Board of Elders

Meet Our Board of Elders

Meet Our Board of Elders

The highest functioning authority of our church is the Board of Elders.


Elders are elected by church members. Along with the Lead Pastor, they provide oversight of the ministry and operation of Grande Prairie Alliance Church. Their serve terms are in brackets.


  • Chair: Shawn Dyrkach (1st term: 2021-2024)
  • Vice-Chair: Gerald Lux (1st term: 2021-2024)
  • Treasurer: Patrick Bueckert (1st term: 2023-2026)
  • Secretary: Dallas Wooden (1st term: 2022-2025)
  • Elder: John Mayer (1st term: 2022-2025)
  • Elder: Dan Rigler (1st term: 2021-2024)
  • Elder: Barry Schmidt (2nd term: 2023-2026)
  • Elder: Scott Zacharias (1st term: 2022-2025)

Get to Know Our Elders

Shawn Dyrkach

chair (1st term: 2021-2024)

"My dream is that we who call GPAC home, would truly find this to be a place of love, hope, healing, encouragement, and unity. That we would be focused on following Jesus, and known for our deep love and care for each other."


Shawn has been a follower of Jesus since a Promise Keeper's conference here in Grande Prairie on October 24, 2002. He was baptized at GPAC in 2004. He serves in Children's Ministry on a weekly basis and has been a table leader at Alpha for many years.

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Gerald Lux

vice-chair (1st term: 2021-2024)

"I pray for the people of GPAC to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying and to have their lives right with God."


Gerald accepted Christ in 1979. Grande Prairie has been his residence for over 60 years and he has attended GPAC for over 40.

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Patrick Bueckert

treasurer (1ST TERM: 2023-2026)

Patrick accepted Jesus at 6 years old with the help of his mother. He has lived in Grande Prairie since 1998 when he moved to attend PRBI. He and his wife enjoy being life group leaders as well as being involved in other ministries.


"I pray that every individual that steps through the front doors experiences the love of Jesus as they walk into the building, that strongholds are broken, that the Spirit would fill them up. I believe that God is going to be doing amazing things in and through GPAC so I pray that each of us would surrender to His will and follow His leading."

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Dallas Wooden

Secretary (1st term: 2022-2025)

"When I was five years old I realized that if I died I would go to hell. So I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to come and live in my heart. It has been a journey with Him ever since. Some valleys and some mountain tops with key people along the way to encourage and challenge me to continue to walk with Him."


Dallas has lived in Grande Prairie for over 23 years and has attended GPAC for over 20. One of his ministry callings include GPAC Youth, which he has served with weekly for over 19 years.


His dream for GPAC?

"That we continue to be a friendly outreaching church that helps people take one more step closer to Jesus."

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John Mayer

Elder (1st term: 2022-2025)

"I have a great desire to see people come to Christ and know Him as their Lord and Saviour and to be discipled to full maturity in Jesus. This will bring honour and glory to Jesus."


John has lived in Grande Prairie all of his life. He is married to Judy, accepted Christ in 1975, and has attended GPAC for over 45 years. His personal ministry callings include leading baptism classes and discipling other men.

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Dan Rigler

Elder (1st term: 2021-2024)

Dan accepted Christ on December 21, 2008 and has attended GPAC for over 13 years. He feels led and called specifically to street ministry.


"My dream for GPAC is that we would be a Spirit-led church, the light on the hill that is continually searching for and reaching the lost, the marginalized, and the least of these in our city, region and world. I dream we would pursue Christ with a passion that always spills into all areas of our lives, while we serve each other and our community in practical and meaningful ways. I would like us to be known for actively mentoring, training, equipping and mobilizing the body. I dream that GPAC would do all this with the love and grace that was given to us from our Saviour, Jesus Christ."

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Barry Schmidt

Elder (2nd term: 2023-2026)

Barry became a follower of Jesus Christ in August of 1979. He has attended Grande Prairie Alliance Church for 41 years. Barry volunteers on Sunday mornings with our First Impressions team.


His dream for GPAC?

"A place where the simple gospel of Jesus Christ alone is preached, believed in and relied upon solely from the start of the Christian life to the end. That GPAC would embrace a culture of Jesus + Nothing = Everything. "

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Scott Zacharias

Elder (1st term: 2022-2025)

Scott accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour at the age of 10 years old. He and his wife Ramona have been attenders of the Alliance Church since 1989. They have been involved in the Junior High ministry, Team 2:52 as youth leaders, have led young adults groups, and Ramona has been involved with Women’s Ministry for the past 10 or so years.


His dream for GPAC?

"That we will remain faithful and be a leader in Grande Prairie on what it looks like to be faithful to the Word of God and outreach in the community."