Tom Lemon, president of the Mid-America Union, announced Thursday that Justin Lyons, vice president for administration of the Minnesota Conference, had been selected by the Conference Board of Trustees to be the next president of the Minnesota Conference. Lyons replaces Ed Barnett, who is now president of the Rocky Mountain Conference headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Lyons served for four years as the director of Gift Planning and Trust Services prior to his three years as vice president for administration. He has also pastored in 10 churches in Minnesota, as well as congregations in the Oregon and Washington Conferences.

Lyons has been married for 25 years in August to Carol Lyons, an office assistant for the Minnesota Conference. Their daughter, Karis, is in 5th grade at Southview Christian School and their son, John, is currently a senior at Maplewood Academy.

“The Lord has been blessing in Minnesota through good leadership and I wish to continue in the same upward direction,” Lyons said.  With multiple endeavors having already begun with the North Star Camp renovations, distance education at Maplewood Academy, and a push for evangelism in the Twin Cities, Lyons said he is excited for the future. “I believe that the Lord is at work and we are going to see Him do great things.”

News writer Jeff Wines is communication director for the Minnesota Conference.