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