Leadership
Jeff Stark - Lead Pastor / Pekin Campus Pastor
Things haven't been the same since. His wife Angie was saved 1 month later at Clarksville First Church of the Nazarene, where they began both their journeys with Jesus and their ministries. Jeff served on staff at Clarksville First for about 7 years filling multiple Associate roles. Arriving in Erin, TN in October of 09, Jeff and Angie served a great healthy church for nearly 5 years. Then, Jeff and his family moved to Bridgeway Community Church in Pekin, Illinois in July of 2014. They have two boys, Hunter (15) and Chance (14)
Jeff graduated with a B.A. from Otterbein University in English Literature ('98), served 4 1/2 years in the Army as an Arabic Linguist, graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University (M.A. Religion '06), completed an M.T.S. from Vanderbilt Divinity School ('10), and is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program at Lipscomb University in Missional Theology and Spiritual Formation.
Nate Morrison - Associate Pastor
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Nate started attending Bridgeway Community Church with his future wife Ali in 2005, but it wasn’t until their premarital counseling sessions that Nate sensed that God had more for his life, and truly accepted Christ as the leader of his life. After experience working with Bridgeway’s teens and a pull towards helping with a church plant, Nate sensed God’s call on his life to be a pastor. After relocating to the Bloomington-Normal community, Nate served as the worship leader and led in multiple ministries at the Innovate Church plant. He served as Connections Pastor for 8 months before taking on the role of Campus Pastor at our Marquette Heights Campus. After a year at the Marquette Heights campus, Bridgeway leadership asked Nate to step out of the campus pastor role and into an Associate Pastor role. This role will help Bridgeway utilize the gifts that God has given Nate. Ali works in communications at Caterpillar, and when Nate isn’t working at the church, he is a stay-at-home dad to their two girls, Blakely (2) and Emmarie (8 months).
Nate is currently completing a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry at Nazarene Bible College.
Linsy Stockham - Family Ministry Pastor/Youth Pastor
Linsy Stockham has felt the call of ministry on her life since she was a little girl. God has constantly been faithful in the rescue, redemption, and restoration of her live. Physically and spiritually her life has been saved by Jesus Christ and now she lives everyday in hopes to mirror His image on the earth. In 2003 a miracle took place in Linsy’s family, God restored a broken family, her family. Wes Stockham and Linsy remarried when they had divorced each other the year before. She began to surrender more of herself and choose to be willing, available, and Spirit lead. Linsy has been apart of dance, prison, womens, youth, children, outreach, and worship ministries. Working for the Bloomington YMCA for seven years gave her amazing opportunities to share Jesus with hundreds of children. In 2008 she wrote a children's book and eventually published last year! All profits from “Tiny Giants” go in efforts to stop human trafficking. She also worked as a paraprofessional for Olympia West elementary for six years that gave her experience with special needs, classrooms, and family relations in community. Linsy accepted the position of Family Ministries Pastor and once again said “yes” to God's purpose for her in her life. In August of 2016, she was asked to take on the additional role Youth Pastor to lead the charge with our Merge student ministry
Jesse Pierson - Campus Plant Resident/Marquette Heights Campus Pastor
Jesse grew up in church, but walked away after high school. After failing to be able to do life on his own, God used a work contact to invite him back into church. He started going to Bridgeway in 2009, where he fell in love with the mission and vision of the church. He accepted God’s call on his life to step toward vocational ministry, and is now enrolled at Nazarene Bible College.
Jesse has since been active in BW serving in many various roles including the K-6 ministry, the mission and vision team, and the youth pastor (Grades 6-12). Over the past few years Jesse has felt a heavy burden for the community of Morton where he grew up. Since then, we have asked Jesse to take on the role of Campus Plant Resident. In this role he will be preparing to launch another Bridgeway campus in Morton, IL in the future. He will also be helping lead our Marquette Heights campus for the next 18 months.
Jesse and his wife Camila, were married in 2011 and in August 2014 welcomed the birth of their first baby boy, Benjamin. In June of 2016 they welcomed their second little guy David.
Julie Helm - Maruquette Heights Campus Pastor
Julie accepted Jesus as a teen but never really developed the relationship aspect of it. She always felt the Holy Spirit wooing her and drawing her close but didn’t make a choice to listen and yield. 7 years ago she came to a place where she had been in control for too long and in her complete brokenness she surrendered to the call to ministry from God. She tells everyone she meets all about Jesus and what He has done for her. Kevin and Julie have been married for 19 years and are the proud parents of 3 adult children and an amazing daughter-in-law. In the Summer of 2016 Julie was asked to come on board at Bridgeway to help lead the Marquette Heights Campus forward.
Mack Clark - Senior Adult Pastor
Graduated high school in 1956. Married Shirley Cain Clark on August 3rd 1958. Attended University of Arkansas, Southern State College in Magnolia, Arkansas, and Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. Ordained Minister in The Church of the Nazarene in 1970. Patored 5 churches over a period of 38 years, in 3 states. Following retirement I served as Chaplain for Methodist Hospital in Peoria, Illinois for 7 years where I provided pastoral care to folks in crisis ranging from miscarriage in the emergency room to death on the operating table in the cath lab. I Currently serve as Sr. Adult pastor for BridgeWay Community Church where where Shirley and I have held membership since its inception.
Jodi Knox-Holub - Counselor
More Coming Soon!