Our Pastors

Pastor Dan has served as lead pastor since 2007, coming Bethel with his wife, Jo, after serving in Rockford, IL, where he was an associate pastor since 1985. In November of 2020 he had to say goodbye to his wife. She was promoted to Heaven on November 20. They were married 50+ years having been high school sweethearts. God blessed them with two adult children: a daughter living the Kansas City area, and a son living in the Chicago area.

Dan says “God has been shaping my life my whole life. I trusted Christ as my Lord and Savior on an August night at age 12. It was then that I realized that my sin separated me from God and the breach was far too wide. But, thankfully, God made a way for me to be forgiven and be made right with Him, through Jesus my Lord. I am so thankful for a praying (and godly) Mom. She was highly influential in the shaping of my spiritual life.”

In his college years Dan served as a youth pastor. After graduation from Wichita State University in 1972, he attended Denver Seminary, graduating with his Master’s Degree in 1975. Since then he has served in a variety of pastoral roles, including: Children’s Pastor, Minister of Christian Education, Senior Pastor and Associate Pastor. He has been part of three mega churches, sized from 2500 to 7000, as well as four smaller, more intimate churches, ranging from 50 to 250.

What Dan loves most is encouraging and equipping people to discover the full life God has for them. That life comes through experiencing an “exchange of life” offered by Jesus Christ. Dan believes that true prosperity in life is found in living out the truths of God’s Word, the Bible. “Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart” Psalm 119:1.

Dan enjoys staying physically fit through exercise at a local gym. He is a fan of PGA Golf, enjoys following college and pro football. His NFL teams are the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs. Good wholesome movies and novels are also a favorite pastime.

Pastor Jeremey is no stranger to Bethel Church. He was born and raised in Moline, IL and attended Bethel until the age of 16 when he moved to Hamilton, Alabama. While living in Alabama, he earned a degree as a machinist from Bevill State Community College and later went on to attend Brownsville Revival School of Ministry in Pensacola, Florida where he earned an Associate of Arts in Practical Ministry. In continuing his education he also earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Management from Regent University and a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University.

For many years Jeremey felt a call into pastoral ministry and in 2013 he began serving as senior pastor to a Southern Baptist church in Hardinsburg, Kentucky. Jeremey held this position for a little over 6 years until he felt God draw him back to his home church where he now serves as the Family Ministries Pastor.

Jeremey shares this ministry role with his wonderful wife, Melissa, who directs the children’s ministry and coordinates special events. She also has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling from ORU as well.

Jeremey and Melissa have 3 beautiful daughters, Alissa, Michaela, and Adalynn.
When not involved in church activities, Pastor Jeremey can be found enjoying some time in his woodworking shop where he specializes in making custom designed cabinetry. He also enjoys spending time with his family and scoping out old cars.