my MSW in Mental Health Social Work and MPh in Nutrition and I also hold a Masters of Arts in Leadership. I enjoy doing discipleship and pastoral care ministry as well as going to nursing homes to visit the sick. I am passionate about our church because of the teaching of the word of God, Worship, and relationships with members of the church.”

Ministry Framework

Our Pastors, Elders and Ministry Coordinators work to equip the church for the work of ministry in these areas:

Our Ministry Coordinators

Blake Antonio

Kids Ministry Coordinator "I studied at Bethany Global University and received my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. I love to cook food from Central Asia and I have a passion to see the salvation of those who inhabit Central Asia and the Middle East. I am excited to worship with you and do life with you"

Matt Carlquist

Missions Ministries “Having missions experience myself, I enjoy leading the missions team at Cross Culture. It is a privilege to support and encourage the various missionaries of Cross Culture.”

Our Sent Missionaries

Jake and Ana McNally

Puebla, Mexico The McNally's are serving in Puebla, Mexico with Living Hope International. His vision is to raise leaders from Latin America and engage the church in evangelism to reach the nations. He is currently teaching evangelism classes and leads a group of students.

Eirik and Bethany Rasmussen

Kigoma, Tanzania Eirik grew up as a missionary kid in Kigoma, Tanzania. Bethany was born and raised in the Twin Cities, and attended and served at Cross Culture Community Church throughout high school and college. After getting married in 2013, they pastored in Captain Cook, Hawaii, for five and a half years. They are now moving back to Eirik’s hometown in Kigoma, Tanzania, to train East African pastors and missionaries to grow the church and reach the unreached of Africa. Eirik will be primarily teaching theology and ministry at Lake Tanganyika Cristian College and the East African School of Missions. In September of 2019, Eirik and Bethany welcomed their first daughter, Leslie, into the family.

Our Supported Missionaries

David and Becci Snyder

Guerrero, Mexico David and Becci Snyder have been missionaries to Petatlan, Guerrero, Mexico since 1981. They pastor Iglesia Agua Viva (Living Water Church). They also teach at the Instituto del Ministerio de Comunion Cristiana de Mexico, which was started to raise up and send out ministry leaders. Their vision is to preach the gospel in Mexico in such a way that produces disciples, churches, and missions.

Joanna Snyder

Guerrero, Mexico Joanna is serving the church for sustainable ministry, providing discipleship and equipping, teaching at the Instituto del Ministerio de Comunion Cristiana de Mexico and the Sunshine Christian Academy in Petatlán.

Jim and Martha Towner

Serving throughout Latin America & the World with Centers for Ministerial Training.

Ben and Hannah Clark

Oaxaca, Mexico Coordinating short-term teams, both coming to and going out from the missionary base. Supporting Mexican pastors and other missionaries through pastoral care. Supporting the schools on the base, which train current and new Mexican pastors, children’s workers, and worship leaders, sending them out in teams to places where there is no discipleship presence. We want to equip these precious men and women as they seek to reach their unreached communities.

Our Strategic Partners

We also have Strategic Partners who we worked with in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia who cannot be shown here but whom we love dearly and who are part of our extended family around the world.