Bob Bixby | pastor@wordcentered.org
After completing their college education, Bob and his wife Jennie ministered
for ten years in France and Belgium as Baptist missionaries. God led them through circumstances and personal burdens to return stateside, and they accepted the pastorate at Morning Star in
December 2002. The Bixbys were both raised in Christian pastors' homes. Bob was the son of missionaries in Africa and France; and Jennie grew up in a pastor's family here in Rockford.
Bob considers theology his duty and favorite hobby. Jennie enjoys practicing the ministry of hospitality; but most of all, she loves her roles as helpmeet and mother. In March 2001,
God blessed the Bixbys with the opportunity to adopt their daughter Patience. She is a long-awaited living example of Lamentations 3:25. The Bixbys are rejoicing now to be a family of four,
since the January 2007 birth of their son Corban, whose adoption was finalized at the end
of February 2007.Jeremy Scott | jeremy@wordcentered.org
Jeremy and his wife Anouk have been involved as
servant-leaders with Morning Star for a long while.
The Scotts married in June 2002 and relocated to minister for a few years in a church in Rhode Island.
But their desire to return
to Morning Star increased over time. En route back "home," they were able to serve as Morning Star's "missionaries"
and on-site Global Grace representatives for five
months after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf States (2005-06). The Lord blessed their ministry in Louisiana, but the
Scotts were thrilled when it was time to move back to Rockford and settle in at Morning Star again in the spring of 2006. Shortly
thereafter, Jeremy joined the leadership team and has been serving faithfully in different capacities, including the youth ministry, multimedia
recordings, and events organization. Jeremy was able to come on as official part-time staff in January 2008.
As of October 2009, Jeremy became a full-time staff member at Morning Star. He assists the pastor and other leaders
with the administration of Morning Star's needs and outreaches.Chris Metras | chris@wordcentered.org
The church enjoys Chris' sincerity and enthusiasm for praising God with
music as a part of our worship. Chris oversees the worship and music ministry, and he is also the director of Global Grace Missions,
Morning Star's mercy ministries and missions arm. Chris and his wife Margaret have six children—Colette, Cody, Ethan, Evan, Elise, and Chloe. Chris is on faculty at Shirland School. He also runs his
own painting business, Integrity Painting. When he can find some "spare time," Chris enjoys bow-hunting and working on musical compositions of his own. He and Margaret homeschool their children and teach
private music lessons in the community. Margaret plays flute and enjoys accompanying on the piano on occasion for church. She directs the Rockford-South branch of Classical Conversations. Jess Miller | jess@wordcentered.org
Jess is a husband to Natalie and father to Ashley, Callista, and Wyatt.
Jess is employed full-time with Slavic Gospel Association here in Rockford. He enjoys studying theology.
Among other leadership responsibilities, Jess has taken on the supervision of the Bible education/Sunday School hour for all of Morning Star's age groups, and he usually teaches the adult class.
Natalie assists Jess with the organization of Sunday School and Children's Church, and she also helps the leadership team with secretarial responsibilities.Rick Bovell | rick@wordcentered.org
Rick and his wife Michele have five sons—Nathanael, Ethan, Daniel, Stephan, and Evan.
Rick works full-time and does a lot of regional traveling for his job, but he enjoys serving on Morning Star's ministry team as well. His responsibilities include the direction of Morning Star's
Kids 4 Truth program on Wednesday nights. Michele helps him significantly with this work, and they team together also on
Sunday mornings to teach a children's Sunday School class. The Bovells educate their boys at home; and they are currently living in the community of Freeport, west of Rockford.Brian Hanson, intern | brian@wordcentered.org
In October 2009, Brian moved to Rockford from Boston with his wife Johanna and their
son Stefan. The Hansons are well prepared and well equipped to edify the saints of Morning Star, particularly when it comes to their musical training and gifting. The Hansons hope to settle into Rockford and remain
involved and serving in the church family for as long God as would have them stay. c o n t a c t | info@wordcentered.org, 815.520.3697
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