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PASTOR TODD BENKERT
Todd Benkert is pastor and lead elder of Oak Creek. Pastor Todd and his wife Heidi grew up in Michiana—Todd in Dowagiac, Michigan, Heidi in South Bend. He has a heart for the people of Indiana where he has served in ministry for 20 years. He is passionate about building unity in the body of Christ, racial reconciliation, foster care and adoption, and ministry to those who have experienced significant childhood trauma. He is an advocate for North American church planting and for local church participation in global missions. Todd also teaches for Liberty Divinity School and Indiana Wesleyan University. He enjoys hiking, music, and going to the beach at Lake Michigan. Pastor Todd blogs at sbcvoices.com and behiswitnesses.com and can be followed on twitter at @toddbenkert |
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YOUTH PASTOR MIKE JAMISON
Mike was raised in the Muncie, IN area for most of his childhood. He accepted Christ at the age of 9 and through serving in many capacities in the years following felt a tug on his heart from God at the age of 15 away from his former dream of Sports Broadcasting and to his new dream and call of Full-time ministry. He pursued this call by attaining a B.A. Degree in Christian Ministries and Biblical Studies from Trinity International University. This is Mike’s first Full-time ministry position. Prior to coming to Oak Creek, he has had experience in Camp Ministry, Sports ministry, Worship, Preaching, Non-profit work with students ages K-12, and Youth ministry. He is very passionate about bringing about unity within the church and making sure every person (regardless of Age, Ethnicity, wealth, or background) feels uniquely loved and valued as a child of God. He also loves hanging out with students, studying the bible and other theological/ministry resources, community outreach, and both domestic and international mission trips. Mike also loves all sports, tasty food, movies of all kinds, going to concerts, and is an avid fan of Professional Wrestling. |
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OFFICE MANAGER JENNIFER EGGLESTON |
ELDERS & DEACONS
Dennis Brown
Dennis has attended Oak Creek for many years and has been an elder for the past decade, serving as the recording secretary. He became a Christian through the Young Life ministry as a teenager in his hometown of Colorado Springs and has been actively involved in that organization, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and local churches for some 40 years. He and his wife, Debbie, moved to the South Bend area in 1991 after previously living and working in Phoenix and San Diego. Dennis worked in journalism for 15 years and now is the chief spokesman and assistant vice president for public information at Notre Dame.. They have two sons, Connor and Ryan.
Dale Nagel
Dale is married to Susan) and has two children; Angela and Graham. He works in telecommunications and part-time in Real Estate. His hobbies include playing golf. He has been a member of Oak Creek for many years. He loves supporting a church that has a mission to win and build followers of Christ and maintains an environment that is comfortable for those seeking God. Over the years Dale has done everything from mowing the lawn to preaching! He has been involved in small group and men's ministry and has done construction projects at the church and in Haiti. Most Sunday’s he can be found serving in the lobby with the greeting team.
Pete Cerling
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Pete and his wife, Stephanie, have been members of Oak Creek since 2007. They have three children, Chloe, Aidan, and Josiah. Pete has been an ordained pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention since 2015 and has been involved in ministry, both professionally and voluntarily, for over twenty years. He has served in a variety of ways as a member of Oak Creek. Pete graduated from Bethel College with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Ministry and is in the midst of attaining a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary. He enjoys baseball (specifically the Detroit Tigers), hiking, kayaking, and spending time with his wife.
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Jon Joyner
Jon and his wife Robyn have been members at Oak Creek since 2009 and have twin boys, Ben and Isaac. Jon graduated from Bethel College in 2006 and served with Young Life ministry while in college. He works as a Connection Coachs at Ivy Tech Community College South Bend. Jon leads the worship team at Oak Creek. In the past Jon co-taught the teen Sunday School for several years and has enjoyed helping with the greeting and drama teams and serving as part of a recent Haiti missions trip in addition to his deacon role. In his free time Jon enjoys reading, biking, hiking, camping, DIY home and auto repair, and goofing around outside with the boys.
Our deacons seek to minister God’s grace to the people of Oak Creek. They seek to serve the congregation by modeling godly behavior, by maintaining growing relationships with folks in the church, and by ministering God’s grace in practical ways wherever it is needed. If you have a need, please feel free to contact a deacon to let him know how he may serve you.
Susan Nagel
Susan and her husband, Dale, have raised their two kids, Angela and Graham, at Oak Creek Community Church! She began playing violin as a young girl in LaPorte, IN, encouraged by her Mom to play in church, to "give back part of your talents." Her degree and life's work has been in performing and teaching violin. Her youngest student has been age 2 and her oldest in his 70's! Susan has taught in various areas of children's ministry, and is part of the leadership of the Ladies Bible study. She enjoys playing in the worship band and helping others in meals ministries, childcare and through the deaconess ministry. Biking, walking, cooking, reading and Bible study are some of her interests, along with music, maybe not the kind you'd think!
Paula Teegardin
Paula joined Oak Creek Community Church in 2009 After her first visit she knew God had led her there and that it was her new church home.
"I love the people of our church family! Serving together is so sweet!"She is involved in the greeting ministry and became a deaconess in mid 2017 . Paula has lived in this area all of her life. She especially loves the seasonal changes we are blessed with in Indiana.
She is married to Dave. They have three adult children. Erin, Anna and Mikey. Erin is married to Garrett Bishop . They have two daughters Rachael and Emma. Anna is Married to Mike Meyer. They have lil Max. Mikey lives in Colorado, he has a daughter named Audrey.
"Of all the blessings I have been given, my family is my greatest joy!! "Paula works in a local Jr. high school as an aide. In the summer she paints homes. Leisure time is spent with family and friends. She loves food, pickle ball , snow skiing, swimming, gardening and traveling.
"I love the people of our church family! Serving together is so sweet!"She is involved in the greeting ministry and became a deaconess in mid 2017 . Paula has lived in this area all of her life. She especially loves the seasonal changes we are blessed with in Indiana.
She is married to Dave. They have three adult children. Erin, Anna and Mikey. Erin is married to Garrett Bishop . They have two daughters Rachael and Emma. Anna is Married to Mike Meyer. They have lil Max. Mikey lives in Colorado, he has a daughter named Audrey.
"Of all the blessings I have been given, my family is my greatest joy!! "Paula works in a local Jr. high school as an aide. In the summer she paints homes. Leisure time is spent with family and friends. She loves food, pickle ball , snow skiing, swimming, gardening and traveling.
Kimberly Housand
Kimberly and her husband Ray began attending Oak Creek in 2008 after moving back to the Mishawaka Community. They both value the importance of a church that lives out the command to love your neighbor as yourself and are willing to bring his love alive to all who enter the church to make a lasting impact in their lives. Kimberly enjoys serving and living life out at Oak Creek through the greeting ministry, deaconess ministry, woman's small group bible studies, and through the meal ministry. Kimberly and Ray also enjoy hosting and attending small groups. The Oak Creek family is very important them. Ray and Kimberly have three sons and one daughter: Joshua, Christopher, Kyle and Cassie. Their family has grown to embrace 2 wonderful daughter - in-laws': Lindsay and Sarah, two granddaughters: Katie and Kerstin and a grandson, Henry and one making his appearance soon. Kimberly and Ray know the importance of raising your family in a church community with a foundation built upon Jesus Christ. Staying connected with their family in a busy world has always been a priority to them. It was a given while raising their children' that family dinner was a solid tradition in their home and all must be present around the family table. Many times it included friends who would tag along on any given day. This tradition continues today with their family. Kimberly enjoys watching sports especially if it involves the Detroit Tigers. She also enjoys gardening, spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends, taking a meal to a family from time to time, dates with her husband, reading and walking.
Debbie Brown
Debbie was appointed a deaconess at Oak Creek in 2017 and has been a member for some 20 years. She has been actively involved with the Young Life ministry and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and has served in Oak Creek’s children’s ministry, hosted small groups, and attended the Women’s Bible Study. Debbie and her husband, Dennis, moved to Michiana in 1991 after previously living in Phoenix and San Diego, where Debbie was the head volleyball coach at Arizona State University and an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic team. A member of the 1980 Olympic volleyball team, she was the head coach at Notre Dame for 24 years and was inducted in 2017 into the American Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame. She is now the athletic director at Saint Joseph High School in South Bend. She and Dennis have two sons, Connor and Ryan, both of whom live and work in Chicago.