Our Team
Lori Hengl
CONNECTIONS DIRECTOR
Heyo! My name is Lori Hengl and I am the connections director at New Spirit Church. My husband, Matt, and I started attending New Spirit Church in early 2025 and have made it our home. When I first started attending NSC, the strong theology, authentic people, and love of God quickly drew me in. I have a passion for connecting people inside and outside of our church walls to each other, and most importantly, to Christ. My main role is to manage the church's communications via email, text, social media, and on stage.
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I grew up as an only child with both parents, who raised me in the church. But in high school, I chased boyfriends and substances to numb my mental pain. I also struggled with self-harm and depression. When I got to college, my mental health only got worse. One night, on the steps of a church in downtown Bellingham, I cried out to God for help. I had no other hope. In that moment, I felt His love wrap around me, but I also felt Him push me to reach out to Christian community for support. I quickly got involved in a campus ministry and felt like I was on spiritual Miracle-Gro. I engaged my faith intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually to form a strong foundation that grounds me to this day.
Many chapters of life have passed since then, but God has remained my anchor. He saved me. I leaned into Him and experienced a safe love that changed me forever. He is my perfect, gentle, loving Father and He can be yours as well. God's love drives me to connect people to Him, so they can experience His life-changing kindness too.
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I grew up in SeaTac, WA and went to Raisbeck Aviation High School. Matt and I have lived in Enumclaw with our two little pups since January 2023. Over the last 10 years, I have been involved in ministry in many capacities. I have been a worship volunteer, a summer youth intern for two summers, a youth small group leader, and on a few different church committees. I enjoy weight lifting, hiking, and music.
Laurie Evans
WELCOME DIRECTOR
My name is Laurie Evans, and I am the Welcome Director at New Spirit Church. What began as a quest to spend more time with family (my daughter Cari, son-in-law Jeff, and grandchildren Roman and Ryleigh) led to the discovery of a loving and kind church family!
I initially offered to help on the Welcome Team baking cookies, which eventually turned into an offer to lead the team. It has been such a pleasure to do so, and aligns with my desire to grow my relationship with the Lord.
Not only do I get to lead an incredible team of people, but also get to greet our church family and guests each Sunday. I love the joy that being involved with New Spirit has brought to my life and have been blessed with so many valued friendships since coming to this wonderful church.
Another blessing is that my mother now attends regularly and it’s an honor that I get to sit with her each week to hear Pastor Ben’s message and worship with our incredible Worship Team. I know that my prayers to fill my heart with joy are being heard, and now negativity has no room. I thank God for his goodness every day!
My desire is for guests that come to NSC to feel welcome and loved, from the first greeting at the door until they leave after the service. I hope as they enjoy the coffee, treats, and fellowship, they can taste and see that the Lord is good.
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Currently, I serve as secretary of the Black Diamond Museum and work occasionally as a substitute para-educator. My favorite way to spend time is with family. I also love to quilt, craft, read, and work in the yard.
Mark Havens
WORSHIP DIRECTOR
Hello there! I’m Mark Havens. I am the worship leader at New Spirit Church.
I grew up on South Hill in Puyallup and graduated from Rogers High School. I come from a large musical family. My dad was the choir director at Puyallup High School. My dad’s excellent musicianship inspired me to develop my skills. My love for music was planted in me at a young age.
I spent much of my life in bondage from substance abuse and wild living. However, the Lord had other plans for me. In 2003, God did a major work in my life. At that point, I was an addict with no hope for freedom, but in my addiction, I encountered the Lord Jesus Christ in a very real way. Since then, my life has never been the same. I found a love for Christ through the scriptures and my desire for drugs and alcohol was replaced by a desire to know and love God.
By the grace of God, I continue to live a clean and sober life. I hope to be an inspiration to anyone who feels the weight of addiction. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
In my day job I work as a Concrete Finisher. I have been with the same company for 20 years and am a member of Local 528.
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Serving the Lord at New Spirit Church has been such a joy. I am overwhelmed by the love of God displayed through the people at New Spirit Church. I continue to be amazed by God's grace.
Ben Auger
LEAD PASTOR
Hey there! I'm Ben Auger, and I'm the founding pastor of New Spirit Church. In 2021, God impressed upon my heart the need for more people to be reached, served, and saved in our area. That's when He called me to plant New Spirit Church. In 2022, my family began gathering people in our living room and building the church family. There's still so much to do and we're loving every minute of it. We welcome you to be a part of the journey with us!
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I am from Seattle, WA, and my wife Jen is from Ontario, Canada. We became best friends at Trinity Western University and got married after graduation. We worked and traveled overseas and then moved to Enumclaw so that I could accept a call to youth ministry and Jen could begin graduate courses in marriage and family counseling at Seattle Pacific University.
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Before planting NSC, I served in full-time ministry in Enumclaw for over a decade, earning a Master of Divinity degree from Liberty University along the way.
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Jen completed her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and opened a counseling practice in Enumclaw, where she helps people heal from personal and relational issues.
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We have three incredible children: Judah (13), Evangeline (11), and Moses (10). They love soccer, lacrosse, wrestling, music, drawing, Jesus, and their church.
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As a family, you can catch us planning our next trip to a national park or cooking ethnic foods from one of the 45 countries we've traveled to.
