Pastor Craig Laughlin
Lead Pastor
Jodi, Jana and Kevin
Pastor Craig is a native of Washington State. He was born in Port Angeles and grew up in the Aberdeen-Hoquiam area. He attended Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho graduating in 1983 with a degree in Philosophy and Religion. On September 1st, 1984 he married Jodi Roth. Jodi also attended NNU and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. Sensing the Lord leading them away from full time ministry, Craig and Jodi settled in Nampa, Idaho and began to work on careers.
Both Craig and Jodi became very active in a local church singing in the choir, leading small groups and sitting on the church board. Craig continued a career with a major retail chain and Jodi took a teaching position in a nearby community. In 1988 they had their first child, Jana Kristine. In 1989 God directed Craig to return to school to finish his academic preparation for ministry.
In August of 1989 they moved to Kansas City and entered Nazarene Theological Seminary. Craig continued to work in the grocery industry and took a part time position as a minister of music. They had their second child, Kevin Owen, in May of 1993. In May of 1994 Craig received his Masters of Divinity degree. In November of that same year he accepted a pastorate in Kansas City, Missouri. During the next thirteen years of ministry the church more than tripled and became a vibrant, young, multicultural church with six languages.
In January of 2008, Pastor Craig was given an invitation to become the lead pastor at MCN. It was a tough decision for the Laughlin family. After seeking wise council and spending much time in prayer they became confident it was God’s will for them to join the Marysville family.
Pastor Craig’s passion is to create and deploy fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. He loves celebrating God in worship which he calls “Holy Party”. For Pastor Craig it is all about encountering God, connecting with people and being the Kingdom of God on Earth.