Institutional Ministries Chaplains & Staff
We have been blessed with a dedicated staff of both full-time and part-time workers who are committed to the ministry of shining the light of Jesus’ love on walled-in souls of our communities!
Rev. Philip Henselin
Executive Director
Phil was associated with Institutional Ministries as a Board Member in 2014 before accepting the call to be Executive Director in 2016. He oversees all aspects of the ministry and reports quarterly to the Board of Directors. He takes the time to meet with donors and foundations, guides the chaplains as needed, oversees the email devotion ministry (GraceLinks), and works closely with all office personnel who are the "arms and legs" behind the scenes for our chaplains. Whenever possible, he enjoys visiting congregations and schools, explaining the vast reach of this ministry.
Rev. Edward Frey
Director of Ministry
Pastor Edward Frey joined Institutional Ministries in 2023 and serves as the Director of Ministry. Ed has past experience in the mental health field as well as a parish pastor. His main role is to work closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to provide training and to offer spiritual guidance to all who serve in our “four pillars.” Ed spends time traveling to congregations, groups, and other organizations to conduct presentations. He also visits donors and shares the mission of institutional ministries. His goal is that Institutional Ministries provides a safe space for people to serve and be served in the name of Christ so that hurting souls are met with empathy and compassion.
Rev. Charles Iles, Sr.
Chaplain
Charlie feels privileged to serve our Savior at eight of Wisconsin’s state correctional facilities. He shares God’s Word with both men and women at prisons which are located in or near Waupun, Fox Lake, and Redgranite. In 1990, Charlie got involved in institutional ministry when he was appointed to serve on the Madison Institutional Ministries Board of Directors, which later merged with Institutional Ministries in 1998. He accepted the Call to serve as a Chaplain in 2000 and continues to serve, by God’s grace!
Rev. Philip Merten
Chaplain
Phil became a volunteer Bible study leader for Institutional Ministries while he was a seminary student and then officially joined the staff as a chaplain in 1989. Most of his chaplaincy work has been with people who’ve gotten trapped in addictions and chemical abuse. That work includes holding Bible discussion groups with people who are incarcerated as well as with people who are out of prison and want to stay that way. (One of his groups presented him with a stole to wear with his alb for preaching – the stole is decorated with the faces of children of all tribes and nations, and the recovering addicts who gave it to him said, “Those are us.”)
Rev. Daniel R. Schmidt, Sr.
Chaplain
While serving churches in Minnesota and Wisconsin for 30 years, an area of ministry which Dan greatly enjoyed was visiting those members who were shut-in and unable to attend worship services on a regular basis. He is thankful for the opportunity to bring this experience to Institutional Ministries while serving the institutions in Fond du Lac, Plymouth, and Oshkosh. Dan accepted the Call to serve as a Chaplain for Institutional Ministries in 2024 and prays that our loving Savior blesses his efforts in carrying out what He says in Matthew 25:36, “I was in prison and you visited me.”
Stephanie Burk
Office Manager
Stephanie joined Institutional Ministries in 2017. She manages the office and is privileged to work behind the scenes guiding and supporting the office staff in their respective roles. Stephanie considers herself blessed to be among people who serve God’s kingdom with such passion.
Mary Warnecke
Support Specialist
Mary has been with Institutional Ministries since 2020. She enjoys using her organizational skills to process donations from donors and churches, send out thank-you letters and organize large mailings. Mary considers it a joy and privilege to be a part of this vibrant and exciting ministry.
Tricia Parkhurst
Volunteer Coordinator
Tricia joined Institutional Ministries in 2023 and feels it is a tremendous blessing to be a part of this meaningful ministry. She works to help recruit volunteers, cultivate their strengths, and provide ongoing support in order to extend the reach of our ministry.
Ericka Tipton
Director of Development
Erika joined Institutional Ministries as Director of Development in 2025 with over ten years of experience in nonprofit development. Raising awareness and building relationships that help ministries grow is one of her many passions. She views her work as a calling to support gospel-centered missions by connecting others to meaningful causes and inspiring generosity. Ericka is grateful for the opportunity to use her gifts to advance IM’s mission of shining the light of Jesus’ love on the walled-in souls of our communities.
Jennifer Mickelson
Copy Editor
Jenni came onboard with Institutional Ministries in 2025. As Copy Editor, she reviews devotions submitted by IM's faithful GraceLinks volunteers and checks for readability as well as grammatical and Biblical accuracy. She is thankful to play a role in this ministry and witness all of the good God is working through it.
Madysen Goelzer
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Mady joined the Institutional Ministries team in 2023. She enjoys using her eye for design and creativity when creating posts and promotional materials for our social media pages. She feels grateful to use her skills and to work with such wonderful, passionate people in this ministry.