Staff

Peter Benedict | Pastor

Peter has served on the RHV staff since 2000. He's been leading our staff since 2015. His undergraduate degrees are in English Teaching and Psychology, he has completed a two year course with Vineyard Leadership Institute, and he is completing a Masters of Divinity in 2022. In his spare time Peter enjoys time with his kids, reading, cooking, and any kind of gaming. His personal mission statement is "freedom and family for everyone:" the freedom of Christ, the family of God's people, for every person in the world.

Peter’s email is pjbenedict@gmail.com.

Becca Buntjer | Kids & Youth Pastor

Becca has degrees in Theatre Design and Technology and Theatre Performance, and she’s still somewhat shocked that God called her into ministry after achieving two theatre degrees from a United Brethren University. Once upon a time, Becca arrived in Minnesota after growing up in Illinois, attending Huntington University in Indiana, and working in theatres across Kentucky, Ohio, and Florida. When an acting job brought Becca to Inver Grove Heights in 2008, she started attending River Heights Vineyard. Soon after, she fell in love with Minnesota and decided to stay. Then fell in love with her church, River Heights Vineyard. There, she met Chris Buntjer, who she got to marry in 2011. Now they have two children, Margaret and Elizabeth, and haven't slept in years. Becca entered into youth ministry while she was seven months pregnant in 2017 and children's ministry in 2020, three weeks before a pandemic. She obviously doesn’t do things the easy way — She’s experienced and believes that God doesn't call us to do things the easy way; She says "God calls us to say yes, and if we're lucky, we can have a good sense of humor about it.” And Becca does.

Becca’s email is becca@riverheightsvineyard.org.

Gay Narron | Pastor

Gay has been attending River Heights since 2004 and has been on full-time staff since 2008. Her areas of leadership include Celebrate Recovery, life groups, and the administrative operations of the church. Gay has a B.A. in History and Political Science from Bethel University in St. Paul, and she has completed Vineyard Leadership Institute's two year program. She is single and lives in Inver Grove Heights with her furry friend, Catty Jane. Gay makes awesome pecan pie, loves history and documentaries, and for only a quarter will show you her magical double jointed thumbs! Having followed Jesus for over 50 years, Gay has a desire to see others find freedom through a relationship with God and a great church community.

Gay’s email is gay@riverheightsvineyard.org.