Chief Operating Officer

Ken Welker

Ken was born and raised by secular parents in Belleville, IL. He has a son and a daughter from a previous marriage and 2 adopted daughters from his wife Sharon to whom he has been married for 22 years. They have 9 grandchildren on earth and 7 grandchildren in heaven that they look forward to meeting someday.

Ken began his career as a shift manager at the Pfizer iron oxide plant in East St. Louis. He earned his BS in Vocational Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL, and later earned his MBA from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL. He spent many years as a technical salesman and equipment services manager with Pfizer. God led him to Northern Wisconsin in 2009.  His most recent experience before joining Crossroads was production manager at St. Croix Rods in Park Falls, WI, where he was able to share the gospel as led by the Spirit and to encourage other believers.

Growing up he was terrified of Christians, and as an adult he became an alcoholic. But in 1999 the Lord revealed Himself and began working in his life in a powerful way.  He has been free from alcohol since 2006 and, having experienced the bondage of addiction, he has a desire to help others experience freedom that only Christ can give.  He is part of the house church movement and his passion is to help others grow in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Founder/CEO

Rich Larson

Rich was born and raised in northern Wisconsin.  He is blessed with an amazing wife Heidi of over 30 years and three boys who constantly humble him with their desire to serve the Lord.  Rich has been blessed to be a part of God raising up three church plants, the Brick Ministry, Crossroads Outreach Center, and various other ministries while working with Converge Great Lakes and being a pastor for over twenty-five years.  His passion is obedience and faithfulness to his God, family, and calling.  Along the way, God and people have shown him great grace, love, and forgiveness.  I see myself as a recovering Pharisee who still struggles at times with pharisaical tendencies.  I believe God is restoring and redeeming His Church and land in northern Wisconsin.  I believe as we continue to seek Christ and His transforming power through His Holy Spirit, the Church again in northern Wisconsin will see His Kingdom come and His will be done in a way that will honor and glorify the Father in Heaven.

Women's Life Relaunch Leader

Carla Ward

Carla’s heart is to answer the call in Colossians 3:12-14 to wear the compassionate cloak of Christ by serving the Last, the Least and the Lost.

Her instruction from God in the middle of a prison visiting room full of murderers, thieves, rapists, addicts and drug dealers was to

"Teach Them Who I Am”. To see Jesus in the hearts of inmates and their families. To see them through Christ’s eyes, forgive as He forgives and loves them as He loves. She is passionate about assisting those impacted by addiction and incarceration with the restoration of their relationships, beginning with Jesus Christ.

Carla was raised in Ashland and has returned, where she loves lake life in the woods. She has 2 sons and 7 grandchildren.

Office Manager

Justin Reto

Justin Was born in Charlottesville VA to David & Valerie Reto. His family moved back to Ashland in the 90’s. Justin’s mom and dad adopted seven children. Their family has always been busy. Justin has a heart for people. Growing up he founded a green thumb community garden and an adopt-a-grandparent program to pair individuals in nursing homes with adopted grandkids, and help folks in the community grow their own food.

Professionally Justin loves working with people. His career focuses on sales and customer service. Justin worked as a freelancer doing videography for many years, he took a job at a friend’s cafe and became a server and eventually manager. After that he spent four years serving his customers at Ashland Ford Chrysler as a sales consultant.

Justin was privileged to grow up in the church that his mom and dad have attended ever since he can remember. Justin doesn't remember a time before Jesus however, there was a moment during high school he had to choose for himself if he was really going to follow and make the faith his own. Justin’s greatest desire is to lead people to his Lord and live out his faith in a way that points others to Jesus.

Key Volunteer of Reclamation Workshop

Reece Larson

Reece was born and raised in Ashland, WI. He is the middle son of Rich and Heidi Larson. He married his high school sweetheart Nicole in 2021. 

Reece graduated from Ashland High School in 2020 and jumped straight in the workforce. He has worked a few jobs throughout his years. He began working for his uncles in high school at Deltco Plastics Inc. where he did a little bit of everything. He then transitioned to H-Window where he learned to build windows and do finish carpentry. Reece then worked as a carpenter once he was established out of high school. While doing carpentry work Reece pursued the calling placed on his heart to do youth ministry with Baynet. He decided that wherever God is moving that’s where he wants to be, so he joined Crossroads Outreach Center. Reece now uses his carpentry skills in the Crossroads Reclamation Workshop while working alongside men in the Changing Hope program. Reece also is a Life Relaunch facilitator. He has grown as he sees others around him be transformed by the Lord.

Key Volunteer of Addiction Transformation

Brian Cole

After thirty years involved in Satanism and the occult, twenty-seven years of incarceration - four as a juvenile, twenty-three as an adult.

For twenty-five years he was a drug addict and caught up in many other addictions such as cutting, pornography, sex, dungeons and dragons, and many more. In 2009 after being suicidal and almost succeeding on 3 occasions, Brian was arrested for the last time. At the age of forty-four he had finally “come to himself,” and through a faith-based drug and alcohol program offered in the county jail, he came to know the truth of Jesus Christ and was born again on January 22, 2009, being radically saved by the very same God he had denied for so many years! In addition to his work at Crossroads Outreach Center, Brian is the pastor of The Oaks Community Church in Drummond, Wisconsin.