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About Us - Leadership Team

Meet the People...
(click on individual pictures to read more about that person)

New Life Church Pastors

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Senior Pastor
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Pastor of Connections
 
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Associate Pastor
 




Children's Ministry

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Children's Ministry Dir.
 
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Preschool Coordinator
 
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Elementary School
 

 

 

 Other New Life Leaders

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Karen Kobza
Community Life Director

Email Karen

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Anthony Bolkema
Director of Arts

Email Anthony

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Laurie Groenewold
Administrative Asst.

Email Laurie

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Julie Sather
Volunteer Ministry

Email Julie

 

  Learn more ...

  

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Five Ways to describe Jul
Leader
Founding Pastor
Visionary
Down to Earth
Person You Can Talk To

     

      

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Pastor Jul Medenblik

Senior Pastor: Primary Preacher and Administrator

Leads our Church Staff and Church Council

 

His background 

Headline version – Lawyer becomes Pastor!

Jul grew up in Fulton, Illinois, as a hog farmer’s son. 

He graduated from Trinity Christian College in

Palos Heights, with a BA and then went on to graduate

from the University of Florida Law School. 

After six years as a practicing attorney, Jul and

his wife, Jackie, (who is from Lansing, Illinois)

left Florida to attend Calvin Theological Seminary

in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1995, Pastor Jul,

Jackie and their two children moved back to

Northern Illinois to start a new church in the

Lincoln-Way area.   

 

New Life Trivia

Pastor Jul and Pastor Todd have known each other

since the 1st grade. They attended the same grade

school, high school and even college together!

 

Pastor Jul loves sports, history, reading and traveling

with his family. A dream trip would be to visit both

Cooperstown and Gettysburg in the same trip. 

 

By the way, he does have a few books on lawyer jokes! 

 

Favorite Current TV Shows:  Heroes, Studio 60 on the

Sunset Strip, Lost and House!

 

click here to email Pastor Jul

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Five ways to describe Todd
Team builder
Outdoor person
Good listener
Cub’s fan (says more than 
you think)
 Loves to laugh with friends 

 

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Pastor Todd Wessels
As the Pastor of Connections he oversees the Small

Group Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Benevolence and

supports and helps get people connected to other

ministry opportunities at New Life

 

His specialty

Encouraging and developing leaders.  Building teams. 

Bringing people together to be the Church in each

others life.  Counseling with individuals or couples.

 

Best advice ever received

From my Father on one of the many fishing outings
we had...when you go to cast your line out look
what is behind you first to make sure you can get
to where you are casting towards.

 

Best advice he uses

from a wise greenhouse grower…
Each day start by assessing the crops first before
you start taking care of them that day.  Applied to
ministry...dont' assume what people need until
you get to know them.

 

 

What makes him laugh

Monty Python (British humor)

That 70’s Show

People who are too serious

(although I usually have to laugh inwardly)

Little children’s honesty

When I think about it many things

make me laugh (it is good medicine)

 

click here to email Pastor Todd 
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      Five ways to describe Roger
     (see more details on the right)
     People Person 
     Sports - I like sports 
     Family - I love my family
     Adventurous
     Integrity 

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Pastor Roger Visker 
Associate Pastor 

 

His specialty

Associate Pastor working with Staff Development, 
Congregational Care and Discipleship.

 

Best advice ever received

"Tell the truth Rog, you're a lousy liar".  Given to me by a former boss when he was investigating the circumstances around some damage to company property.

 

Best advice he uses

Proverbs 3:5-6 -- "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge
him, and he will direct your path." Not a day goes by that I 
don't recall these words and try to put my trust in the Lord.

 

What makes him laugh

Lots of things... funny stories, absurd circumstances,
my grand children, Mary, funny faces, my friend, 
funny movies...

 

Five ways to describe Roger(from left) - more details
People Person 
     - I like people and am intersted in their lives 
Sports - I like sports ...
     - I have played baseball, basketball, football, soccer, 
       tennis, golf, raquetball, softball.  I still play golf and 
       enjoy watching soccer, football, baseball and golf.
Family - I love my family - my parents, siblings, children, 
       grandchildren are all very important to me. I love being
       a husband to Sue and a father to my children.
Adventurous  - I love the adventure that God has me on.
Integrity - it is important to me to be as authentic
       as I can before God and before God's people.

Click here to email Pastor Roger 

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Five ways to describe Lisa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lisa Schnyders
Children's Ministry Director
Agape Corner, 0 to 2 year olds

 

Her specialty
Organizing volunteers, 
implementing curriculum, 
working with kids

 

Best advice she has ever received

 

 

Best advice she uses

 

What makes her laugh

 

 


click here to email Lisa

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Five ways to describe Amanda
Dedicated
Teacher
Organized
Creative
Sensitive

 

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Amanda Kolar
Preschool Coordinator - Children's Ministry

Grace Town, ages 3-5

 

 

 

Her specialty

Putting together age-appropriate curriculum and
working with kids.

 

 

 

 

Best advice ever received

No matter what, treat others with the 
respect that you want them to give to you.

 

 

 

What makes her laugh

KIDS!!!!

Her friends

 

 

 click here to email Amanda

 

 

 

 

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      Five ways to describe Kim 
    A good listener
    Patient
       (with three sons, I had better be!)
    Creative
    Compassionate
    Blessed beyond measure

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Kim Oehler
Elementary Coordinator - Children's Ministry
Jam Club, Pre-K to 5th Grade

 Her specialty
 Helping kids understand that God loves them.
 Making lemonade when life gives you lemons.

Best advice ever received
Words can't be taken back so be careful of what you say.

 The best advice she uses
Try to see everyone through God's eyes.

What makes her laugh 
Myself
My husband and kids
My friends
The movie "Nine Months" - it doesn't matter how many times I see it

 

click here to email Kim


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Five ways to describe Karen
Good Sense of Humor
Dedicated
Good Listener
Hard Worker
Encourager

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Karen Kobza
Community Life Director, 
Director of Alpha Ministry, 
Womens Ministry, 
Churchwide Special Events

 

Her speciality
Evangelizing and entertaining hospitality

 

The best advice she uses
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, 
today is a gift; that's why we call it the present. 
Go out and enjoy the gift God has given you. 
Live each day to the fullest. 
   --Ric Carlson, a dear friend, had 
      this message on his answering 
      machine. He lived every day 
      to the fullest. He was a great 
      example of living that out.

 

What makes her laugh
Her Husband Eugene
According to Jim

click here to email Karen

 

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Five Ways to describe Anthony
Outgoing
Driven
Joyful
Passionate
Organized

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Anthony Bolkema
Director of Arts


His Specialty
Music leadership and worship team development


Best advice ever received

Find what you love to do, and then do it


The best advice he uses

Offer God your best in order to declare that He is infinitely better

What makes him laugh  
My wife Kim 
my mom
The Office 
That '70's Show


 

click here to email Anthony

 


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Five ways to describe Laurie
Organized
Good Sense of Humor
Hard Worker
Enjoys Sports
Mom

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Laurie Groenewold
Administrative Assistant
to all of staff

 

What makes her laugh

Her girlfriends

Her kids

Her husband-sometimes he tries so 
hard to be funny, I have to laugh.

 

 

Best advice/advice to live by

It came from my dad . . . to build up treasures 
in heaven. When he died I found out how much 
building he had been doing and I had absolutely 
no idea. I want to be like that.

 

 

Her Specialty

Helping others in the office with whatever 
they need done.

 

 

 

click here to email Laurie

 

 

 

 

 

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Julie Sather
Volunteer Ministry

 

More information coming soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

click here to email Julie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 See your church directory for a comprehensive phone list.