Neil graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Professional Accounting. He worked for Atlantic Richfield Hanford Company as an internal auditor before joining the Washington State Auditor's Office as a State Examiner. He moved from the Auditor's office to the Washington State Attorney General's Office as their Administrative Manager and retired after 29 years in that position. Neil has served as the President of the Thurston County Youth Soccer Association and Thurston County Babe Ruth and is currently an Assistant State Commissioner for the Southern Washington Babe Ruth program. Neil also served 23 years with the Washington National Guard at Camp Murray, and he is actively serving churches in Thurston and Pierce counties. Because of his love for military families and struggling churches, Neil, coordinated with Pastor Larry Rogers to found MC2 Ministries in 2013. The initial purpose of MC2 was to "Empower Military Connections," by serving as a "gateway" program to help military families in need; thus, providing an opportunity to point them to Christ and His church. However, this focus changed in 2020 with the Covid 19 pandemic. At that time, many churches were struggling to survive the extended period of closures and were in needed help. Because, we no longer had access to military families, the emphasis of MC2 Ministries transitioned to "Empowering Ministry Concepts," helping churches in need. MC2 Ministries' first recipient of aid (the first project church) was The Rock Church in Olympia. Neil navigated MC2 Ministries through the pandemic and we were able to provide aid to several churches during that time. Sadly, Neil passed away due to an illness in December 0f 2023. We continue to honor Neil's vision to serve military families and churches in need.
Donnie Brandsma
Military Consultant
Donnie was born in Everett, Washington but spent most of his life in Sunnyside. He served 23 years in the Army Reserve. During the 1960s, Donnie ran his father-in-law's orchard which he later purchased and continued to operate from 1968 until 1991. Donnie also worked for Wilbur Alice Corporation for 12 years in their agriculture division overseeing their spray program. Donnie is now retired and lives in Pasco Washington. Donnie was introduced to MC2 Ministries through his cousin Neil Brandsma.
Art Smelser
Direction and Guidance
Art served as one of the directors for the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) for the state of Washington for several years and has helped to survey and develop properties, water & sewage systems, roadways and construction sites for Christian camps, churches and missions in the United States, Mexico and Africa. For a number of years, Art served on the leadership board for Warm Beach Camp and Conference center in Stanwood, Washington and continues to work as a consultant to businesses and church leadership teams through-out the Pacific Northwest.
Simon Bradshaw
Military Consultant
Simon entered the military in 1984 and is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) in Washington state. Over the years, he has served in various leadership and management positions within the military, and he retired from the Army in 2015. Simon currently works for the Washington State Patrol as a Senior Telecommunications Specialist. Simon is also member of a local church in Olympia, WA, where he plays drums for the Praise and Worship Band and helps with business operations in the church. Simon serves on the Board of Directors for the MC2 Ministries as one of our military consultants.
Marian Graham
Administrative Assistant
Marian was employed by the Washington State Attorney General's Office for 48 years. An award was established many years ago in the Attorney General's Office entitled The Marian Graham Award which reads "inspired by your legacy of exceptional service" and awarded yearly to a member of the professional staff. She is very involved with community service and has been a member and past president of the Altrusa Int'l of Olympia organization for 43 years. In the past she was presented with an award from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Thurston County for her outstanding and dedicated service and a Woman of Achievement Award from the Olympia YWCA. She also was the administrative assistant for the senior pastor of The Rock Church of Olympia for 27 years.
Larry has pastored churches since 1975, he has ministered as a church planter and serves as a consultant to churches in need of "turn-around" guidance. He attended George Fox College, Fuller Theological Seminary, Western Evangelical Seminary and Azusa Pacific University and has earned two master's degrees in biblical studies and leadership. He worked with inner-city ministries in Los Angeles for a number of years and served as the lead pastor of The Rock Church in Olympia for over 28 years. While at The Rock Church, Pastor Larry worked with turn-around churches in Tacoma and Lynnwood, Washington and planted a church in DuPont, Washington that ministered to active and retired military personnel and their families from JBLM. Larry has worked with military families for over 18 years. Pastor Larry is currently overseeing the church restart of The Axiom Church in Tacoma, Washington and coordinates the facility use of the collaborative ministries that use the church facility. Pastor Larry is currently serving on the board in a consultant capacity only.