Dr. Jerry Pence | Pastor of the Week

By: Rick Carder

Congratulations to Dr. Jerry Pence, Pastor at Brooksville Wesleyan Church in Brooksville, Florida. Dr. Pence has earned the Pastor of the Week (Potw) recognition on March 6. He has been serving as senior pastor at the Brooksville Wesleyan Church for over 4 years. Under his leadership the church has extended its reach  into the community as well as extend opportunities for a diverse community, recently partnering with an ethnically diverse community.
Dr. Pence has hosted the University Chorale for several years. His teaching ministry has made a profound impact not only in the Wesleyan village retirement community where this church is nestled but also throughout the community beyond.

This church post of over 1,000 in attendance with special events that meet often for the community as well as the retirement community residence. Twice a year the church hosts special Bible events including a Bible Conference and Camp Meetings. The church also has a full-time ministry that has exceptional music and teaching and preaching on a weekly basis. The church has grown its Christian Education programming as well as ministry for children and youth, hiring full-time staff in music, youth, and preaching ministries. The church is an award-winning building.

Most notably, Dr. Jerry Pence has served as a pastor previously. He served for 22 years as a denominational executive and General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church, a denomination with over 5,000 local churches in 90 countries. His current church is a transformational congregation in Brooksville, Florida, specializing in senior adult and inter-generational ministries. His ministry has extended to the educational institutions over those years and has grown the influence of the denomination throughout the world. He has been ordained since 1977 coming from the Dakota district of the Wesleyan Church.

The church is heard worldwide through their audio podcast of the services in the teaching of Dr. Pence. To listen to the podcast click here.

Brooksville has several staff that are employed through the ministry. For more information, click here.

 

 

We congratulate Dr. Jerry Pence for being recognized as pastor of the week.
The story was written by Rev. Rick Carder, Director of Alumni and Church Engagement, Indiana Wesleyan University. Carder has been Ordained in the Wesleyan Church  since 1989 and has served in four church in a variety of positions in the local church. He now is serving with Indiana Wesleyan since 2006.

Pastor of the Week (PotW): Patty Bray

By: Mia Anderson

Rev. Patty Bray
Rev. Patty Bray

Reverend Patty Bray (’73, Elementary Education) is being recognized as the “Pastor of the Week” this week. “Pastor of the Week” (PotW) is a renewed tradition honored by the Office of Alumni and Church Engagement which appreciates local pastors for their service and faith.

Bray’s ministry has been marked by deep faith, meaningful relationships, and extreme expansion of the Kingdom of God. Those who have the pleasure of meeting Patty know how warm of a friend and mentor she is. Her wisdom is evident as she listens for the Lord’s calling in her life. Currently, Bray is serving as Interim Pastor at Fall Creek Wesleyan Church in Fishers, Indiana. However, you might know Bray from her 10 months as Interim Pastor at First Wesleyan Church in Battle Creek, Michigan, or her 41 years of service at Heritage Church in Rock Island, Illinois and Bettendorf, Iowa. No matter where God has led her, Bray has gone confidently and expectantly to serve the Lord.

As an elementary aged child, Bray knew that she was called to serve God. Bray attended Marion College, where she met her future husband, John Bray (’73), and received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She went on to teach for several years before leaving the work force to be with her family and serve at Heritage Church.

In the beginning, Heritage Church was a small church that needed rejuvenation. The Brays worked and honored the Lord with their ministry and soon had a vibrant, growing congregation. Back in the early days of Heritage Church, Patty recalled all she did in the church saying,

John and Patty Bray
John and Patty Bray

“Sometimes you have to do what needs to be done because it desperately needs to be done.” She held around 10 different paid positions at Heritage, and many more volunteer positions. However, as the church grew, Bray found that she was able to do more work that was in her sweet spot, she continued, “and sometimes you work where you are really gifted. Now, would I rather work where I am really gifted? Boy, I sure would! But I think you have to be willing to do whatever the Lord calls you to at the time.”

More than just figuring out what position to hold in ministry, though, Bray had to tackle her own personal Spiritual life and how that fit into her ministry. She said, “I decided in my late 20’s […] that if God would help me, over a lifetime I was going to become a deep, spiritual person. I was going to be a person of the Word, and person of prayer. I was going to become a person of deep, spiritual roots.” Bray did just this as she has come to be known by her friends and congregation members as someone with a deep connection to the Holy Spirit, an inspirational prayer life, and a wisdom that is evident in her sermons and even in her conversation.

After serving several years at Heritage, Patty felt led to become ordained. She recalled that Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church, encouraged her in this so that she could serve as a role model for other women seeking positions of leadership in the Wesleyan Church. The Wesleyan Church has empowered women to actively serve in ministry and was the first denomination to allow women to become ordained. Bray received her ordination in the Wesleyan Church in 2003 and said, “I love being a part of a denomination that believes in women in ministry and that stands strong for women in ministry.”

As Heritage Church grew from a few dozen to thousands of congregation members under the Bray’s leadership, they began to feel that God was calling them toward something other than Heritage. After 41 years of service at Heritage Church, the Brays boldly followed God into ministry opportunities outside of their home church.

This was an incredibly difficult time for both of them, leaving a church they had grown and nurtured for the unknown that only God knew. Patty said, “I went through a really deep grieving process of releasing Heritage…but at the end of that time [of prayer, fasting, and grieving] patty preachingGod completely lifted the depression, sadness, everything…and the next week we got the opportunity to go to Battle Creek, Michigan as interim pastors!”

The Brays stepped into an Interim Pastor position at First Wes to grow community and cast vision for the future of the church. Patty, being a deeply relational person worried that she would be able to love another church as she had Heritage or grow relationships there. However, as she walked into her first service at First Wes, she was overwhelmed by the overwhelming love she felt for the church and its members. Bray felt God’s presence as she was able to create meaningful relationships and grow a church in a short time.

After 10 months at First Wes, John was called to serve as Interim Dean of the Chapel at Indiana Wesleyan University and Patty, through remarkable circumstances from the Holy Spirit, began to serve as Interim Pastor at Fall Creek Wesleyan Church in Fishers, Indiana. The congregation at Fall Creek is blessed by Patty’s ministry and continues to blossom. Bray has learned to love her calling as Interim Pastor because it allows for her to do God’s work in renewing others. She described that she feels her work is like seeing a wilted flower come back to life.

Patty's "empty page" for the Lord.
Patty’s “empty page” for the Lord.

In regard to her future, Patty has held fast to the truth that “[God] will take care of the future if I take care of surrender.” Two years ago, as she began to transition into a time after Heritage Church, God reminded her of Psalm 92:14a, “They will still bear fruit in old age.” Bray realized her future was still full of potential in the Lord. As she wrote in her prayer journal, she felt God telling her to rip out an empty page. She felt the Lord saying, “‘See this empty page?—That’s your future, you don’t know what’s on it, but I want you to give the page to me and let me write on it.’” Bray has been a testament to the endless possibilities that accompany surrendering to God and trusting His plan for the future.

In addition to her bachelor’s degree and ordination, Patty also received her Master of Arts degree from the Wesley Seminary at IWU. Revs. John and Patty Bray have two adult daughters: Heather Bray and Kari Jackson. They also have three beautiful grandchildren: Stella Jackson (7), Leo Jackson (3½), and Vivan Jackson (1).

 

Written by Mia Anderson, Blog and Social Media Manager, Storyteller for the Alumni Office. Mia is a Senior at IWU studying Strategic Communication with her concentration in Public Relations. She is the Vice President of IWU PRSSA and hopes to work at a PR agency in Indianapolis after graduation in December 2016. Mia loves hearing others’ stories and sharing them with the world. Visit Mia’s personal website at www.MiaLAnderson.weebly.com.

Pastor of The Week (PotW) – Church Engagement Recognition Program; Josh Howard

Josh-Howard-449x304A recent tradition that honors local pastors continues through the Office of Alumni and Church Engagement.  Several times a month local leaders and pastors are selected in recognition of what is known as, “Pastor of the Week”. This tradition began several years ago by Gale Richmond, Director of Church Relations. Rev. Rick Carder, current Director of Alumni and Church Engagement said about the program, “I am on the road this week recognizing pastors and giving them their mug. This week I am giving away a few consecutively!” Carder indicated that he is finishing out the remainder of the year and recognizing several which will finish out 2015. Richmond started this program with real needs being met. Richmond says, “Pastors are so overlooked a lot of times by many people and that was the reason that I wanted to start the ‘Pastor of the Week’ recognition.”  The program not only recognizes pastors for their contribution to spiritual discipleship in the local church but also helping to demonstrate the mission of Indiana Wesleyan University as being Christ-centered. Richmond continues, “It is just as a way to say thank you for being there for all of us and for putting up with all of us.” He chuckles, “It is just a small way of showing them just how much they really mean to us.”

The program has since expanded to include pastors beyond The Wesleyan Church. This week’s inductees include Pastors Daniel Meyer & John Klingelhofer from Christ Church of Oak Brook-IL, and Pastor Josh Howard from Wheaton Wesleyan Church-IL. Carder adds, “Pastor’s, I am swinging through your region soon. You may be chosen next.” Carder also reminds members of the local church to nominate their pastor! To do this Carder encourages people to tell us in 100 words or less telling me what makes your pastor extraordinary! (Send your nomination to Rick.Carder@indwes.edu)

One of those that we highlight includes Pastor Josh Howard. Josh has been in the Wesleyan Church his whole life; beginning with being born into a pastor’s home. Josh has attended Indiana Wesleyan University where he graduated with a degree in Christian Ministries. He is currently working on his Masters of Divinity from Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. Carder says that “Not everyone selected is a pastor in the Wesleyan Church nor are they an alum of Indiana Wesleyan University.”

Pastor Josh has been in the ministry of the Wesleyan Church since graduation from college. One of his earliest church is included a staff position with Kalamazoo Wesleyan Church, known today as Lighthouse Community Church. Under the leadership of Rev. Danny Janes, Josh’s ministry was fruitful and a great place to develop his ministry skills. Having also served in St. Louis, Pastor Josh defends his interest as a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.

Pastor Josh now serves as the senior pastor for Wheaton Wesleyan Church in Wheaton, Illinois. Josh has served in this church for nine consecutive years.  His ministry extends even be on the four walls of this local community church. Pastor Josh also serves the community with intentional ministry to the neighborhood. Just this year the church’s Boys Brigade gathered over 750 individual bags of groceries from the surrounding homes to better serve people coming to their food pantry. Furthermore, Pastor Josh serves in a District Denominational leadership role as Assistant Superintendent as well as chair of the ministry training program called District Board of Ministerial Development. Pastor Josh is best known for not only his preaching but his exceptional skills as “Ping-Pong king” during their annual local church Ping-Pong tournament. Pastor Josh believes that the local church is where real ministry occurs. The local church is a congregation that is intentional about reaching their neighbors and building a strong relationship.  The “pastor of the week” is a weekly recognition of pastors serving in the local church making a profound impact in not only their church but their community reflecting the mission of Indiana Wesleyan University by being Christ centered.

The “pastor of the week” was begun by Mr. Gale Richmond who served as the director of church relations for several years at Indiana Wesleyan. As part of this recognition a small gift is given to the pastor as well as a coffee mug with the title “Pastor of the Week.”

Others that have recently been recognized in this way include the executive pastor of Crossroads Community Church, Rev. Kevin Smith, from Kokomo, Indiana. Pastor Kevin is been serving at this church for over 20 years. His role included the very beginning days when the church first launched. Carder recently sat down with Pastor Kevin to ask him what the ministry has meant for him over these years. Smith stated, “It is been a tremendous opportunity to share Christ with so many people through the decades.”  Smith now serves as executive pastor and uses his experience to help guide the church and mentor others who are leading. Pastor Kevin is a parent of a student currently at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Dan MeyerAdditionally, Rev. Dan Meyer and Rev. John Klingelhofer (not pictured) from Christ Church of Oak Brook in Oakbrook Illinois were recently selected. Dan Meyer is the senior pastor and John Klingelhofer is the missions’ pastor at the church. Each of these men, in their own right are well deserving of this distinguished recognition. Both are individuals that have demonstrated a concern for the lease and the loss of our world today. Each of these men has integrity and leading examples of pastoral service and commitment for their faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Other pastors that have been inducted include;

Mark Atkinson – Eastview Wesleyan Church, Gas City, IN
Jonathon Welch – First Wesleyan Church, Chillicothe, OH
Chuck Osborne – Youth Pastor, Dayspring Wesleyan Church, Columbus, OH
Steve Coulter – Chapel Pike Wesleyan Church, Marion, IN
Ken DePeal – Olathe Wesleyan Church, Olathe, KS
Nicholas Hect – Sturgis Wesleyan Church, Sturgis, MI
Joe Gormong – Student Ministries Pastor, Faith Wesleyan Church, Terre Haute, IN
Wes Jones – Columbus Wesleyan Church, Columbus, IN
Tim McClellan – Lakeview Wesleyan Church, Marion, IN

 

Written by Rev. Rick Carder, Director of Alumni and Church Engagement of Indiana Wesleyan University.

Rick has been with IWU since 2006 and has recently added to his role of Director of Alumni Relations the responsibility to connect with pastors through Church Engagement. Rick is ordained with The Wesleyan Church since 1989.