Rev. Shane L. Bishop, Senior Pastor

With Shane’s strengths of vision casting, preaching, passion, soul winning and leadership, Christ Church worship attendance has increased four-fold, from approximately 200 in 1996 to 925 weekly.

His Bible-based sermons and passion for extending the church outreach to those in need at home and around the world is matched by the commitment of individuals and families who attend Christ Church. All are encouraged to follow their passion in creating new opportunities to reach others for Jesus Christ. The Methodist Church / Illinois Great River Annual Conference has recognized this growth and outreach of the Christ Church with its 2002 Award for Church Growth and Evangelism for Large Churches.

A former history teacher and coach, Shane holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in History Education. An Elder in the United Methodist Church Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Shane graduated cum laude in 1992 from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. While at Candler, he received the Rollins Scholarship Award for his strong academic work and effectiveness in pastoral leadership at the St. James-Manchester Charge in Manchester, Georgia

From 1992-1997 he served the Sumner/Beulah Charge in Sumner, Illinois and was called to Christ UMC Church as its senior pastor in 1997.

Shane received the Denman Evangelism Award in 1996 from the UMC Southern Illinois Conference and was inducted into the World Methodist Evangelism Council’s "Order of the FLAME" in 1999. Elected in both 2000, 2004 and 2008 to represent the Illinois Great Rivers Conference (IGRC) at General and Jurisdictional Conferences, he is a member of the Jurisdictional Episcopacy Committee. Shane received a Man of Valor Award from East St. Louis Wesley-Bethel in 2003. He has co-written two books and has published several articles.

He resides in Fairview Heights with his wife of 24 years, Melissa, and their two children, Zechariah, 23, and Lydia, 19. He loves the Smoky Mountains, playing competitive softball and the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I believe we are a church that walks the walk and talks the talk. We bring the gospel of Jesus Christ out into the world through our mission teams, classes and outreach programs.”

 An Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church Illinois Great Rivers Conference, Pastor Jeff came to Christ Church as its associate pastor in 2004, after serving other churches in Illinois and Kentucky. His pastoral gifts are in the areas prayer, visitation, teaching and counseling. His core belief is that, “This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls.”

Pastor Jeff oversees local, national, and international missions at Christ Church. He traveled to Honduras and Brazil in and led a trip to Israel in 2007. Jeff is a board member for Rick Bonfim Ministries, an outreach ministry to the people of Santa Barbra, Brazil.

Preaching since 1992, Jeff ‘s undergraduate degree in mathematics education is from Millikin University, Decatur, IL and his Master of Divinity degree is from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. He received additional training in healing and deliverance ministry from The Fountain School of Ministry in Lexington, KY.

From 1993-1997, he served as a local pastor at Bissell United Methodist Church in Springfield, IL. His second appointment was Sardis/Forman’s Chapel in northeastern Kentucky. From 2000 to 2004 Jeff pastored the Goreville and Creal Springs UMC churches in southern Illinois.

Before his seminary training, he spend a decade as a high school mathematics teacher, mostly in Williamsville High School in Williamsville, IL. (He graduated from nearby PORTA High School in Petersburg, IL.) Since he has lived in numerous towns and small cities in Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana, Jeff said his home “is where my family lives and where God has brought us. My hometown is now Fairview Heights.”

 As he begins his thirteenth year of pastoral ministry, Jeff’s passion is for empowering Christians to understand who they fully are in Jesus Christ. “I am thoroughly convinced that God has brought my family to Christ Church. I believe that this church is a harvest ministry in the United Methodist Church. “This is a congregation that is warm, friendly, kind and caring about the spiritual life of all who attend.”

Jeff enjoys studying history, teaching and reading the works of John Wesley, Oswald Chambers, Neil T. Anderson and Dennis Kinlaw. He is a fan of all sports and president of the Fairview Heights Kiwanis Club.

Jeff and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Jenny, a junior at Belleville East and Kyle, an eighth grader at Pontiac Junior High.

Rev. Fred Bishop, Director
No Greater Love Ministries

Our goal is to train Christian men to become leaders. We do this by taking the men on mission trips to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the Indy 500 in Indianapolis. We use basic techniques of witnessing and allow the men to learn, assist and then lead others in this endeavor. Rev. Bishop has been doing this since 1975. This last February we had 220 men witnessing at the Mardi Gras from 87 churches and from 16 States. All our training can be found on our website.

Website:   www.nogreaterlove.org

Rev. Dr. Steve Heitkamp, D.Min., L.P.C.

Rev. Dr. Steve Heitkamp, D.Min, LPC (Illinois), AAPC Fellow; serves as a counselor and psychotherapist with Care and Counseling in St. Louis, Missouri. He works out of the main office in St. Louis and the Belleville Office located at Belleville Union United Methodist Church. He provides counseling and psychotherapy to individuals, couples, children and
families.

Steve received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Asbury College in 1987, and a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1991. He is an ordained Elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church and pastored congregations for many years.

He received a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Pastoral Counseling and Psychotherapy from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 2002, and completed a three year residency at Care and Counseling in St. Louis. He has been with Care and Counseling Inc. since 1999 and serves as Director of Training and Site Development for the Agency.

His duties as Director of Training for the Post Graduate Training Program include assisting clergy and therapists develop and deepen skills for counseling and ministry settings. He and Care and Counseling assist clergy and congregations related to mental health treatment and consultation on a variety of levels related to ministry. Care and Counseling is the premier agency of the Metro East Area providing counseling and consultation to clergy, clergy families and congregations for over 40 years. Healthy Individuals and Families Create Healthier Congregations. Healthy Congregations and Families Change the World with the gospel of Christ. For a full description of Steve’s training and professional expertise, please go to drsteveh.blogspot.com

Steve has been married to Mindy for 21 years and they have two daughters ages 16 and 13.

Care and Counseling Website: www.careandcounseling.org

Personal site at drsteveh.blogspot.com

Rev. Bradley F. Watkins, II

Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House

Rev. Watkins currently is appointed to our full service faith based community center in East St. Louis. He serves in several capacities in which he seeks to live out Jesus’ mandate for the least, the last, and the lost. Brad is inviting others to join in this ministry.

Website: www.lessiebatesdavis.org

Brad has been married for twenty years to Debbie Nelson-Watkins and God has allowed them to parent children in from several prospective; biological, adoptive, and fostering. He looks at fathering as one of the passions and gifts God has given him.

As an ordained elder in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The United Methodist Church; Brad has served as Associate Pastor at The Wesley Foundation and Church at The University of Illinois, Urbana; Pastor Evangelical (Faith) and West Olive U. M. Churches, Bloomington, Illinois; Pastor Wesley-Bethel (Trinity) U. M. Church, East St. Louis, Illinois.

Neil D. Horowitz, PhD

Neil D. Horowitz, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Swansea, Illinois. Neil and his wife, Jeri, have been attending Christ Church continuously since 1992 (when it was still on Highway 50). Neil has served in a variety of Christ Church leadership positions and enjoys teaching bible studies that address day-to-day issues. Jeri, formerly the church office manager, left that position to create and direct the Christ Church Parish Nurse ministry.

Neil is licensed in Illinois and Missouri and has more than 30 years experience evaluating and treating adults, individuals and couples, and older adolescents with a wide range of mental health concerns. Neil does psychological assessments for a variety of reasons; including certain learning disabilities and ADHD, gastric surgery, pain management, substance abuse, and diagnostic consultations for physicians. He participates in all major insurance plans, such as TRICARE, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Health Link, Cigna, United Health Care, and most Union Plans.

Neil is sensitive to the beliefs and values of his clients, whether Christian or non-Christian. If you want to contact him, call 618-233-0500 (ext. 3). You will probably have to leave a message, but he will call you back. You can also email him at Neil D Horowitz. His office is located in Emerald Terrace, on Hwy 159, 1.5 miles south of Frank Scott Parkway East.