MEET OUR STAFF & ELDERS

Church Staff

Jim Rightler: Senior Pastor

Jim began serving as senior pastor of Northgate Alliance Church on September 1, 2009. He has previously served as senior pastor for Christian and Missionary Alliance churches in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Jim also ministered as the executive pastor of a very large church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and as an administrator for seventeen years on the staff of Crown College.

A graduate of Crown College (1968) and Jaffray School of Missions (1969), Jim has led or served as part of the leadership team for three mission trips to Lima, Peru.

Through his primary motivational spiritual gifts of serving and leadership, Jim seeks to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in and through the local Church as pastor, teacher, and leader.

Jim enjoys hanging out with his wife, Barbara, reading a good book, spending an evening with good friends, occasionally playing a round of golf, and going for long walks.


(641) 684-8811

Brian Malvig: Youth and Worship Pastor

Brian Graduated from Crown College with a youth ministry degree and an M.A. in youth ministry leadership. He has been in full-time ministry for over 10 years, working in church ministry and camp ministry. Brian and His wife, Jennifer, have four children and have been married for 13 years.

Brian grew up in Champlin and Elk River, Minnesota. After he married Jennifer, he moved to Lincoln, Nebraska and, for three years, worked in the home electronics business before going into full-time ministry. He was on staff at a Christian and Missionary Alliance church in Lincoln, Nebraska for five years. Next, he took a job as director of operations for Camp Rivercrest in Fremont, Nebraska. Afterward, Brian spent three years at a church plant in Norwood Young America, Minnesota, before coming to Northgate in January of 2010.


(641) 684-8811

Peggy Curtis: Church Secretary

Peggy began her responsibilities as Office Administrative Assistant on October 1, 2009. Prior to that, she had been working on updating her computer and accounting skills at Indian Hills Community College. Peggy also has a B.A. in Education from Texas Woman’s University. She has owned home decorating related businesses in New York and Ottumwa.

Peggy moved to Ottumwa in 1995, when her husband’s job with John Deere moved them from Syracuse, New York. Peggy and her husband, Ken, have also lived in Abilene, Texas, and Bakersfield, California. They have been married 37 years and have one son, Joel.

Peggy has always considered homemaking to be her primary career, though she has also been a downhill skiing instructor, teacher, bookkeeper, bank teller, and business owner. Peggy enjoys biking, gardening, playing the piano, reading, and traveling with her husband. Peggy and Ken also enjoy entertaining at home, especially outdoors in the summer.


(641) 684-8811

Church Elders

Marvin Boyer: Board Secretary/Treasurer

Marvin and his wife, Tracy, have been members of Northgate since 1994. They have four children: Tristan, Noah, Elyse, and Elaina. Marvin was born in Ottumwa and has lived here for most of his life, with a few years spent in Cedar Rapids (early childhood) and Des Moines (after college). Marvin is an Insurance Agent with Shelter Insurance and has been operating an office in the Church Street district of Ottumwa since 1993. In addition to his interest in golf, large-mouth bass fishing, bow hunting, and snowmobiling, Marvin likes to coach his boys, who are involved in a variety of sports. He and Tracy also enjoy watching British comedy on PBS. Surprisingly, Marvin boasts, "I can eat more food than people three times my size, including Torey Young [see below]. Yes, I like competition!" When he's not busy eating fish and chips while practicing his fake British accent, you can catch Marvin serving Northgate as Director of the AWANA T&T program for 3rd and 4th grade boys, co-teaching the K-2nd grade Discipleland class, and teaching Children's Church. He and Tracy also enjoy ministering to married couples in small group settings. His favorite Bible verse is Matthew 7:7.


(641) 682-0580


Dan Cavanaugh

Dan was born and raised in the Ottumwa area. Although he moved outside the area for about three years, living in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, Iowa, Chicago, Illinois, and Monroe, Wisconsin, he moved back to Ottumwa in 1978 and has lived here ever since. Dan and his wife, Connie, have been blessed with three adult daughters and six grandchildren. They have been members of Northgate since 1982. Dan works at the local Target and sells real estate for Real Estate Services. In his spare time, he enjoys tennis, boating, and working on home construction projects. Dan says that what he likes best about Northgate are the many talented people who love God and truly want to make a difference in the lives of others.


(641) 684-8171


Phil Cavanaugh

Phil, a native of Ottumwa, is the ninth of ten children, and was raised in the Roman Catholic Church. He and his wife, Constance, have three children: Hannah, Luke, and Leah. Phil laughingly admits, "Sometimes when I'm out with the children, especially our youngest, Leah, someone will comment, 'Spending time with the grandchildren today?'" (Note photo of "Grandpappy Phil" at right!) Phil works in sales and business development for small and home businesses. He started attending Northgate in 1993. In addition to serving as an elder, Phil is a leader in AWANA and Children's Church, and especially enjoys participating in outreach events. Phil says his primary spiritual gift is evangelism — which is obvious, even when you first meet him. In his own words, "I get a charge out of seeing God at work every day, people coming to Christ, and folks growing in their walk with the Lord." Phil just likes being with all types of people and laughing at life. His favorite Bible passage is Ephesians 2:8-10.


(641) 682-8664


Doug Schuck

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(641) 799-2368



David Tucker

David and his wife, Danelle, have been members at NAC since the fall of 2002, and have been active in many different areas since. He is currently teaching 5th and 6th grade Sunday School. David was born in Des Moines, but has lived all over Iowa as a PK (Preacher’s Kid). He settled in Ottumwa in early 1997, when he purchased his chiropractic practice, Lifetime Wellness Chiropractic. He has four children: Collin, Colton, Calyx, and Chaning. He is passionate about family, homeschooling, worship, health, and encouraging others in those areas. In his free time, David loves to play with his family and play basketball. His favorite Bible verses are Proverbs 3:5-6.


(641) 777-8544


Terry Willhoit

Terry has lived in Wapello County all of his life and has been a member of Northgate since 1990. He and his wife, Marsha, have two adult children. Terry is a farmer by trade and enjoys traveling, raising mules and horses, and hunting. He says that one of the things that originally drew him to Northgate was the number of sincere, godly men in the congregation. In addition to serving as an elder, Terry leads prayer on Tuesday evenings at Northgate. Get to know Terry and you will quickly catch his passion for prayer. He and Marsha are well known for their hearts to serve and their authentic, caring attitudes toward others.


(641) 662-2363


Torey Young

Torey has lived in Ottumwa all of his life and has been a member of Northgate since 2004. He and his wife, Mindy, have two boys, Tayler and Mason. Torey works for Cargill, Inc. In his down time, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, having people over, losing eating competitions to Marvin Boyer (see above), and yardwork (especially mowing!). In addition to serving as an elder, Torey helps with game time for Awana, Children's Church, the Northgate Nursery, and ensures the mowing gets done for the church's nine acres of land. The two things Torey likes best about Northgate are the large number of young families in the church, as well as the many programs Northgate has for children and youth.


(641) 799-2044