Becky Vanausdall

I was born and raised in Rochester, Minnesota, the middle of five kids! My Dad was my children's pastor and currently my youngest sister is director for her church's children's ministry, too. It must be a gene that runs in the family.

I gave my life to Christ when I was 5 years old at Camp Dry Gulch, USA as a camper. I grew up in a great Christian home but in high school I struggled with understanding God's grace and fell away for two years until God showed me that living for myself would never fulfill me like trusting him. I had made a mess of my life and he restored it as I worked as a camp counselor at Camp Dry Gulch USA, the summer before my senior year of high school. After serving two summers, I was trained to be a part of the camp administration.

In college I had a great church, but I did not have a ministry beyond my campus life and as I neared graduation I sought out a church where I could serve. I have always found that the more I serve God the better my relationship with Him.

After two weekends of attending Substance I volunteered at Kids Connection and I have never left. My community and family is in Kids Connection! I love telling kids about Jesus and helping others do the same. I know from personal experience that children can make a meaningful decision for Christ at very young ages and that the world is pouring in all sorts of lies early on. I want to impact the families of the Twin Cities by ministering to their children and helping them get the tools they need to build their family on the Rock. I like planning family events and editing the curriculum to help our volunteers!

I have a bachelor's in Biology, Society, and Environment (with a focus on philosophy of science and plant-based genetic engineering and physiology) from the University of Minnesota. I returned to the University of Minnesota to get my masters of education and a Minnesota teaching license for Middle and High school science. I am currently 1 semester from completion. I love teaching and I am especially interested in the theology behind science and religion and their interactions in society. A huge focus of my undergraduate studies was in Evolution and Intelligent Design Theory. 

I met my husband, Mike, our freshman year of college when my dorm neighbor (a friend of his from high school) told him there were cute girls next door. He and his friend ran over and hugged me and my best friend (who became my maid of honor) and we became close friends. We spent three and a half years crushing on each other until one day, winter of senior year, he finally got up the nerve to kiss me! Only six months later we were engaged and were married June 25, 2011.

One of my biggest dreams is to have a family, and Mike and I are looking forward to starting ours.

I would love to coach at the high school level and continue to teach or tutor formally or informally for the rest of my life.

I was an administrative assistant at Camp Dry Gulch USA in Pryor, OK in 2008, where we saw over 18,000 kids a summer at overnight camps! I was a literacy tutor for 4 years with America Reads as part of Americore during my undergrad, where I created curriculum and helped inner-city children. I led a Bible study  and mentored young women as a leader in U of MN's Campus Crusade chapter for two years. I also have a great deal of coaching experience at the elementary and high school levels for cheerleading and dance teams and camps.

I love singing and writing music and I was a University of Minnesota co-ed cheerleader (NCAA Scholar Athlete!), so I love coaching cheer and dance. I am a huge fan of yoga and I wish I did it more. I love cooking for my husband (and anyone else that will eat my food) and spending time with my S.P.A.C.E. group. I recently become a leader for the Honeymooners subgroup and have enjoyed planning events. Teaching is my passion so I tutor when ever I can!

Facebook: Becky Vanausdall

becky@substancechurch.com