MEET OUR TEAM
Grace Church is led by a team of lay and vocational elders who together with the ministry staff oversee and shepherd those God has entrusted in their care.
Our Ministry Staff
Jonathan grew up in Northern Kentucky and met his wife Jaime, a Morton native, at Cedarville University. After graduating and getting married in 2003, they moved to Louisville, Kentucky where Jonathan continued his education at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. After completing his Master’s work, Jonathan came on staff in January 2007 as a pastoral intern and became pastor of outreach and discipleship in January 2008. Jonathan and Jaime have three daughters and one son. Jonathan is passionate about connecting people to Christ and to the loving family at Grace Church. When not catching up on yard work, Jonathan enjoys playing basketball, keeping up with his Cincinnati Reds and Bengals, and playing card and board games with his bride.
Derek grew up in Morton and attended Grace until he left for college in 2006. His wife, Kara, also grew up at Grace. After they were married in 2010, Derek began serving on active duty in the Army. In 2016, he left the Army to follow a call to pastoral ministry. Derek received his theological training in Louisville, KY at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In the summer of 2021, their family returned to Grace, where he served one year as a Pastoral Resident, and now as a full-time pastor. Derek enjoys dates with Kara, being dad to their four wonderful kids (Oliver, Audrey, Phoebe and Ruby), and he especially enjoys helping people see and experience the transforming power of the Gospel.
Brad has been attending Grace Church since he was five years old and attended the children's ministries he now oversees. After graduating from Morton High School, he earned a degree in Christian Education from Taylor University. For the next 12 years, he served as Program Director and later Executive Director at Camp of Champions USA (COCUSA), a Christian summer day camp. In November 2014, he became Grace Church’s first Children’s Ministry Pastor. Brad and his wife, Cali, were married in September 2004 and have two daughters. In addition to being a faithful mom, Cali works a few days a week as a sign language interpreter at Illinois State. Brad likes playing basketball and tennis and following the St. Louis Cardinals and college basketball.
Jack grew up in Archbold, Ohio and graduated high school in 2017. After graduation, he earned his BA in Christian Ministry and Intercultural Studies from Bethel University in Indiana. During his college years Jack met his awesome wife Regan while serving at Miracle Camp and they were married in 2020. Regan grew up attending Grace Church and is an avid baker of goods in the kitchen. From 2020-2022 Jack served at Grace Church as a Student Ministry Resident and then in 2022 moved to Dallas Texas and pursued his MA in Christian leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. Jack and Regan returned to Morton after seminary to serve at Grace Church with a new family member - Easton, a son whom they love and desire to see him follow Jesus early and always. Jack is passionate about time with his family, being a father and husband, family discipleship, running, ice cream, and playing games.
Hudson grew up as a pastor’s kid, spending time in both Albania and Malaysia with his family’s ministry. After graduating high school in 2019, he returned to Morton (his family's "home base") where he worked at Chick-fil-A and began pursuing his education. Following a few years of exploration and attending multiple schools, Hudson earned his B.S. in Bible from Liberty University Online in December 2024. He is now pursuing a Master of Divinity at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Hudson and his wife, Ashley, were married in August 2023. They enjoy board games, hiking, and serving in ministry together.
Dan grew up in Houston, Texas until moving to Chicago to attend Moody Bible Institute in 1991. After graduating from Moody he attending the Alliance Theological Seminary and graduated in 1997. Dan served as an Associate Pastor in Lincoln, Nebraska from 1997 to 2005. During that time he met LeAnn, who was living in Fresno, California. They were married in 2003 and moved to central Illinois in 2005. Dan served as an Associate Pastor in Germantown Hills, IL from 2005 to 2022 and then joined the Grace Church staff in May of 2023. Dan and LeAnn are parents to two amazing children, Kayla and Josiah. Dan enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He is most passionate about helping others grow in their walk the Lord. As a family they enjoy going for walks, playing indoor and outdoor games, and the occasional trip to national parks.
Steve grew up in Morton attending Grace Church from an early age. After receiving his degree from Moody Bible Institute in the summer of 2009, he began serving at Grace as a youth pastor. In 2018, he transitioned to the role of adult ministries pastor, and in 2022, he began in his current role as Pastor of Missions and Outreach. Following Jesus (and not self) by trusting that Christ is enough has been a focal point of his faith. Christ's love demonstrated through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection while we were still sinners has become an inspiration for how he ministers. Steve married his bride, Marla, in June of 2009. They enjoy serving together and welcoming others into their home. Steve enjoys making and drinking cortados, as well as playing ping pong and golf.
Larry grew up in Muncie, Indiana and graduated from Ball State University and Grace Theological Seminary. He met his wife, Heather, while at Ball State and they have four adult children, two daughters-in-law, and two amazing grandsons. Larry served in church ministry for nearly 25 years as a Worship Pastor and Executive Pastor before taking a new role as Development Director at Peoria Rescue Ministries. He loves to cook, read, and cheer on the Indianapolis Colts!
Curt grew up in Gridley, IL where he met his wife, Cassie, through their church. They were married in 1990. They have four adult children, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. Curt worked for 18 years in the Systems department at State Farm in Bloomington before following God’s call to pursue his Master’s in Counseling. In addition to his Grace Church role, he also serves as director of counseling at Pathway Ministries. Curt loves to equip people helpers and to see God comfort people through times of affliction so that they may be able to comfort others with the same comfort they have received from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Curt enjoys time with family, listening to music, watching baseball and basketball, traveling with his wife, and buzzing around on his Honda Silverwing scooter.
Max grew up in Germantown Hills, Illinois and graduated from Metamora high school in 2023. After Graduating Max worked on summer staff at Miracle Camp and Retreat Center. It was over that first summer there the Lord led him to take an internship opportunity at camp. So for around two and a half years Max called Miracle Camp his home! Through his internship at camp he was able to meet some of the pastoral staff from Grace Church at a retreat and ultimately led to him working at Grace Church now! Max enjoys spending his time away from work doing things like hunting, fishing, playing and writing music, and backpacking.
