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Youth Leaders

Meet Your Youth Leaders

Meet our Youth Leaders

Michael T. Powers

Michael T. Powers, 55, is the Youth Minister at Faith Community Church. He is celebrating his 36th year of marriage to his high school sweetheart Kristi and together they have been involved in youth ministry for 38 years. They have three boys: Caleb, Connor, and Chase and one foster girl.


In 1985, at the age of sixteen, Michael was asked to lead the Jr. High ministry at People's Church in Beloit and then four years later began helping in the high school department. He will be forever grateful to his youth pastor, Rod Sawyer, for believing that teens were a part of "the church of today and not the church of tomorrow."


Kristi and Michael began attending Faith Community Church in 1998 and he accepted a full-time position with the church on October 1st, 2001. He now wakes up every morning thanking God for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of teenagers.


Michael writes, "If you don't take the time to establish real down-to-earth relationships with the youth that God has entrusted to you, they won't care one bit about the words that come out of your mouth. Real youth ministry is about relationships--not programs, activities, or events. Real relationships don't happen overnight. A teenager wants to know if you're for real before they care about anything you may have to share with them about God." 


Michael has a Bachelor's of Divinity Degree from Christian Leaders College and is an award winning writer who authored the book: Heart Touchers "Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter" His stories have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines around the world and in 35 other inspirational books including eleven books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.


Michael won the 2005 Storytelling World Resource award from Storytelling Magazine, chosen from among hundreds of stories, books, and recordings.


Michael was also honored in 2000 by Heartwarmers with the title: Heartwarmer Gem as one of their most beloved writers -- "those who have consistently contributed outstanding and memorable works that have captured the hearts and minds of their members around the world."


He appeared on national TV in a thirty minute interview on the show "Book Tours with Corinne Edwards" (Wisdom Television Network) and recently appeared on the morning TV talk show: The Morning Blend on TMJ 4 NBC in Milwaukee. He has also been interviewed on regional TV shows for his writing. Michael is also a motivational speaker, speaking mostly at high schools, churches, and corporate settings, and was the keynote speaker on "Taking Time for Parenting" for the 2001 Farm Progress Days, one of the nation's largest agricultural shows.


Michael attended the Answers in Genesis Creation College and was trained by Ken Ham and the Answers in Genesis staff to do multi-media presentations on the Creation/Evolution controversy and Apologetics while upholding the authority of the bible from the very first verse. He has not only spoken on this topic regionally at churches, schools and colleges but also in Asia and Europe.


He also serves with Tychicus Ministries, whose main goal is to “serve those who serve” by coming along side established missionaries in the field to keep them strong so they can fulfill the mission God is calling them to. The main way they do this is by providing support staff for the sending agency's conference (World Team Missions for example). Their support teams are comprised of youth pastors, children's pastors, music ministers, specialized teachers and speakers to help fulfill the conference needs. Through Tychicus Michael has had opportunities to speak to teens all over the world!


Michael is also the founder, editor, webmaster, and publisher of HeartTouchers.com and Heart4Teens.com: two very popular inspirational e-mail lists and web sites with 16,000 weekly subscribers from over 110 countries world-wide and over 11 million visitors.


Michael also enjoys sports and what they teach us about life. He is a Federation of Outdoor Volleyball Men's Open Sand Doubles Champion and an eight-time Gold Medallist in volleyball for the Badger State Games (Wisconsin's State Olympics). Michael has been a high school coach for 35 years and recently won his 400th game. He was the Head Varsity Girls' Basketball Coach at Clinton High School (home of the 2003 State Champion Lady Cougars) and was awarded the Rock Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2017. He is currently the Varsity Girls Basketball Assistant coach and Varsity Assistant Softball coach at Parkview High School. He is also a certified USA Junior Olympic Girls' 18 and under volleyball coach.


Michael is an avid reader (he always has a good book going) and shares a love for the outdoors and wildlife with his wife and sons. They especially enjoy camping, fishing, and hiking.


One of his favorite quotes is:


"A ministry that lasts is a ministry that relentlessly perseveres through periods of enormous persecution. It is not fickle. It does not need the applause of people. It rejects being enshrined as a god. Authentic ministry delivers the truth of God, no matter how jagged the edges or perilous the threats. The ministry of Paul and Barnabas dripped with that kind of determination. Does yours? Do you want to have a great ministry, or do you just want to be great?" --Chuck Swindoll


Watch an inspirational and challenging message by Youth Pastor and Author Michael T. Powers below on how we take God's Word for granted.

Godly Leaders Revere the Word of God
TV Interview on the Morning Blend
Sarah Kaveggia

Hey there, I’m Sarah Kaveggia, a part time youth minister at Faith Community Church!


I grew up in Janesville and attended Soul Fuel throughout middle school and high school. High school was an instrumental time in my faith where I made my faith my own and began to pursue a personal relationship with God. I have a huge heart for counseling, teaching, and helping students understand God’s heart for them. My aim is to be a safe person for kids to bring their questions, doubts, struggles, and hurt to. And of course the fun stuff too :) 


I graduated from Craig High School in 2013 and continued on to study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There I earned my Bachelors of Science in Journalism with minors in Entrepreneurship and Global Health. During my college years I volunteered with Cru, an interdenominational Christian organization. Over those four years I lead bible studies, mentored younger students, planned retreats and taught at large group meetings. But I never lost my love for youth ministry. I was able to stay connected to Soul Fuel throughout college, leading bible studies and speaking at our annual fall and winter retreats. 


After graduation in 2017, I pursued my portrait photography business, Sarah Kay Photography, full-time. I have photographed over a hundred weddings, engagements, families and high school seniors. I even had the adventure of flying to Brisbane, Australia, to photograph a friend’s wedding! I love capturing memories for my clients to treasure for the rest of their lives. 


In 2020, I started to feel a pull to give more of my life to Youth Ministry. The pandemic slowed the process down, but God opened the right opportunity at the right time. I joined staff at FCC in January 2022 and I am so grateful that I get to serve in the same ministry that was so impactful for me in middle and high school.

Michael and Sarah are joined by a great team of leaders who love Jesus and love teens!


Kristi Powers

Jill Schuerman

Ben Vegter

Scott and Emma Sheridan

Chase Powers

Isabella Robb

Jessica Jacobson

Rachael Thomas