Pastor Steve grew up in Downers Grove Il.   He earned his undergraduate degree at Goshen College in Indiana, and his Master of Divinity degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. 
    Pastor Steve has been an ordained United Methodist pastor for over 30 years.  After a two year student ministry experience assisting at Broadway UMC in Chicago, he was ordained in the Northern Illinois Conference in 1987.  Since then he has served full time at Geneva UMC, 1st UMC Elgin, Sugar Grove UMC, and Channahon UMC.
     He is the father of two sons, Dylan and Spencer who live in Colorado. Dylan is a white-water raft guide and a professional musician. Spencer does ecological restoration with the U.S.D.A. at the Thunder Basin National Grasslands in Wyoming. 

pastor@goodshepherdoswego.org

Debby is a commissioned Deacon in the United Methodist Church.  She graduated from Garrett Evangelical-Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL and works part time as a Staff Chaplain at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.  Debby is passionate about prison ministry and is guided by love of God and love of neighbor in her ministry work. 

revdeborahingram@gmail.com

Diane Baum has joyfully been the Church Treasurer and Executive Assistant at Church of the Good Shepherd for over fourteen years. She first came to Good Shepherd on the recommendation of Eileen Duffield, who was her assistant when they worked together in banking and to "give her the summer off." Gratefully, that summer has turned in to many more!!

Diane grew up in Aurora and moved to Oswego in 1982 after studying Accounting and Finance at North Central College and at the American Institute of Banking, in Chicago.  She worked at the Oswego Community Bank  for 12 years as a Personal Banker, Consumer and Commercial Lender and an Assistant Cashier.  She and her husband, Mark have been married for over 31 years and have one son, Luke.

Diane's hobbies include spending time with her family and friends; cooking, gardening and enjoying the great outdoors. 

Church Treasurer and Executive Assistant

Jessie is beginning her 3rd year with Good Shepherd. As well as being the finance secretary, Jessie handles the marketing and publicity as well as the weekly bulletins, E-blast and monthly River Spirit newsletter.  She comes to Good Shepherd with a long resume of management, mentorship, and local marketing.

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Jessie moved to Oswego in 1993 and has raised her 4 children ( Jason, 21, Andrew, 19, Ryan, 17, and Emily, 8) in this wonderful community. She was involved as a charter member, & President of the Kiwanis Club of Oswego.  Jessie along with her husband, Matt have also volunteered their time coaching robotics to jr. high students and coaching team sports through the YMCA and park district. 

Her hobbies include cooking, baking, gardening and traveling. 

Executive Assistant of Marketing and Publications

Cheryl Todd has been the organist, adult choir accompanist, and handbell choir director for over nine years at Church of the Good Shepherd.  She has been an organist, bell choir director, youth choir director, and pianist at several other area churches as well.
   Cheryl grew up in Iowa where her father was a United Methodist minister, and she received her bachelor's degree in education at the University of Iowa.  Upon moving to Illinois, she taught second, third, and fourth grades in Naperville before retiring.  She and her husband, Tom, have seven grown children and 17 grandchildren.
  Cheryl's two passions are music and teaching.  Besides playing organ and piano, she has played saxophone and guitar.  After teaching elementary school for 20 years, she now enjoys playing music at Good Shepherd, and as director of the handbell choir, she is able to fulfill her love of both teaching and music.

Organist and handbell Choir Director

Sue is the One A-Chord Choir accompanist. Sue has a background of musical experiences in the Aurora area. These include positions as organist, choir director, bell choir director and accompanist. She majored in music at Illinois Weslyan University, Bloomington and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.  She received her degree in Special Education from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb.  Sue is retired from a 32 year year career in Special Education. She currently enjoys playing for the Oswego Senior Citizens Traveling Choir. Sue is very pleased to be welcomed into music ministry of the Good Shepherd UMC.

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Pianist

Jonathan David Conover was raised in the Midwest where his family attended weekly church services, and this is where he was first introduced to music and the Gospel. Jon’s father was the song leader for services, played trumpet in the church band, sang in a quartet and was an ardent student of the Bible. Despite her small frame, his mother was gifted with a powerful soprano voice and used it to sing in the church choir. She also played the flute for the church band. Conover’s first memories are filled with music at church and family gatherings and also family prayers with his father, mother and sister.  Jon was raised with a faith rooted in a personal connection with God, the Holy Spirit and the scriptures.

Jon Conover’s ministry as a performing artist is a blend of music, testimony and sharing the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. The success that Jon found in his music career took him all over the United States and to Europe. Jon has worked with huge names in the music industry, has recorded albums in the very best studios and has been introduced to all kinds of people from every walk of life, but he never found the fulfillment that he was looking for. Since recommitting his life to Christ and taking a position to serve as the praise and worship leader at Church of the Good Shepherd in Oswego, IL, each one of Jon’s original songs now carries a story of learning to trust and depend on Jesus Christ.

Aside from being a praise bandleader and performing artist, part of Jon’s ministry is also working with young adults and community leaders to meet the challenges of mental health and addiction. As the president of Help, Sorry, Love NFP (www.helpsorrylove.org) Jon and his team provide events, resources and follow-up communication to individuals who are struggling. Help, Sorry, Love NFP works with over 20 churches and organizations in Illinois to seek out the lost, lonely and afflicted and provide them with the best resources and a support community of caring people.

Praise Band Leader