FOUNDATION CREWS

Rick grew up in a small farming community around Bluffton IN. Rick married his sweetheart, Deb at the ripe old age of 19. Both of them have always had a passion for the Lord and reaching out to people with the Good News about Jesus. Rick and Deb have five children, and Deb has kept busy helping in ministry and schooling the kids.

In 2005, they sensed a call from the Lord to move to Saint Cloud Florida to start The Connection church. Today, Rick continues to serve as Lead Pastor at The Connection.

Rick has a B.S. in Pastoral Ministry, M.A in Ministerial Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies and is the author of Lasting Leadership, intended to help young pastors and church planters balance personal, family, and ministry leadership for lasting health and success.

He and Deb live in St. Cloud FL and love their church, community, and spending time with their kids and 9 grandkids.

Kerry and his family originated from the lakes and cornfields in northern Indiana, where he attended schools in Milford and Warsaw, Indiana. His wife Denise was from a nearby town of Nappanee and they attended the same church camp together as children. While in college and graduate school, they both met at camp again as support staff in the summer of 1980 and started dating. They were married a year later. All three of their children were born in that area as well while Kerry was serving as an Associate Pastor and then Senior Pastor at the Jefferson Brethren Church in Goshen, In., and Denise working as an elementary art teacher.

Sensing a call to serve the Lord in a different capacity, they moved after 12 years of ministry to Central Florida to take part in a church planting initiative sponsored by Florida churches within the Brethren church. While that particular mission opportunity did not materialize, they remained committed to serving in a church planting capacity and eventually met pastor Rick Fiechter and his family, who had recently moved into their neighborhood. They soon joined in helping launch The Connection Church.

Kerry has his B.A. and M.Div. from Ashland Theological Seminary, OH. For the past 11 years he has worked as a financial advisor for Edward Jones with an office in Saint Cloud while also serving as an Elder at the Connection.

Deric VanBuskirk was born and raised in Bremerton, WA. He was brought up in a middle class working family with two older brothers and a younger sister. They were a part of the local Lutheran church, where the seeds of Jesus Christ were planted in his heart.

While in high school, Deric began his first job which led into a career in the food and beverage industry for over 25 years.  Several years later, he found himself in Florida, where he developed his culinary career, working his way up to executive chef at the Walt Disney World Resort.

It was at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom where he met his wife Kerri, and they were married in 1999. They have three children; Julia, who recently graduated from UF, Jordan, who recently graduated High School, and Jenna, who is in the 8th grade. Deric is on staff with The Connection Church, manages real estate and drives a bus. He and Kerri, along with their kids, enjoy camping, traveling, and serving others.

Deric + Kerri have both served in many capacities at The Connection Church over the last 16 years. Deric is a Deacon, Youth Connect Director, leads the church’s mission trips and overseer’s care and membership.

Every Sunday at 12:30 p.m., we open our home for a time of fellowship, where each family brings their own meal and we share life together. We reflect on that morning’s church message and dive deeper into how it can be lived out during the week, with a practical application to challenge and encourage growth.

My wife, Jearene, is originally from the Dominican Republic and moved to the U.S. when she was 9. She holds a master’s degree in social work and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). I grew up in Sparta, Illinois, and moved to St. Cloud when I was 11. I have a master’s degree in instructional design and work as a Principal Product Manager for an education technology company.

Together, we love the Lord and are passionate about helping others grow in their faith and experience the life-changing power of a relationship with Jesus.


Thomas and Donna grew up in Tennessee and moved to Florida in 2004. Thomas and Donna are passionate about creating a Christ-centered community where families and individuals can find encouragement, healing, and purpose. As parents of eight children—with a deep love for adoption and foster care—they bring a wealth of wisdom, warmth, and real-life experience to their Crew. 



Donna is a licensed cosmetologist and loves spending time at the beach! Thomas has a Masters of Divinity and a MA in counseling. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Together they offer a safe, supportive space to grow in faith, build meaningful relationships, and walk through life’s challenges with hope. Everyone is welcome!

Justin and Shelby met while serving on the mission field in South Africa and were married in 2015. They are now the proud parents of three children: Tessa (8), Emmie (6), and Myles (4). Shelby serves as the Children’s Ministry Director at The Connection Church, where she is passionate about nurturing the spiritual growth of young hearts. Justin is the owner of Providence Roofing and plays an active role in the church, helping lead the Foundation Crew on Thursday evenings.

They host a weekly Bible study in their home on Thursdays at 7:00 PM. Children are welcome, and all are invited. If you are seeking community and meaningful connection, you’re warmly encouraged to join them.