Nominations for the 2015 GLC Annual Meeting

Great Lakes Conference Executive Board

Rev. Greg Applequist, Bethany Covenant Church, Lyndhurst, OH (Chair) Greg serves as the pastor of Bethany Covenant Church. He enjoys the opportunity to preach and provide pastoral care, to work with his church leaders, to teach Sunday school, to plan worship, and to engage in life with his congregation. He organizes his local ecumenical clergy gatherings and has served on the GLC Executive Board for a number of years, the last two as chair. He considers it a great privilege to serve in this capacity. It is an opportunity to use his leadership gifts outside of his role as pastor. He loves serving here and seeing a larger picture of the Church. He finds it a great pleasure to work with and support our staff, and to work with them in dreaming and planning about the future together. He feels this next year will be very important as we seek to establish a more permanent staffing situation so we are able to better serve all of our churches, and he is glad to lead in that conversation. He is excited to complete this last year of his term and is thankful for the opportunity. He is married to Hilary and has a son, Cameron and a daughter, Brooke. He loves learning about other people, laughing with others, reading and hitting a 7 iron cleanly. He has two dogs and his family loves playing together outside. One of his great joys is baking cookies with his son on Fridays, and then delivering warm cookies to the teachers at his daughter’s school.

Sali Honess-Ondrey, First Covenant Church, Jamestown, NY (Vice Chair) Sali has been a part of both Zion Covenant Church and First Covenant Church in Jamestown, NY. Church involvement includes being a part of a small group as well as a community service organization. She has been involved in and has had leadership in Christian education and small groups. She has been instrumental in offering spiritual direction and initiating small group spiritual direction within the church, and offering prayer retreats. Professionally, Sali is a private practice therapist and a spiritual director. She is honored to work together with so many gifted and caring people who labor purposefully and prayerfully to discern the best way through the challenging issues the conference faces. Sali and her husband Jeff have four adult children (three of whom are married) and have 3 grandchildren.

Rev. John Madison (J.T.), Evangelical Covenant Church, Port Allegany, PA (Secretary) J.T. has been the solo pastor of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Port Allegany since January 2011. His involvement in church activities includes preaching, planning and leading worship, teaching Sunday School, teaching Confirmation, leading Youth Group, preparing the bulletin, answering the phone, handling all audio/visual technology, and serving on all the boards of the church. He also cooks for their annual Messianic Passover Seder and the annual Church Board appreciation dinner. J.T. has been blessed to serve on the Great Lakes Conference Board for the past two years and is looking forward to being increasingly useful and helpful, stepping in to larger leadership roles now that he has his “board feet” underneath him. John is married to Carrie and has a daughter, Lily. Before attending seminary he was a professional musician in the United States Navy. He still teaches private lessons and enjoys performing in the pit for his local high school’s musical productions. Also, he is an avid espresso enthusiast - a habit he picked up while serving in the Navy in Naples, Italy. Michael Tresh (Mickey), Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church, Grand Rapids, MI (Treasurer) Michael has been a member of Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church for the past 24 years. He has served as children’s worship leader, on the past Board of Elders and as a small group leader. Professionally Michael works in accounting and finance. He is interested in engaging the church at a broader level to see Jesus work through the Church more broadly. Michael enjoys sports, the outdoors and music. He and his wife Karalyn have 4 children from the ages of 14 – 23.

Trustees

Stephanie Tillman, Redeemer Church, Hamilton, OH Stephanie is an Elder at Redeemer Church. She also serves in many other capacities including: Praise Team Leader, Bible Study, Choir, Confirmation, Liturgist, Planning Team and President of the Consistory. She is a retired public school teacher and principal. She is currently a corporate representative at Indiana Wesleyan University. She is looking forward to the privilege of serving the Body as a part of the GLC Executive Board. She did not seek out the position, but was asked and she feels that if God can use her in this way, then she will humbly obey. She finds it a joy to serve. Stephanie is married to Darryl and they have 3 grown children. She is the family “baker” – she bakes and decorates cakes. She and her husband would like to start a business related to her baking. She has been singing in choirs and school groups since the age of 4. She has been on the Praise Team for 11 years and in the choir for 39 years.

Sheryl Friedman, Grace Evangelical Covenant Church, Clay, NY Sheryl has been a consistent participant on the social events ministry team at her church. She is also a mentor/leader for Moms of Grace, a bi-monthly meeting for moms of all ages with children of all ages. Sheryl recently completed her second term on the Leadership Team. She participates in various all- church small group studies and prayer gatherings. She was the medical team coordinator for CHIC in 2006, 2009, 2012 and will also do so in 2015. Sheryl retired in 2011 from a career in nursing; the last 20 years being focused on clinical education and clinical administration. She is a consistent volunteer for the Rescue Mission of Syracuse. She is currently in partnership with her son to purchase, rehab, and rent and/or sell rental properties. Though she retired from her nursing career, her intent is not to retire from work/activity. She sees this time in her life as an opportunity to do many different kinds of work and service. She had recently commented that she needed to look for another challenge now that she had completed her term on the Leadership Team at Grace. Sheryl feels she has been ABUNDANTLY blessed in every way…starting with Jesus searching, finding and bringing her back to the fold…she is forgiven much and loved much. She desires to serve Him. Sheryl has 3 children and 3 grandchildren. In addition to the great loves of her life… her children, grandchildren and family… she enjoys her summer house on the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands). Camp Mission Meadows Board

Rev. David Trosper, First Covenant Church, Jamestown, NY David is a retired First Covenant Pastor. He served as pastor from 2005-2009. From 2000-2005 he was the pastor at Country Covenant Church in Elgin, Illinois. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan in 1976 and became an Illinois State Policeman in 1968. In 1982, he graduated from the FBI National Police Academy. David retired from the Indiana State Police in 1994. He completed his MDiv at North Park Seminary in 2000. He desires to support Mission Meadows in future planning and development to achieve its aim to: invite people to join the Christian community, equip people to use their unique gifts, and to send people out prepared to Love God and Love Others. David and his wife, Bethany, have two grown daughters. He enjoys his grandchildren, preaching, reading, fly fishing and travel.

Rev. Phillip Engle, Journey Covenant Church, Cuyahoga Falls, OH Phil is a Covenant pastor with 27 years of experience in leading churches, teen specific ministries and social services. He has proactively developed, budgeted, streamlined and energized projects and programs to enhance the spiritual, social and emotional character of individuals in ministry. Phil is passionately motivated for development of believers in Christ (Galatians 4:13). He is administratively skilled in leading staff, preparing and implementing budgets, maximizing resources, and accounting practices. He is knowledgeable in computer software and graphic design. His pastoral skills include homiletics, drama, strong biblical teaching, a deep love for people and a willingness to be creative to show them God’s love in every way possible. Phil has a deep affinity for the camping ministry as both he and his wife found Christ in camping ministries. Camp has always been a refuge and safe place for him and he appreciates how impactful it can be. Christ always speaks through nature and even revealed Phil’s call to ministry in a camp setting. He believes that his positive spirit, creative energy, and his desire for Mission Meadows success, make him an ideal candidate for serving in this capacity. Phil and his wife, Emily, have 4 daughters. Despite struggling with a degenerative nerve disorder, which has greatly impacted his health in the past several years, he is an avid sports enthusiast and loves to ride bicycles for long distances. Nature brings him closer to God and he is hopeful to ride in the Chautauqua Lake area.

Rev. Cathy Kaminski, Trinity Community Church, Cincinnati, OH Cathy has been the lead pastor of Trinity since December of 2013. Before that she had the privilege of serving in Ceresco, Nebraska and in the camping ministry at Pilgrim Pines Conference Center in Swanzey, New Hampshire. Camping ministry has always had a special place in her heart. Cathy became a Christian at a Covenant camp over 20 years ago. She believes that the Covenant camping ministry is a vital and thriving component of our denomination and one that deserves intentional care and service. She also considers it a privilege to be called to serve the conference and do her part to be part of the greater denomination. She considers it an honor to serve on this board. Cathy has been to Mission Meadows two times, but never in the daylight! She is looking forward to changing that fact. Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp (PLCBC) Board

John Carlson, Harbert Community Church, Sawyer, MI John is an Elder on the Church Board at his church. He also serves on the worship team and as a youth leader. John is an environmental engineer at American Electric Power. He loves Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp and has served as the Board Chair 2 times for a total of 7 years. He and his wife Pam have two sons, Matt & Tyler.

Michelle Ludge, First Evangelical Covenant Church, Grand Rapids, MI Michelle is a full time children’s ministry director on staff at First Cov. She is also a coordinator for special events. She loves camp and desires people to come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. She believes in camp ministry opportunities. Michelle is married to Eric and they have two daughters, Mandy (22) & Allie (18). They have been family campers for the past 15 years and her two daughters have grown up attending camp.

Tim Padgett, Christ Covenant Church (C3), Wixom, MI Tim has served C3 in a variety of ways. He has been on the leadership team, worked with the youth and children, and been part of events planning, micro groups and community groups. Tim works in the sports and entertainment industry in the Detroit area. He has a deep passion for PLCBC and its mission of “Every life impacted for Christ” and has had the opportunity to watch the mission come to life for many years. He and his wife Kristen meet at PLCBC 27 years ago. They have two children, Josh and Ella that they love dearly and are their pride and joy. Tim has previously served two terms on Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp Board and is looking forward to serving camp once again in a board position. He has created fund raising events for the camp over the years and looks forward to helping PLCBC in the upcoming capital campaign.