Leaders – NLAC

Who
We
Are

Archbishop Foley Beach. The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has elected the Rt. Rev. Foley Beach as its second archbishop in succession to the Most Rev. Robert Duncan. Meeting in a private conclave at St Vincent College in LaTrobe, Penna., on 22 June 2014 ACNA’s bishops joined by the Primate of the Church of Uganda, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali of Kampala, elected Bishop Beach by secret ballot. A native of Atlanta, Dr. Beach was educated at Georgia State University, trained for the ministry at the University of the South and earned at Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He served in the Diocese of Atlanta from 1992 to 2004, when he withdrew from the Episcopal Church following the consecration of V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire. In 2004 Bishop Beach founded Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia. On 9 October 2010 he was consecrated as the first Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South. A native of Atlanta, Dr. Beach was educated at Georgia State University, trained for the ministry at the University of the South and earned at Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He served in the Diocese of Atlanta from 1992 to 2004, when he withdrew from the Episcopal Church following the consecration of V. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire. In 2004 Bishop Beach founded Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville, Georgia. On 9 October 2010 he was consecrated as the first Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South. Bishop Beach and his wife Allison have been married for over 30 years and have two children.

The Right Reverend Mark A. Engel – On January 6, 2021 (Feast of the Epiphany), the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America consented to the election of the Rt. Rev. Mark A. Engel as Bishop Ordinary for the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes. Bishop Mark was consecrated on February 13, 2021 as the third Diocesan Bishop of the ADGL. He previously served the diocese as Chair of the Standing Committee and Akron Area dean. He and his wife, Terri, have been married for almost 40 years and have three adult children.
Raised with the strong influence of a Christian family, he finally surrendered to Jesus as Lord during his time at Malone University. After graduating with a BA in Business and Economics and Christian Ministries in 1978, Bp. Mark quickly discerned a call to ministry and began his seminary education while beginning pastoral work. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Ashland Theological Seminary (Ashland, Ohio) in 1982. Over a span of thirty years, the Engels served in pastoral ministry in the U. S. and ten years of church planting and evangelism in Taiwan with the Friends Church. After establishing a new ministry focused on prayer in 2008 and planting a new non-denominational church in 2009, the Engels began a journey that would eventually lead them to the Anglican Church.
In addition to his pastoral and missionary service, Bp. Mark has also served as an instructor for the U.S. Center for World Missions’ Perspectives Course, as an adjunct faculty member for Malone University in missions and cross-cultural ministry, and as an adjunct faculty member for Regent University (Virginia) in Christian thought and leadership.

Our Rector/Pastor: The Rev. Michael J. Bridge, was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He lived in Pittsburgh for 26 years, attending the University of Pittsburgh and Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA. Upon graduation from Trinity in 2004, Mike was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Duncan and moved to Ulysses, KS to work in the [Episcopal] Diocese of Western Kansas under Bishop James Adams, who ordained him a priest in December 2004. Mike served as Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church and Vicar of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church before leaving southwest Kansas to come to New Life here in Petoskey. Mike is very Orthodox in his faith and believes that the proclamation of the gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus is the most important aspect of his calling. He loves to preach and teach and is very passionate about apologetics and sharing and defending the gospel. Mike has been married to Bonnie since July 31, 2004. They have six children: Mickey, Josh, Danny, Sammy, Fiona, and Sarah. In his free time… who is he kidding, there is no free time.

Our Vestry

2023 NLAC Vestry
Left to Right: Susan Davis, April Honeycutt, Junior Warden; Dylan Williams, Senior Warden; Erika Dielman, Don Lucky, Carol Bowman, Toni DuBois, Fr. Michael Bridge

Our Treasurers & Staff
Treasurer: Wes Ostrander	Assistant Treasurer: Susan Davis	Assistant Treasurer: Sally Stump	Assistant Treasurer: Dan Wandrie


Our Administrative Assistant: Tracey Jepsen is a native of the Petoskey area. She and husband of 39years (David) have three adult children; Tyler, Leann(Ryan), Rachel(Kyle) and granddaughter Heidi. Tracey was a stay-at-home mom until Dec.’99 when she returned to work force first as a drivers helper/pre-loader for UPS, then as a part-time Pastoral Assistant at Agape Baptist Church and college student. In May of 2006, Tracey graduated from North Central Michigan College with an A.A.S. in Marketing. She is happy to be using her education and experience to further the Lord’s work here at New Life, where she has served since September of 2006.