Bay City Baptist Church of Green Bay, WI

MINISTRY TITLE: Assistant to the Pastors

HOMETOWN: Green Bay, WI

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INTERVIEWER: Can you please give me a short life history so we can get to know you a little better? Maybe weave in how you ended up in the ministry.

REV. KRIS: I was born right here in Green Bay, WI in May of ‘63. At the age of 10, after seeing an incredible change in my father’s life, I trusted Christ for my salvation. In 1984, following graduation from high school, I met my wife Julia in Germany while serving in the USAF. We married in August of that year and God has since blessed us with 4 wonderful children. It was during that time of service for my country that God was calling me into His service. After graduating from Bible college in 1992, following 12 years of secular work, God settled my place of ministry right here at Bay City Baptist Church. My family and I love to camp at least one week in the summer and enjoy winter activities of such as ice fishing and downhill skiing. As the children grow older just spending time together of any sort truly is a blessing!

INTERVIEWER: What’s the best part of your role here? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

REV. KRIS: Having spent a significant portion of my life in the secular world, I marvel that God allows me to spend my days in active full-time service for Him! Wow, what an opportunity to impact other’s for Christ. Whether it’s teaching in our Christian school or having my hands on various ministry needs, I absolutely love being a part of it! I get to live my life for God, then He graciously uses that life as a tool in His service! Amazing! How can I not get up for THAT, amen?

INTERVIEWER: Please tell me a little about your family.

REV. KRIS: My wife Julie serves as a CNA at a local assisted living center. It is there the Lord uses her caring spirit to minister to others . As far as our children are concerned it’s been great having them involved in the sports program here at our Christian school. They are developing valuable character skills as well as building lifelong friendships. The first of our children, Jessica, will be finishing a degree at NIU in the coming year, in fact studying abroad on the island of Guam! Our next oldest, Glen, just completed a year of full time training in the Air National Guard and will be attending Northland full time this fall. Valerie, our third in line, will be a senior in high school this year and is very active in volleyball and basketball. Our youngest son, Robby, just turned 11 and has enough energy to rival the previous three! It’s amazing to sit back and see how God has specially blessed and gifted each one of His children to love and glorify Him!

INTERVIEWER: When you get away from the office what do you like to do...hobbies, sports, whatever? No fact is too small.

REV. KRIS: I jokingly tell people that my favorite activity is rising early on a Saturday morning before anyone else is awake, pouring a fresh cup of coffee and watching the deer or other wildlife feeding outside in the yard! All kidding aside, I really do enjoy that! My father raised my brother and I to enjoy the outdoors and I’m passing some of that on to my boys as well. That’s probably why we enjoy camping so much. There’s something there for all us. Mom gets to cook over an open fire, girls get to swim and tan and the boys get to fish. As mentioned however, a large segment of time has gone to our children’s involvement with sports along with Julie’s and my attendance to their games. All told I suppose one of our favorite things is sitting around the living room on any given evening and just relaxing together.

INTERVIEWER: Let’s talk food. OK, free dinner tonight at any restaurant...where would you go and why?

REV. KRIS: Hands down it’d be to El Malino’s restaurant on the island of Sardinia, Italy! While in the service I was temporarily stationed there for nine weeks. El Malino serves the most incredibly delicious Calzone that you’ve ever tasted in your life! Hand rolled dough, fresh Italian peppers, sauce, cheeses and ingredients cooked to perfection in a wood-stoked stone oven. Dude! If I had a gazillion dollars I’d fly my family there once a week just for supper!!! I am so not even kidding!

INTERVIEWER: Let’s talk vacations. So, you could go anywhere on the earth right now. Where would that be? You don’t have to say Jerusalem or anything spiritual like that.

REV. KRIS: Okay, with the exception of that restaurant in Italy, I think I’d love to be sitting on a beach somewhere in say St. Thomas, Virgin Islands? Never been there, but the thought of sitting in a beautiful climate and enjoying the view of palm trees and ocean are quite appealing. The thought of sitting there and doing nothing is probably the most appealing of all!

INTERVIEWER: Of course I have to ask the obligatory “favorite color question.” Favorite color?

REV. KRIS: Can’t say as I have one specifically. I mean, I like several deep, vibrant colors. A metallic, candy apple red on the sports car of my choice would be pretty sweet. But having an emerald green something or another might be cool too.

INTERVIEWER: What would you say is the best invention in the last 50 years?

REV. KRIS: The automatic drip coffee maker.

INTERVIEWER: What else do you want people to know about you?

REV. KRIS: I’d like them to know that though I may not be working or living where they are, that I do understand and appreciate where they may be coming from. I believe God has allowed me time and experience, in varying capacities, that assist me in identifying with folks from other walks of life. If they have a burden or an issue that needs to be shared I’d love the opportunity to sit down with them and listen. Together we can share truths from God’s Word and approach the throne before Him in prayer.

INTERVIEWER: Is there anything interesting that people might be surprised to know about you?

REV. KRIS: Yes, maybe this, that though I possess the personality traits of an extrovert, I truly enjoy times of solitude and quiet the Lord brings my way. It is in those moments of peace and stillness that I am focused and encouraged by the wonder of God’s love for me. Experiencing His love and forgiveness daily, compel me to want to share the same with the people He allows to cross my path.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you for your time today Rev. Stauff.

REV. KRIS: You are most certainly welcome!