Meet Our Pastors


  • FOUNDING Pastors - Joe & Rhonda Merrill

    Joseph and Rhonda Merrill are the founding and lead Pastors of Covenant Church Lake Havasu. They met as teenagers at church in Augusta, Maine. They married in 1979. Together, they have four children, many who serve in ministry along with their spouses and 8 wonderful grandchildren. Joseph and Rhonda have served in ministry for over 40 years. They have planted churches, pastored, evangelized and trained leaders across the country. 


    Joseph is an anointed and inspiring speaker and dynamic leader. He began his ministry at the young age of 15. He graduated with his degree in Theology from Gateway College of Evangelism and earned his B.S. at Texas A&M in Kinesiology and History. He is also a John Maxwell Certified trainer.


    Raised in a pastor's home, Rhonda began teaching in children's ministry at the age of 11. Her passion and love for God and people was and is contagious. Rhonda earned her M.S. from Texas A&M in Education and Technology.


    In July, 2005, under the Apostolic covering and anointing Joseph and Rhonda were released to launch Covenant Church in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. 


    The church started in their living room in October of 2005. By December they moved to the Quality Inn on Lake Havasu Ave. In 2011 they remodeled a warehouse with the help of their growing Covenant family on College Street and became the best kept secret in Lake Havasu until 2014 when God opened the door to purchase 113 Acoma Blvd. The promise that God gave them, to place Covenant Church in the heart of the City, had become a reality. God keeps His promises and He is always faithful. 


  • CAMPUS PASTOR - Jared & Deanna Brubaker

    Deanna Brubaker Iis our Lake Havasu Campus  Pastor. 


    Jared and Deanna married in 2009 and have three beautiful children, Christian, Victoria and Benjamin. . Deanna is the daughter of founding Pastors, Joe and Rhonda Merrill. Christian has enlisted in the United States Navy and is serving our Country proudly.   Their daughter Victoria serves in many areas in the church and has two young sons.  Their youngest Benjamin is a 9th grader and is a member of  our youth worship team. 


    Deanna has a unique ability to open the gates of praise for all to enter into the presence of God. Her anointing flows into speaking and teaching especially to women. She has written her first book to help women who have been broken since she herself has been that woman. Jared is an entrepreneur and Real Estate Agent. He has a profound way of thinking and delivering the word. He is called to be a king in the church. They desire to help people move beyond their current situations and to reach their full potential. 



  • Jay & Christy Badaracco

    Jay and Christy Badaracco serve as assistant pastors. 


    They have been with Covenant Church Lake Havasu since 2009. They are passionate about connecting people to God and others through every day life in their community! Jay and Christy have three daughters who also serve in ministry and are also proud grandparents. 


    Christy is an anointed teacher and loves helping women of all ages. Jay is a gifted leader and the men's pastor over  both our Flagstaff and Havasu Campuses. Together, they love to serve in many capacities, from behind the scenes in media to speaking and teaching. Jay and Christy are currently working full time while serving in ministry. They look forward to all that God has in store for their family and for Bridge Church Lake Havasu


  • Ezekiel & Kutlo Kesitilwe

    Ezekiel and Kutlo Kesitilwe serve as our Life Group Pastors. 


    They have been serving Covenant Church of Lake Havasu since 2008. They were married August 7th, 1999 and together they have three talented children, Abby, Ethan and Gabriel. Abby their 19 yr old daughter attends NAU and is on the worship team at Bridge Church in Flagstaff. Ethan is a high school Senior and serves on our worship team. Gabriel is a 9th grader and is a drummer on our worship team. 


    Ezekiel graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, NE with a Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy. He is an entrepreneur and an avid businessman. He was ordained as a minister of the word of God during his college years. Ezekiel is a dynamic speaker in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.


    Kutlo graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, NE with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ with a Masters Degree in Psychology. She is a people's person and this is revealed through her compassion, faithfulness, and willingness to go the extra mile to help others. Ezekiel and Kutlo have a real passion for people and a desire to encourage and empower people to hold onto Christ, who is the only source of unchanging truth in this ever-changing world.