appreciation

 Pastor Appreciation Month was created to highlight the ministry leaders in our church and give thanks for their work. This special time is dedicated to recognizing the hard work, dedication, and spiritual guidance. It's an opportunity to acknowledge the countless hours our staff invests in preparing discipleship opportunities, offering counsel, and fostering a sense of unity and support within the congregation. As we celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month, let us remember to continually support and pray for our staff, recognizing their invaluable contributions to our Church family!

During the month of October you can visit the table in the foyer to write a note of appreciation or encouragement to our staff. Below are a few of the staff’s favorite things if you want to do something special to show your appreciation!


 

Pastor Adam Sharp - Senior Pastor

Favorite restaurant: Culver’s

Favorite snack: chips and salsa 

Favorite game to play: Mille borne 

Favorite sports team: Nebraska and Cowboys 

Favorite drink: ice cold water 

Favorite Starbucks order: triple carmel macchiato 

Favorite place to shop: Amazon

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Free time. Hilarious! 

Favorite candy: Reese’s 

Favorite color: green 

Any other favorites we should know about: St. Mark is my favorite :) 


 

Pastor Shawn Holtgren - Worship Pastor

Favorite restaurant: Evil Czech, Wings Etc.

Favorite snack: Anything. Not too picky 

Favorite game to play: Euchre  

Favorite sports team: ND

Favorite drink: Water, Orange juice 

Favorite Starbucks order: Black coffee

Favorite place to shop: Gap/Banana Republic (online); Amazon

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Cedar Point

Favorite candy: Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls 

Favorite color: any


 

Pastor Ryan Busse - Executive Pastor

Favorite restaurant: Rhue 152 in Nappannee

Favorite snack: Trail Mix 

Favorite game to play: Euchre 

Favorite sports team: Detroit Tigers or Lions, Michigan State Spartans 

Favorite drink: Coffee

Favorite Starbucks order: Cafe Latte

Favorite place to shop: Lowe’s

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Hangout with the my wife and kids, hike, work around the house 

Favorite candy: Reese’s 

Favorite color: No favorite color to be honest 


 

Pastor Kristen Nehls - Women’s Pastor & BUx Director

Favorite restaurant: Salsa’s, Biebs & Ash, Chipotle

Favorite snack: Chips & Salsa/Guac, popcorn,  (or basically dips with something to dip in it ha!) or chocolate chip cookies

Favorite game to play: Dutch Blitz 

Favorite sports team: Cubs / Notre Dame 

Favorite drink: Diet Coke, Root Beer, Peach Tea, Chai

Favorite Starbucks order: Chai Latte or cold brew with Salted Caramel Cream Foam 

Favorite place to shop: Target, Trader Joe’s

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: baking, kayaking, reading, coffee shops

Favorite candy: Dove Dark Chocolate, Anything Reese’s brand

Favorite color: green, yellow


 

Johnny Bennett - Director of Discipleship

Favorite restaurant: Bonefish Grill, Chipotle

Favorite snack: Dried mango, veggie straws 

Favorite sports team: Chicago Bears, Notre Dame 

Favorite drink: Seltzer water

Favorite Starbucks order: n/a

Favorite place to shop: Amazon

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Play music, walk/hike

Favorite candy: Reese’s, chocolate-covered raisins

Favorite color: Orange and Yellow 

Any other favorites we should know about: Gift cards are great!


 

Pastor Christian Brenner - Student Pastor

Favorite restaurant: either Texas Roadhouse or Evil Czech 

Favorite snack: Popcorn

Favorite game to play: Monopoly Deal

Favorite sports team: The Ohio State

Favorite drink: Coffee

Favorite Starbucks order: Iced Vanilla Latte with an extra shot and made with almond milk

Favorite place to shop: Target

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: grill and hang with family

Favorite candy: Reese’s 

Favorite color: Black



 

Holly Lamphier - Director of Middle School

Favorite restaurant: Chick-fil-a or Hotpot

Favorite snack: Sweet potato chips

Favorite game to play: Any kind of card games

Favorite sports team: Michigan State, Notre Dame? (I don't follow sports)

Favorite drink: Spindrift sparkling water or coffee

Favorite Starbucks order: Sugar free vanilla almond milk latte (hot)

Favorite place to shop: Target

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: An assortment of crafts 

Favorite candy: Sour Patch Kids or chocolate

Favorite color: Pink

Any other favorites we should know about: I'm not sure!! I love flowers!  


 

Pastor Norm Fuller - Care Pastor

Favorite restaurant: Essenhause or Blue Gate

Favorite snack: raspberry toaster strudels

Favorite game to play: whatever the grandkids bring 

Favorite sports team: ND

Favorite drink: Mountain Dew or V8 Energy drink

Favorite coffee order: Blended Carmelious at Scooters  

Favorite place to shop: Linda does it at Kohl’s

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Read

Favorite candy: Milky Way 

Favorite color: Rust brown

Any other favorites we should know about: St mark is my favorite :) 


 

Amy Haughee - Director of Children’s Ministry

Favorite restaurant: Mexican

Favorite snack: popcorn

Favorite game to play: Blokus

Favorite drink: Starbucks  

Favorite Starbucks order: grande white choc mocha with just 2 pumps of syrup

Favorite place to shop: TJ Maxx

Favorite candy: snickers 

Favorite color: yellow 

Any other favorites we should know about: Purely Pressed and Smoothie King


 

Becky Teddy - Nursery Coordinator

Favorite restaurant: Olive Garden, Salsa's or Zoup

Favorite snack: white choc pretzels

Favorite game to play: catan, euchre, skip-bo

Favorite drink: polar cherry seltzer

Favorite Starbucks order: anything with vanilla and cinnamon

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Books or nature

Favorite candy: White Chocolate

Favorite color: Blue


 

Kelley Wassner - CM Preschool Coordinator

Favorite restaurant: Culver’s

Favorite snack: Nuts 

Favorite sports team: ND

Favorite drink: Unsweet Tea

Favorite Starbucks order: Unsweetened Black Tea 

Favorite place to shop: T.J.Maxx

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Read

Favorite color: yellow


 

Aubrey Walter - Preteen Coordinator

Favorite restaurant: Copper Creek or Howard Park Public House

Favorite snack: Chocolate covered pretzel thins

Favorite game to play: Settlers of Catan

Favorite sports team: Notre Dame

Favorite drink: Water (sorry I'm boring!)

Favorite Starbucks order: Strawberry Refresher

Favorite place to shop: Amazon or Target

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Run

Favorite candy: Snickers

Favorite color: Orange 


 

Jane Anderson - Accounting Manager

Favorite restaurant: Chipotle

Favorite snack: Popcorn

Favorite sports team: Notre Dame, Chicago Bears

Favorite drink: Coke Zero

Favorite Starbucks order: Caramel Macchiato

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Gardening

Favorite candy: Candy Corn & Peanuts 

Favorite color: Blue & Seafoam Green


 

Allison Clay - Office Manager

Favorite restaurant: Tampico's

Favorite snack: Chips & guac

Favorite game to play: Dutch Blitz

Favorite sports team: IU Hoosiers basketball

Favorite drink: Peach Iced Tea

Favorite Starbucks order: Strawberry Refresher

Favorite place to shop: Hobby Lobby

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Read

Favorite candy: Peanut M&Ms

Favorite color: Plum

Any other favorites we should know about: when people bring their kids and dogs to the office for a visit! :)

 

 

Lauren Parker - Graphic Designer

Favorite restaurant: Papa Vino's/Bonefish

Favorite snack: Honey Crisp Apples, Strawberries, Cheetos, Lay's Honey BBQ, Kettle Corn - depends on my mood! lol

Favorite game to play: Love board games and card games, I don't really have a specific favorite, mostly love the time playing games with others.

Favorite sports team: No one favorite, we cheer for KC Chiefs/Greenbay Packers/Cowboys/White Sox/ND

Favorite drink: Passion Tea Lemonade 

Favorite Starbucks order: Iced Venti - Passion Tea Lemonade - Light Ice - with 5 Splendas

Favorite place to shop: Hmmm, probably...Amazon...don't judge.

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Organizing (desire to!), being with family/visiting family, traveling..anywhere!

Favorite candy: Truffles, Caramel, Milkyways

Favorite color: So many! 

Any other favorites we should know about:  Love museums, art history.


 

Steve Zook - Facility Manager

Favorite restaurant: Cheddars

Favorite snack: mixed nuts

Favorite game to play: word games

Favorite sports team: Chicago Bears

Favorite drink: Root beer

Favorite Starbucks order: vanilla latte 

Favorite place to shop: Menards/Lowes

Favorite hobby or thing to do in your free time: Garden 

Favorite candy: Resse’s pb cups

Favorite color: Red 

Any other favorites we should know about: Brass music