Discovery Worship

Team Profile: Mike Bauman

Mike and Kelly joined Discovery after moving back to Minnesota from Colorado, although Kelly grew up in the church here in St. Paul Park. They have two wonderful little girls who enjoy spending time with their grandparents, cousins, and aunts and uncles nearby. Mike has been playing the keyboard and singing with the worship team for a little over a year.

Mike has a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Minnesota, with major concentrations in Computer Science and Psychology, and he competed with the Gopher Men's swim team while at the U. Although he loves the idea of articifial intelligence, he is not actually a humanoid. Mike works in Patient Support at Boston Scientific, as a Resource Line consultant.

Here's (almost) everything you wanted to know about Mike, in 15 questions:

First Things First...

• First Job: Burger King - I still love their Whoppers.
• First Car: Pontiac Sunbird '84.
• First Pet: Tiffany, a little Yorkie - she is still a ball of energy. She keeps my parents company now that all 3 of their children have moved out.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

• Favorite Teacher: Mr. Eckhart - he taught Physics at the U of M and had a great sense of humor. I remember his politically correct use of stuffed animals as props. None were damaged at all as he took careful pains to help us visualize them as broccoli as they flew across the room.
• Favorite Restaurant: Outback Steakhouse - this is where my wife Kelly and I met.
• Favorite Movie: The Matrix. (the first one, of course).

Interesting Diversions...

• What I'm Reading: A lot of Parenting magazine articles. Both of our girls are under the age of 2 and this magazine seems to be open 24/7 at the kitchen table. I also try to spend time in the Word every day. Oh, and "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb" by Al Perkins, and, "Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr / Eric Carle. These seem to be favorites with the girls.
• What I'm Watching: American Idol and House (when its on in the background).
• What I'm Listening To: Casting Crowns - The Alter and the Door (worship), Hillsong - God He Reigns (worship), Mary Beth Carlson - In this Quiet Place (piano).

The Important Stuff...

• Salty or Sweet? Sweet - I don't have the biggest sweet tooth, but, there are times I just crave it.
• Pepsi or Coke? Pepsi.
• Vikings or Packers? Vikings!

The (Really) Important Stuff...

• What do you do on the Worship Team at Discovery? I play 2nd keyboard.
• Why do you serve on the Worship Team? I have a heart and a passion for worship and for ministry. I really believe God has given us music to draw us close to Him and it is an honor to serve Him and the Church in this way.
• What is your funniest Worship Team Memory? I remember Caleb Brock walking up on stage one time and picking up a microphone and singing into it. He is definitely following in his father's footsteps. :)

Note from Rob: I asked Mike if I could include this picture of him playing at the piano with his oldest daughter. Enjoy!

Team Profile: Rob Brock

I am the Worship Pastor at Discovery Community Church. My goal is to lead both believers and seekers into God's presence each week in worship, so that everyone can say, as Jacob did, "Surely God is in this place!" I love writing worship songs for the church, and I'm a member of the Minnesota Association of Christian Songwriters.

In addition to my part-time work with the church, I also work full-time as a Product Manager in Marketing at Boston Scientific. I have a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota, and I'm currently pursuing an MBA at the University's Carlson School of Management. My wife, Lynda, and I have been married for 13 years, and we have a passion for serving the church and raising up our 4 children to love and serve the Lord.

Here's (almost) everything you wanted to know about Rob, in 15 questions:

First Things First...

• First Job: Doing oil changes at Del's Auto in Forest Lake - I was a grease monkey :-)
• First Car: A very stylish '76 Dodge Aspen station wagon - blue with wood panels!
• First Pet: I didn't have pets growing up, since my dad was alergic to pet hair, but my sister had two birds named Bela and Bartok.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

• Favorite Teacher: Mrs. A. for math in junior high - a catholic school teacher in the public school, and everyone loved her.
• Favorite Restaurant: Outback Steakhouse - my first date with my wife! We love the Aussie Chips and the Sinful Syndey Sundaes.
• Favorite Movie: Minority Report - the best Sci-Fi movie ever

Interesting Diversions...

• What I'm Reading: Avoid Boring People - by Nobel Prize winner James Watson, Group Genius - by Keith Sawyer, Doing What Matters - by James Kilts
• What I'm Watching: American Idol, House, Monk (when I actually watch TV)
• What I'm Listening To: Paul Baloche - Our God Saves (worship), Robin Mark - East Of The River (worship), Chris Botti - Italia (jazz trumpet), Harry Connick Jr - Come By Me (big band jazz), Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (rock), Matchbox Twenty - Exile on Mainstream (rock), Little Big Town - The Road to Here (country)

The Important Stuff...

• Salty or Sweet? Definitely salty. Give me chips and dip over chocolate any day.
• Pepsi or Coke? Diet Pepsi, to balance out the chips and dip.
• Vikings or Packers? Vikings!

The (Really) Important Stuff...

• What do you do on the Worship Team at Discovery? I have the privilege of leading worship each week for the church. I love to find (or write) new worship songs for the church to keep our worship times fresh, mixing new with old, to help take people to the throne room of God.
• Why do you serve on the Worship Team? I live life with a soundtrack in my head, and I want to praise God with this gift. I would lead worship every night if I could, since music is so much a part of who I am. Music is therapy for me, and music is inspiration.
• What is your funniest Worship Team Memory? When Louise told me during mid-week practice to take all of her ideas, comments and suggestions with a 'grain of salt'. When we came in for practice on Sunday morning, someone on the worship team had placed a salt shaker on the piano for me to collect all of her 'grains of salt'.