Education: Bachelor of Psychology; Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis

Family: I'll be married to Becky 34 years this November. We met at Illinois College in Jacksonville. Our oldest son Deven lives in Edwardsville, works for Boeing as an electrical engineer, and will be married to Claire in October. Zac just graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology/Archeology, and is currently staying with us as he prepares for graduate school and/or work in his field.

Hometown: I grew up in the small farm community of Argenta, between Decatur and Champaign. Interestingly, the mascot of the Argenta-Oreana school district is the Bombers!

Best childhood memories: Summers on Nancy Lake in Minong, WI, which is where our family still goes today.

Favorite Bible verse: 1 Corinthians 9: 22b-23, "I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I might become a partner in it."

Favorite book: Anything written by C.S. Lewis or Søren Kierkegaard

Favorite food: Lasagna and Mexican food

Favorite movies: O Brother Where Art Thou, Star Wars series, Young Guns

Favorite vacation spot: Nancy Lake in Minong, WI. My family has been going there for over 60 years.

Habit I want to quit: None that I can think of

Hidden talent: Playing the Drums

Hobby: Hiking

Must-have guilty pleasure: Coffee... But I don't feel all that guilty about it.

Proudest moment: Completing the Camino de Santiago, and marrying Becky, of course ... and not necessarily in that order. 

Strangest thing I have done: Feel out of back of my dad's truck, got run over, and broke my leg

Way to relax: Hiking

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten: Century egg (also known as a 1,000-year egg) (Look it up... it's awful)

 
What I wanted to be when I grew up:  Alex P. Keaton (look him up, and then you can ask my, "why?")

Education: CEP Residency in St. Louis, MO; Master of Theological Studies,

Iliff School of Theology, Denver, CO; Bachelor of Divinity, Africa University, Mutare/
Zimbabwe; Bachelor of Art French Linguistics, I.S. P Lubumbashi/ DR Congo.

Family: my children Barakah Stephen & Sifa Grace.

What I love about Wesley United Methodist Church: lot of smiles and happy faces, people who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hometown: Wherever I am

Best childhood memories: evening children prayer meetings, Mulungwishi UMC Mission station.

Favorite Bible verse:  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3: 22-23 (NRSV)

Favorite book:  The Bible

Favorite vacation spot: Laguna Beach, California.

Hobby:  Gardening, prayer

Proudest moment:   When I became a mother

Way to relax:   listening to Spirit-filled Christian Music.

What I wanted to be when I grew up:    Serving God

Education: K-12 Avon Schools; BS Psychology, Illinois State University; MA Christian Education, Asbury Theological Seminary

Family: My husband David and I have two children. Carmen and her husband Noah live in Kentucky; Jacob attends Missouri State University.

Hometown: Avon, Illinois

Best childhood memories: Going to United Methodist church camps at East Bay, Epworth Springs, and Jensen Woods

Favorite Bible verse: 1 John 4:7-12 (12): “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

Favorite book:  What’s so Amazing about Grace? (Philip Yancey); Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents (Isabel Wilkerson) 

Favorite food: Pancit and sinigang (Philippines)

Favorite movies: The original Star Wars trilogy

Favorite vacation spot: Kenting, Taiwan

 
Hobby: Thrift store shopping

 
Must-have guilty pleasure: Ice cream (USA); Macu grapefruit green tea (Taiwan)

Proudest moment: being “Carmen’s Mom” and “Jacob’s Mom”

Strangest thing I have done: Flew on an almost empty international flight from an almost empty Taoyuan airport (Taiwan) to an almost empty O’Hare airport. (June 2020)

 
Way to relax: Taking a walk in nature

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten: Balut (Philippines)

 
What I wanted to be when I grew up: an astronaut (thank you, Star Wars), a teacher, or a missionary

Family- my Mom and 2 cats (Leona & Gracie) and my dog (Rocko)

Hometown- Roseville, IL

Education- Graduated in Roseville.

Favorite Childhood memory- mowing cemeteries with my Mom and Stepdad.

Favorite Book- "The Best of Me", Nicholas Sparks

Favorite Way to Relax- go walking or sit and hold Leona

What I Wanted to Be When I Grew up- veterinarian or caregiver

Habit I want to quit- shopping at Wal-Mart

Hidden talent- can find anything you need at Wal-Mart in 2 minutes.

Favorite Bible verse:  John 3:16

Favorite food- pizza

Favorite vacation spot- the river in Gladstone with my family

What I Love About Wesley Church: The music! :)

Education: PhD in Music Education

Family: Wife, Laura, and two daughters, Hannah and Olivia

Hometown: Stillman Valley, IL

Best childhood memory: Singing in the Illinois All-State Choir

Favorite Bible verse: Anything from Psalms that makes good song lyrics

Favorite book: Most John Grisham books

Favorite food: Pulled pork

Favorite movies: Most of the Marvel movies

Favorite vacation spot: Disney

Habit I want to quit: Staying up too late

Hidden talent: Car repair

Hobby: Home renovation

Must-have guilty pleasure: Pepperoni pizza

Proudest moment: Conducting a choir at Carnegie Hall

Strangest thing I have done: Making up a grocery scavenger hunt game on a date with my wife-to-be in Thompson Food Basket—now The Crossing—and forcing her to play (Laura answered this question, but she also listed 12 other weird things I’ve done). ;-)

Way to relax: Watching TV

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten: Octopus

What I wanted to be when I grew up: Doctor

Family: My husband Brian and I have been married for 12 years and we have 3 children; Elly 10, Milly 5, and Rhys 4. 

Hometown: We live in Macomb

Best childhood memories: Spending weekends with my Grandma.

Favorite book: Little Women

Favorite food: If it's pie and it has fruit, it's my favorite.

Favorite movies: I love too many to pick, but my all time favorite TV shows are Gilmore Girls and I Love Lucy.

Favorite vacation spot: Camping anywhere with my family.

Hobby: Camping, hiking, antique shopping and painting.

Must-have guilty pleasure: Coffee!!

Proudest moment: Not really a moment, but I'm most proud of my children.

Way to relax: Movie nights with my family and drinking coffee on my porch.

Education: Bachelor of Music in Music Education (2012) and Master of Music in Choral Conducting (2014) both from WIU.

Family: Single with no family in Macomb. Both Parents and Five Siblings live in or near Plainfield, Illinois.

Hometown: Plainfield, Illinois.

Best childhood memories: Participating in Choir / Theatre activities all through middle school and high school.

Favorite Bible verse:  Psalm 9:2 - I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

Favorite book: Wyrm by Mark Fabi, Harry Potter Series, Artemis Fowl Series, Lost Years of Merlin Series, The Chronicles of Narnia Series, Anything by John Green. 

Favorite food: Sushi and Chinese food. 

Favorite movies: Kung Fu Panda, Dead Poets Society, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, August Rush, Coach Carter, Stand and Deliver, Shawshank Redemption, Up.

Favorite vacation spot: Summer Games Done Quick every Summer. Otherwise, anywhere as long as I'm with cool people!

Habit I want to quit: Stacking things in piles instead of putting them away.

Hidden talent: I know about 100 digits of Pi.

Hobby: Video gaming and various Trading Card games.

Must-have guilty pleasure: Taco Bell

Proudest moment: Receiving the Gene Michael Goad scholarship in 2009. 

Strangest thing I have done: Attempted to learn how to ride a unicycle.

Way to relax: Listen to choral music, podcasts, or rewatch familiar shows on Netflix that I don't have to pay too much attention to. 

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten: Epic Meal Time Tacos (With lots of unique ingredients)

What I wanted to be when I grew up: I have always wanted to be a teacher!

Hometown:  Wilmington, Ill.

What I love about Wesley Church:  The hand bell choir

Family:   My husband, Greg, is retired but still active on the farm. Our children are:

• Edward, vice president of Equity Residential in Chicago
• Katie, Key West, Fla., a kayak guide, journalist and public relations writer for several different organizations. She has a son, Owen.
• Randall farms with his dad in Fulton County and raises hogs. He has a son, Oliver.

Favorite Bible verse:  “Consider the lilies, how they grow …”

Favorite food:  Seafood or fish

Favorite guilty pleasure:   McDonald’s hot mocha – sometimes

Hobbies:  Hand bells and cross-stitch

Schools I attended: I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at the University of Illinois, and Master of Science degrees in mathematics and chemistry at Western Illinois University.

Proudest moment:  Getting my master’s degree in chemistry

Way to relax:  Watch TV

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten:   Shark fin soup

What I do in my free time:   Baby-sit my grandsons, knit, cross-stitch, work in the flower garden

What I wanted to be when I grew up:    A teacher

Education: B.A. in History and English, Illinois Wesleyan University

Family: wife Nikki, children Ada, Emery, and Everett

Hometown: Morton, IL

Best childhood memories: family vacations in our pop-up camper

Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Favorite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Favorite food: grilled salmon with boiled potatoes

Favorite movie: Groundhog Day

Favorite vacation spot: Lake of the Ozarks

Habit I want to quit: staying up late

Hidden talent: I can make drinkable homebrew

Hobby: clearing brush, splitting firewood, other yard projects

Must-have guilty pleasure: sour candy

Proudest moment: watching my kids’ accomplishments in music, theater, academics and sports

Strangest thing I have done: detasseling corn as a teen for $$ to buy a saxophone

Way to relax: a walk in the woods

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten: Dunder Salt (Norwegian Candy)

What I wanted to be when I grew up: shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Western Illinois University

Family: My husband Jeremy and I have been married 20 years and have two children, Xander (14) & Benjamin (11). We also have two Goldendoodles, Loki and Freyja

Hometown: I was born in Barrington, IL and moved 12 times while growing up. I spent a lot of time in Woodstock and Genoa, IL

Best childhood memories: Playing outside with my sister and our neighborhood friends

Favorite Bible verse: Matthew 19:26: "With God all things are possible"

Favorite book: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Favorite food: My mom's homemade spaghetti and meatballs

Favorite movies: Legend

Favorite vacation spot: Maui, Hawaii or Walt Disney World

Habit I want to quit: Staying up too late

Hidden talent: I home can a lot of produce and meals

Hobby: Gardening

Must-have guilty pleasure: All the fancy cheeses

Proudest moment: Creating two beautiful boys

Way to relax: Comfy pants, a warm dog, and either a TV show or video game

Weirdest thing I’ve eaten: Pickled herring, yuck

What I wanted to be when I grew up: A marine biologist

Education

Bachelor of Music (University of Louisville), Master of Music (University of Louisville), and Advanced study (University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music)

What I love about Wesley United Methodist Church: Working with our caring, devoted pastors and our incredibly talented music staff and volunteers.

Hometown: Louisville, Ky.

Family: Two aunts, lots of cousins, and an enormous, loving chosen family!

Favorite Bible verse: Micah 6:8

Favorite book: I'm a history nerd. I love all the David McCullough biographies! 

Favorite food: Chinese food, sushi, dark chocolate, coffee

Favorite movies: The filmed version of Hamilton. Dark Victory, Mildred Pierce ( I love those heroines in shoulder pads!)

Favorite vacation spot:  New York City, Washington DC

Habit I want to quit:   Procrastination

Hidden talent:   I’m an excellent parallel parker

Proudest moment:  Anytime one of my students performs!

Oddest thing on my desk:   Pencil holder made from an old organ pipe

Hobby:   Genealogy

Way to relax:   Snuggling with a blanket while reading or watching TV

What I wanted to be when I grew up:   A teacher

Education: 

Associate of Arts, Music, Harper College, Palatine, Illinois 

Bachelor of Science, Physical and Health Education; minor, Music, Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois 

Master of Arts, Music Education and Conducting, Western Illinois University

What I love about Wesley United Methodist Church: The friendliness of staff and members, and the varied programs in spirituality, education, outreach and service

Hometown: Roselle Park, New Jersey

Family:

• Older brother, Brooke (deceased)
• Younger brother, Bruce Ostrander, who lives in upper New York state with his wife, Shirley
• Four children: 

• • Bonnie is married and lives in Tucson with her three children
  • David graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in computer science. He works at IBM in Tucson. He tandem-cycled in the London Paralympic Games in 2012, and he took me with him!
  • Michael was in the Army, and he got his B.S. in chemistry at WIU. He works as a supervisor at Valspar Paints. He has one daughter and a son due in January 2017. He lives in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.
  • Sarah graduated from WIU, and is an investigator for the FBI. She’s married and lives in Tucson with her two children. 

Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 27

Favorite books: Mysteries and historic novels 

Favorite food: Yes! (especially dark chocolate and raspberries) 

Favorite movie: “On Golden Pond” 

Favorite vacation: Camping, especially near water 

Habit I want to quit: Putting things off 

Hidden talent: I’m not sure because it’s so well-hidden! 

Proudest moment: When a picture was taken on Easter Sunday 2015. All four children, their spouses and all six grandchildren were together at a wonderful potluck picnic in the park. I took time to sit back and watch them interact and thank my Lord for all of His blessings.   

Must-have guilty pleasure: Naps 

Strangest thing I have done: I sat strapped in the doorway of a small airplane while skydivers jumped out past me and I watched their parachutes open. Beautiful! 

Way to relax: Listen to music 

What I do in my free time: Knit, read, sew, play the piano 

What I wanted to be when I grew up: a mother and a teacher who was happy and at peace