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"Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You." Ps. 73:25
Thirty-five years ago the dreams and goals of a brash youth began to change through the transforming love of Jesus Christ. A passion for music, literature, theater and education led to careers in youth ministry, teaching, library service and choral directing. Called to become the Pastor of Worship Ministries for a local church in 1986, the diverse disciplines of these various artistic expressions all became avenues for leading the congregation in worship. Today, after fifteen years of ministry at Good Shepherd, the joy of seeing individuals of all ages be able to express their faith through the arts remains one of life's greatest pleasures.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Ps. 73:26 |
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Deb Miteff has been a long standing member of Good Shepherd and has served Good Shepherd for the past 25 years in the areas of Christian Education and Discipleship. Deb is the wife of Gene and they have a daughter and son in law, Crystal and Chad Baker who are also members of Good Shepherd. Deb is a creative person who enjoys developing new ideas into reality and working toward common goals. With a heart toward Discipleship, Deb’s life verse is John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”. Staying connected to Jesus and bearing fruit that honors Him is a primary goal in Deb’s life.
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Ann Burdick has been the Finance Administrator for Good Shepherd United Methodist Church since November 2006. She brings over 20 years experience in accounting; both non-profit and for-profit businesses. Ann and her husband Bruce have been married for 16 years and are owners of Premier Electric. Their son, Josh, is grown and are grateful that he knows Jesus and walks with Him daily. Ann is a very active member in her United Methodist congregation, Taylor Chapel. Ann enjoys being part of the Good Shepherd staff and loves coming to work everyday and being with people who make Jesus Christ a priority in their lives.
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Don and his wife, Penny, have been members of Good Shepherd since 1979. Don taught the older adult Sunday School class for 25 years (1985-2010). Don has been involved in older adult ministry in nursing homes since 1990, both as a volunteer leader of worship and as paid staff (activity director). Don completed the Clinical Pastoral Education program (student chaplaincy) at Lutheran HDon and Penny have three adult sons, and 4 grandchildren.
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I am Jim Rousseau, born on February 23, 1952 on a Air Force base in Rantoul, Ill. My parents were Dr. John Rousseau and Fahma (North) Rousseau both from Fort Wayne. I am the second of three children with an older sister, Carolyn and a younger brother Richard. When I was three, my father completed his service in the Air Force and we returned home to Fort Wayne. I attended Indian Village and Brentwood elementary schools and became a member of the first class at lane Junior High School. As a Lane Viking, I participated in football, basketball, and golf. I was also on the student council and the honor roll. I was awarded the McMillen Award for scholarship and atheltics at the end of my 9th grade year.
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| In 1967, I began my high school career at Snider High School, earned honor roll status and was involved in athletics, especially basketball and golf. The summer of my sophomore year, I was hired by the Wildcat Baseball League as a Junior Assistant. I went on to become a Director and worked for the league for the next 20 years of teaching baseball skills and good sportsmanship to children.
After graduation, I attended Wittenberg University in Springfiled, OH. I earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and science education and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. After completing my student teaching, I attended Indiana University in Bloomington to begin work on my masters degree and a minor in physical education and coaching.
In the spring of 1977, I married my high school sweetheart and next door neighbor, Barbara Bryan and we moved to Fort Wayne to begin our life together. Barb began her career as a registered nurse, and I was hired for my first teaching position at Blackhawk Junior High School. I taught science and physical education and coached football and basketball. My teams captured two city championships in basketball.
In 1981, I was hired to teach and coach at R. Nelson Snider High School, my alma mater. I have taught Earth & Space Science for the last 29 years at Snider and have also served many years as an assistant coach in both baseball and basketball. I later became the head boys’ varsity coach in both sports. The boys’ baseball team captured Snider’s first regional championship in 1986.
In the summer of 1994, I took a respite from coaching and was hired as the Youth Director at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church where I served for the next 4 years. I continued teaching and eventually returned to coaching basketball as an assistant.
Barb and I have four children: LeeAnne (Gogis), Daniel, Allison (Delagrange), and Matthew. We have two grandchildren: Brayden and Brianna Gogis. I enjoy all sports, plus biking, juggling, reading, watching movies and geocaching. I am also a backyard astronomer.
Barb and I have attended Good Shepherd United Methodist Church for the last 28 years and feel truly blessed by the friendships we have made.
God is good!
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Hello, I am Paula Fox. I moved to Fort Wayne 13 years ago from Wisconsin when the Minnesota Twins moved their minor league team here to Fort Wayne. Dan was the athletic trainer for the Wizards for the first two seasons before deciding to move on to employment with Orthopaedics Northeast. We have three busy and amazing children- Christopher, Sarah and Cameron. We have attended Good Shepherd since 1994 and became members in 1995. It has been incredible to watch this church grow and change and develop new and exciting ministries to spread the love and word of Jesus. |
| I have been on the preschool board for the past 11 years and have enjoyed the challenges that has brought. I have also been an involved with Youth Ministries for the past 4 years and am inspired by the kids here at Good Shepherd they are a truly phenomenal group. I am also employed as a Social Worker at Turnstone Center for Disabled Children and Adults where I have been helping families with disabled children receive the services they need to reach their greatest potential for over 10 years. One of my favorite verses is Romans 15:5-6 – “May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other-each with an attitude of Christ toward each other. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God.” I am looking forward to this new endeavor and challenge God has bestowed upon us. |
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My name is Robin Becher I have been a member of Good Shepherd for 15 years and director of the preschool for 2 years. I have been married to Brian for 20 years and we have three boys Eric 18, Brad 16 and Nic 13. The most important things in my life are my family and friends. I also value education very highly but I don't believe everything has to be learned in school. Some of our most valuable lessons are learned at home. If our faith in Christ is real, it will usually prove itself at home, in our relationships with those who know us best. Children and parents have a responsibility to each other. Ephesians 6:1-4 How much we love God can be measured by how well we treat others. Matthew 10:42
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Lori has been an active member of Good Shepherd for twelve years along with husband Steve and children Hope (7) and Shane (4). Lori has been involved with the Mom's Heart support group, small groups and an array of special activities. Lori has been on staff with responsibilities in children's ministry, primarily preschool ages for 2 years and continues to explore where God is calling her to ministry. Lori has had a love for children as long as she can remember. As soon as she was able to babysit she did. She continued to care for children through her high school and college years. When she met Steve she was working for a Before and After School daycare program, at which was the last time she had worked with children. A long time dream of Lori's was to have a family of her own. Now that she has that family and has been able to get back to working with children she has been blessed and thrilled. Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belong to such as these." |
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Hi, my name is Bonnie Elam. My husband, Phil, and I have been members of Good Shepherd since 1986. We’ve been married 36 years and have 3 wonderful daughters, two great sons-in-law, and 3 beautiful granddaughters. Our family feels truly blessed to be a part of such a loving, friendly, and supportive church family. They have been there for our most joyful times and during our darkest days. "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place!"
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Coleen Christman has been active at Good Shepherd UMC since 1996 and has served as full-time Administrative Assistant to the Senior Pastor since 1998. She leads the front office team of staff and volunteers who help make visitors and members feel welcome, schedules building rooms for all events and brings a variety of administrative experience to the church. She attended Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne where she majored in music and loves playing piano in the Saturday Night Band at Good Shepherd. She has two daughters, Kim Christman, in Fishers, IN and Keri (Jonathan) Thompson, in Indianapolis. “How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!” Psalm 147. |
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Kelley Hathaway has been a member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church since 2009 and serves as the Congregational Care Administrative Assistant. Kelley is married to David and they have two children, Delaney and Malachy. Kelley feels very fortunate to be a part of the wonderful congregation at Good Shepherd and enjoys serving them. Kelley is on a spiritual walk; striving to be closer with God and joyfully embraces where that path takes her. My favorite quote is “Don’t tell me that the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” |
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Hi! I am Paulette Ross and I currently serve Good Shepherd as the Administrative Assistant for Discipleship Ministries. At Good Shepherd, we value those who are new to our congregation and hope to make them feel welcome by inviting them to brunches and assigning a faith friend to them as they explore the ministries of Good Shepherd and possibility of becoming members of our church.
My husband, Ron, and I have been members of Good Shepherd for 23 years and are happy to have our daughter, Jennifer, her husband, Kevin, and their children, Zachary, Micaela and Aaron join us for worship. Our oldest daughter, Lora, and her family live in Phoenix, AZ, but worshipped at Good Shepherd until their move to Phoenix. Our family has been so blessed by this congregation. Both of our daughters were teenagers when we moved to Fort Wayne, They both were married in the church and each of our five grandchildren were baptized here. I am so happy to serve God by helping newcomers to our church feel welcome and blessed as each one of us has been by this wonderful church family!! |
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Crystal has grown up with Good Shepherd as her church. She was baptized and Confirmed at Good Shepherd and continues to call it home. Crystal currently serves part time at Good Shepherd as the Education Administrative Assistant, accomplishing much in the areas of Education clerical, classroom, special events and administrative support. Crystal’s full time work is as an X-Ray technician working at Parkview Outpatient Service Center. |
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Becoming organist at Good Shepherd in April of 2008 was a return to a ‘passion’ for me. I have 17 years of experience as a church organist, but have not played regularly for several years because of the demands of a full time school teaching career. I thoroughly enjoy being part of a church that uses organ in its worship services.
My life’s priorities have been centered in love for God, family, and music. My degree program at Fort Wayne Bible College not only gave me a teacher credential, but also equipped me for all kinds of music ministry in churches. I have led children’s choirs, mentored music leaders, taught in music workshops, sung in choirs, played handbells, accompanied on both piano and organ, and participated in service planning. Recently, God has opened doors for me to travel to Eastern Europe to teach music to orphan children! It gives me great joy to have opportunities to use my gifts and talents to praise God.
I have a wonderful family. My husband, Jay, is a partner in music ministry and my best mentor. We have two adult sons, Ryan and Alex, and Ryan and his wife Nicole have given us 4 wonderful little grandsons. We make frequent visits to Chicago to keep up with them! Alex and his wife Michele are located in Bloomington, IN where Alex is enrolled in law school.
My testimony can be summarized by a favorite verse: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalm 28:7) |
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In 1982 we were married at Good Shepherd Church. In 1997 we joined Good Shepherd and have enjoyed being involved in Worship, Sunday School, Folds, Emmaus, and Mission volunteering.
For the last several years, we have served as church custodians at both the main campus and at our second site, Open Arms. We have a daughter (Jessica age 20) recently graduated college, and know how important it is for students to receive encouragement from their church family, so we have been providing leadership in the college care program for many years. From our home Deb runs a full time day-care program and George works for Indiana State government dealing with property taxes. |
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