I joined the staff in 1995 and serve as Senior Lead Pastor. I grew up in Chillicothe, and currently live in Morton with my family. My wife, Harriet and I have been married since 1982. We have two sons—Stephen and Jeremy. I enjoy reading, running, canoeing, and backpacking. I have suffered as a cub fan ever since the 1969 fiasco with the New York Mets.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Harriet and I served for ten years as missionaries in Japan.

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I’ve been on staff since March of 1998. My position is Senior Executive Pastor. I was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio and grew up in West Liberty, Ohio. I live in Morton with my wife, Carol. We’ve been married since June of 1972. We have three children (all of whom are married)—Christy (& Chad Engel), Charity (& Ted Moore), and Josh (& Mary Reinken). We have been blessed with four grandchildren.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Carol and I graduated from Ohio State University and are avid Buckeye fans!

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I came on staff as the Community Life Pastor in August of 2006. I'm crazy about small groups and our high-impact visitor's ministry. I grew up in Pekin, and since college, I've lived in Goodfield, East Peoria, and now Morton. My wife (Linda) and I have three fantastic kids: Jacob, Davi, and Gracie. I enjoy time with my family, I love books, music (surfing iTunes), and working in the yard.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: I've been a computer programmer for the past ten years and I'm kind of a gadget geek.

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I’ve held many positions at New Life since I began in 1998. Currently, I am the Executive Assistant to the Senior Lead Pastor. In addition, I am the Director of Servant Life (New Life's Volunteer Ministry), participate on the preaching team, and do church-wide promotions. My husband, John works at Komatsu America Corp., and we’ve been married since 1979. We have a son, John Jr., daugher-in-law, Kristine, grandsons, Nick & John III, and a daughter, Jessica, married to Dustin.  My family is the most important thing on earth to me. I love to draw, travel (especially cruises), watch NFL football (Miami Dolphins is who I root for) and play fantasy football.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Dan Marino is my favorite football player and I love to ride roller coasters.

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I’ve been on staff at New Life since 1987 as a custodian, and also became a secretary in the church office in 2000. I was born in Peoria and grew up in Mapleton. I live in East Peoria with my husband, Duane. We were married in Galena, IL on February 18, 2006. I have three children—Isaac, Sheena, and Danny, and four wonderful grandchildren. I love my life and my church family.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: I like hiking, motorcycle riding, fishing (only if they’re biting), and just being in the sun.

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I came on staff in the area of maintenance in the year 2000. I was born in Peoria and grew up in the big town of Mackinaw. My wife Ruth and I currently live in Morton. We have five children (Angie, Aaron, Hope, Chad & Ashleigh) and two grandchildren. 

 LITTLE KNOWN FACT: I enjoy baseball, basketball and fishing.

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I have been the custodian at the Hartseil Ministry Center since 2004.  I was born in Peoria, but grew up in Washington.  My husband, Chuck and I were married in 1981.  We have four children:  Aaron, Hope, Chad, and Ashleigh.  We live in Morton.  I enjoy doing crafts and sewing.  I was born and raised a Cub fan, and also like the Minnesota Twins.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Chuck has a daughter from a previous marriage (Angie) and we have two grandchildren.  Barb Lange is my sister and Rick Wissler is my brother.

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I started full time as the Director of Worship Arts in February of '08. I was the part-time creative arts director from 2000 - 2007, but I started working at New Life two years prior to that in 1998 as the part-time Children's Director (can you say "bad fit"?). I was born in Peoria, grew up in rural Metamora, and I studied music at Eastern Illinois University. My wife is Tina and we were married in 1994 and are enjoying a nutty life with our five children. I enjoy writing and performing music, shooting a variety of guns, playing video games, chess, watching LOST and hanging out with old friends. I always loved Michael Jordan and was an avid watcher and guru of pro basketball stats in the early to mid nineties, but when Jordan retired, I gave up on the NBA.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: When I was in grade school, I never spoke, and I had no friends. Regarding my five children, I am often asked don't you know what's causing that?-- to which I reply:  We haven't figured it out yet, but we're committed to further research.

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I came on staff in the Fall of 2005, as part-time Assistant Director of Children's Ministry.  I grew up in Washington, IL.  I met my husband, Todd at New Life where we were married in 1998.  We have three sons—Gabriel, Abram, and Grayson.  I like to do scrapbooking and hang out with friends.  I don’t care much for sports.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Movie theater popcorn with butter is my favorite!

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I have been the bookkeeper at New Life since July of 2006. My husband, Bryan, and I were married December 18, 1982 and we live in Morton. We have two sons, Casey and Brett. I enjoy reading--I can’t make it a day without reading! I also like walking and going out to lunch. I don’t really care much about sports, but I’m married to a 2nd generation die-hard Cardinal fan! 

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: I lived out west for ten years, both boys were born in California and then we moved home to Illinois to raise our children.

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I joined the staff at the end of July 2007. I have been married since 1992 to my bride, Heidi and began attending New Life the same year. We have three active boys, Carter, Braden and Ashton. We left New Life for four years to pursue God's call for education.  After graduating from Lincoln Christian College and Seminary, we have returned to New Life and 

our childhood home area. 

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: In our 15 years of marriage, we have moved into eight different homes. (Sorry Heidi)

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I came on staff as the Servant Life Director in September, 2006. I grew up in E. Peoria, and since I've been married I've lived in Morton, Chicago, Bloomington, Florida, E. Peoria, and now back to Morton. God blessed me with three wonderful kids, Caleb, Nicole, and Faith. I enjoy spending time hanging out with my family and friends, bass fishing, hunting, reading good books, working in the yard, and did I mention BASS FISHING? I love to spend hours floating around the lake, soaking up the rays, observing God's creation, casting over and over again, trying to outwit a fish with a brain the size of a pea. “some days I win the battle, but most days I don't.” 

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: Before coming to this church in May of 2005 I was a Pastor at Glendale Church in East Peoria for three years.

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My name is Aaron Sharpe. I am 25 years old and a recent graduate of Lincoln Christian University with a BA in Preaching. I am from a small town 3 ½ hours south east of Morton called Newton, IL. I joined the staff in June of 2011 as the Student Life Director, originally being just an intern at New Life only a year earlier.

Little Known Fact: Before I studied preaching at LCU I was a music major at Olney Central College.

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