Mike Wilson
Lead Pastor
Mike and Darci Wilson have lived in Gillette for 10 years. They have two sons, Lincoln (5) and Titus (2). Mike is a fourth-generation pastor who received his undergraduate and graduate (MBA) degrees from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and his doctorate (DMIN) degree from Portland Seminary. He is originally from Olathe, Kansas, and he is a huge fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas Jayhawks. He loves escape rooms (escaperoomology.net) and golfing. Mike has a passion to see the joy of new life in Christ spread in innovative ways to those who have not yet experienced God’s grace. He believes that we were all created for a purpose and will do whatever he can to help people become who they were created to be.
Mike recently released his first book. It’s called Leaving Left Behind, and it’s all about how positivity will help the church grow. It’s available on Amazon and most places books are sold.
Paul Baughman
Discipleship Pastor
Paul graduated from Geneva College in 1991 with dual degrees in Civil Engineering and Business. After serving in volunteer youth ministry for several years, God called him to leave engineering for seminary. He has served for more than 17 years as a pastor at churches in Pennsylvania prior to the Lord opening the door for ministry at New Life. In 2000 he married Karen and along the way they have been blessed with four ridiculously cute (and loud) children. He is passionate about seeing people deepen in their walk with the Lord and also loves going to playgrounds (with the kids, of course)
Darci Wilson
Children's Pastor
Darci is married to Mike and loves being a mom to her crazy and extremely different boys, Lincoln and Titus. She grew up in western Kansas and is a huge KC Chiefs and Kansas Jayhawks fan! She also loves golfing and learning as much as she possibly can about every professional golfer. Darci is the Children’s Pastor at NL and feels bad that she gets to have the best job on staff. When Darci isn’t with her boys, golfing, or watching sports, she is probably either running, reading, eating ice cream, or thinking about her favorite reality show, Survivor.
Karen Baughman
Women's Pastor
Karen is married to Paul and is thrilled to be serving the Lord at New Life. She is a graduate of Taylor University with a degree in Speech Communications and Theatre Education. She loves the Lord, her husband, her kids, spending time with people and all things creative. When she isn’t involved in ministry, she homeschools their four kids, makes yummy food, and plays to avoid cleaning the house.
Sara McCormick
Youth Pastor
Sara was born and raised in Germany until 2001 when her family moved to Gillette. She graduated high school from CCHS in 2011 and attended Gillette College on a basketball scholarship for two years, then transferred to the University of Wyoming and studied there for two years. She started attending New Life Sunday services and youth group in 2008. Sara is currently a licensed minister through the Wesleyan Church and is on track to pursue ordination. Sara and Cale got married in 2017.
Grant Austin
Operations Director
Grant, born and raised in Gillette, has attended New Life for most of his life. In 2013 Grant graduated from Western Governors University and on April 13, 2013, he married his wife Lindsey. Grant is happy to be a part of what Christ is doing at New Life and how New Life is being used by God to show non-believers that there is a one true God and He loves you more than you will ever know.
Mitch Austin
Service Director
Mitch was born and raised in Gillette, calling New Life home as long as he can remember. He studied music at Black Hills State University, and graduated in the fall of 2012. Mitch enjoys the church gathering to worship as one voice.
Zack Poitra
Hospitality Director
Zach was born in North Dakota and moved to Gillette in 2000. Zach has attended New Life Most of his life with his family. He has 3 children and has been married for 10 years. Before working at New Life Zach was working on a Physical Education degree and before that he was a coal miner for 10 years. Zach’s passion for the church is to welcome non-believers along with believers and connect them to a community of believers.
Tracy Bostick
Facilities Manager
Elena Austin
Early Childhood Coordinator
Elena was born and raised in Germany until 1998 when her family moved to Cullman, Alabama. She graduated from Cullman High School in 2005 and moved back to Germany that summer. She was an Au Pair in France for a year before she went to nursing school and received her pediatric nursing degree. Elena moved to Gillette in 2011 and has been working at the Recreation Center. Although her family lives in Germany, Gillette is her home. Elena is very excited about the children’s ministry and being part of the New Life family.
