A.J. and Karis Potter

Both A.J. and Karis Potter were saved in their childhood, and both of their fathers are pastors. A.J.'s father, Kit, graduated from Fairhaven in 1984 and pastors Lighthouse Baptist Church in Bear Lake, Michigan. Karis' father is Randy Miller who pastors Ottumwa Baptist Temple in Iowa. As a teen, A.J. attended several Preaching Conferences, and through the preaching at the conferences and meeting the faculty here, God led him to come to Fairhaven for his college training. Karis' brother attended Fairhaven, and after much prayer and counsel, she felt led to attend Fairhaven also.

Through the course of his college education, A.J. was involved in the bus ministry, junior church, nursing home ministry, and visitation/soulwinning ministry. Karis also learned in the bus ministry, in addition to helping at various times in the nursing home ministry, a Sunday school class, and the 5th and 6th grade junior church. Both A.J. and Karis look back on the bus ministry as the most helpful to them now that they are out of college.

Currently, they are working at Ottumwa Baptist Temple where A.J. is the bus director and youth pastor. The practical aspect of their college training has helped prepare them to deal with people with diverse problems from different backgrounds as they minister in their church's bus ministry, Sunday school, junior church, jail ministry, Bible clubs, nursing home and teen choir. Karis also plays the piano for church services.

Reflecting on his college years, A.J. particularly enjoyed the youth ministry, speech, and cults classes, which have all been useful there in Ottumwa. A.J. summarized his training this way: "I appreciate the hands-on training that I was able to receive at Fairhaven to help me transition smoothly into a position after graduation. It was a great benefit to be able to work with faculty and adult church members who had years of experience to help train me to one day have the confidence to attempt these ministries here at Ottumwa Baptist Temple."

The Potters have one son, Trent, who is 2 and are expecting another son in November.