Fit for Life in Christ is the result of a 20 year collaboration of two Lutheran Church Missouri Synod pastors, Erv Kostizen and Joel Hoyer.

Erv has been the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Clio since graduating from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1965. Messiah has grown under his leadership from a mission congregation of 45 to its current membership of 1500 with multiple staff and ministries. Erv and his wife Caroline have four children and 3 grandchildren.

Joel graduated from Concordia seminary, St. Louis in 1985 and took his first call to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Eagle, NE, where he led that 90 year-old congregation through a successful relocation and building program. In 1994, he was called to be the first pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Coopersville, MI. Grace dedicated its first facility in 2000 and continues to grow and make disciples for Christ in the Coopersville area. Joel and his wife Joni have three children all still at home.