Jared Bell -- Youth Pastor

When Jared Bell was a student a few years back he helped lead the college service at Lakeview Church, and wound up in his senior year doing his preaching practicum at Westminster Presbyterian here in Marion. He graduated from IWU in 2005. Jared is now a youth pastor in a Wesleyan Church in Kernersville, North Carolina. He is married to Becky Sievers Bell and they just had their baby girl this week.

While Jared is from San Diego, he has adapted well to the land of sweet tea and biscuits. He’s one of those youth pastors with strict office hours every morning. He spends the afternoons making phone calls, visiting people, and teaching free guitar lessons. Jared is a master at connecting with people. He is no one-man-show though—he has built a strong team of volunteers that releases him to build relationships, preach & teach and develop the team.

I fondly remember how hard Jared worked in my classes and I’m proud of how he works so hard in ministry today—Jared is my joy and crown. I'm proud of you Jared!

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NIV)

Lynn Payne--Children's Minister

Lynn Payne was an atheist for the first 16 years of her life. She had never been to church until a friend invited her to youth group at Lakeview Church in Marion, Indiana. As she attended youth group for the next several months the youth pastor and his wife (Brandon and Jennifer Bruce) invested in Lynn’s life and she hungered to know Jesus. She was saved at a youth group event. The Bruces mentored Lynn for several years. Lynn was a senior in high school when she felt the Lord calling her into full time ministry as a children's minister. Lynn came to IWU to get a degree in children's ministry. She knew how to work hard as a student and how to connect with professors as mentors. I was one of those professors who had the privilege of having Lynn in class.

Lynn is a can-do person. When she was flying for an interview at First Wesleyan Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama her flight was cancelled half way there. Lynn didn’t whine or blame the airlines. She simply searched for and found another stranded flyer and rented a car together and showed up on time for her interview anyway! That’s the sort of can-do spirit one expects of a job applicant.

She got the job and has been in charge of Children’s ministries at the church for about a year and a half already. Four of the seven pastors are IWU grads so she gets to work with other IWU alums. Lynn always did “above and beyond” work in every class I had her in…and she is still doing that in her work at the Tuscaloosa. She’s doing a great job and I’m proud of her. She is my “joy and crown.”


For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NIV)

Mark & Jess Schmerse

I’ve walked more miles with Mark Schmerse than anyone else--including my wife or Burt Webb. We've hiked from a few days on Indiana’s 40 mile Knobstone Trail all the way to several months hiking together 1100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail from Canada to Mt Shasta in California. Mark is a great friend and fellow backpacker.

But what makes me rejoice the most about Mark is not the miles we’ve logged together but Mark’s more important trek as pastor of the Mountain View Wesleyan Church in Aumsville, Oregon.

It’s a nice twist that the church he now pastors is called “Mountain View.” Mark preaches there every week and sometimes I ask him what he preached about. I love hearing about sermons my former students preached. When I read them they minister to me and I am strengthened spiritually. Mark’s church is a solid congregation committed to love God and reach others and I love hearing about his church—maybe because it reminds me of the happy years when Sharon and I were pastor of “ordinary churches” in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I’m so proud of Mark & Jess! Nothing brings me greater joy than to hear of former students slugging it out on the Long Trail of pastoring a church. Mark & Jess are my joy and crown.


For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NIV)