Meet our Ministry Staff
Pastors Amelia and Andrew Buschena
Co-Pastors
Pastor Amelia grew up outside Detroit Michigan before moving to Wichita KS to attend Friends University. At Friends she received her B.A. in Religion and Philosophy and went on to receive her Master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary (NJ). Before coming to Common Ground she has had ministry experiences in hospital chaplaincy and youth ministry and most recently worked as the Director of Spiritual Growth at Forest Hills UMC and as the Campus Ministry Associate for the Gopher Wesley Foundation at the University of Minnesota.
Originally from a farm outside of Fulda, Minnesota, Pastor Andrew received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Sioux Falls and then his Master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary (NJ). Prior to serving at Common Ground he interned as a hospital chaplain and a youth minister, and most recently was the Director of Worship and Outreach at Forest Hills UMC in Forest Lake, MN.
Erika Knight
Director of Family and Student Ministry
Erika has been involved in youth ministry for over 15 years. She began working as a youth leader at Hopkins United Methodist Church before moving to Cambridge. She has been the Junior and Senior High Youth Leader for 5 years and the Sunday School Coordinator for 2 years. One of the things that Erika enjoys most about her job is getting to know the students and their families.
Frank Wells
Director of Music
The director of the church choir at Common Ground since 1989, Frank’s first experience with choral music came from singing in his father’s church choir (he is, in fact, a fourth-generation Methodist choir director). Frank has been teaching vocal music at Cambridge-Isanti High School since 1985. A graduate of the Jamestown College (ND), he also holds a Masters of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Minnesota. Frank believes that the choir at Common Ground is a wonderful community that provides a service opportunity for people who love to sing, and enhances the worship experience of the congregation.
Eric Ryberg
Director of Multimedia and Digital Outreach
Eric has been in various technology positions since the mid-90’s, but says working at Common Ground is the most fulfilling of any of them. Eric enjoys creative thinking and brainstorming ways to facilitate getting Common Ground’s message to the masses.
