Roger grew up in a church-going family but didn't trust Christ as Savior until after high school. While a cadet at West Point on bivouac (army-camping), an upper-class cadet stopped by his tent and asked him if he was going to heaven. He didn't have any idea, and the cadet, Bob Maruna, told him that the Bible said he could know for sure about where he would spend eternity. Bob quoted Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one should boast." On hearing this verse, Roger understood for the first time that having eternal life and a relationship with God was not about being good enough to merit God's acceptance, but about placing one's faith in Jesus. A week later he asked Christ to come into his life as Savior and Lord.
Before long, Roger felt God's call to be a pastor rather than a soldier. He left West Point shortly after Beast Barracks (West Point basic training) and headed home to Antioch, Illinois. There, for the next ten months, he grew as a new Christian while attending Antioch Evangelical Free Church.
In the fall of '83, he left for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he got very involved in the Navigators and learned to share his faith, lead Bible studies and make disciples.
After graduating from the U of I, Roger was employed in the marketplace for about 5 years. During that time, he met his wife Diane and as volunteers, they helped start a church in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.
During that time, the new couple made the decision to move back to the Chicago area so that Roger could attend seminary at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. During his years in seminary, he was Single Adult Pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel Rolling Meadows. Roger & Diane were called to Edgewood in January of 1999. They have 3 children, Joshua, Elisabeth and Annie.
Mike is a Waupun native replanted here by God. He grew up in a Christian home, and personally trusted in Jesus as his Savior at age eleven at a Good News Club where the gospel was clearly explained.
After graduating from Waupun High School, Mike went on to Wheaton College and received a B. A. in Elementary Education. His first teaching job took him, and his wife Brenda, to Eau Claire, where Mike taught 4th graders for nine years. While in Eau Claire, Mike was heavily involved in leadership and ministry in their church.
Through interesting circumstances, God brought the Giebinks back to their hometown where Mike taught for two years. Waupun Evangelical Free Church (now Edgewood Community Church) was also just starting up, so Mike and Brenda joined this exciting church plant. While leading a mens small group, God spoke to Mike's heart about leaving the teaching career he dearly loved to have a more direct impact for Christ. After submitting to go anywhere God called them, God provided an opportunity to start ministry at Edgewood, with people they knew and loved. Mike came on full-time as Associate Pastor in August of 1998. It has been a very exciting ride ever since. Mike and his wife Brenda have two sons, Nate and Noah, and a daughter, Madeline.
Jamie grew up in Green Bay and went to school at UW Madison, so Waupun feels a lot like home. Before coming to Edgewood he served at First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, IL for 11 years, with responsibilities for middle school and high school youth ministries (and dabbling in college ministry, family ministry, and teaching as well). He finished his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in December 2009.
He’s been married to the lovely and talented Molly Thompson since 2003. They have three children – Sam, Autumn, and Evangeline (and a dog named Calvin that studies Reformed Theology with Jamie) They love camping and travelling, grilling out, going for walks, and watching movies on the couch with a big tub of popcorn.
There is really one reason why Jamie loves youth ministry, and that’s because he believes that Jesus Christ wants to be in real relationships with middle school and high school students. Whether students are committed to Jesus and their Lord and Savior, just a little curious, or even a bit cynical about the whole thing, Jesus meets students where they are and invites them into a deeper relationship with Him.
Jeremy was blessed to grow up in a loving family with parents who greatly invested into his life.
During his freshman year of college Jeremy trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior though the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Jeremy developed a heart for ministry while at college and became the Student President of Campus Crusade for Christ at UWGB. While at college Jeremy also met his wonderful wife Reanna. Upon graduation Jeremy went to a Bible and ministry training school called the Life Training Institute in Appleton. During this time Jeremy also worked at Rawhide Boys Ranch in New London, WI.
Jeremy and his wife Reanna then moved back to Jeremy’s hometown of Waupun, and Jeremy became the Youth Pastor at Edgewood. Jeremy greatly enjoyed leading the middle school, high school, and young adult ministry at Edgewood and saw God do a great work in many young people’s lives. During these years in Waupun, Jeremy and Reanna were blessed with the birth of their two beautiful girls Kiana and Aliyah. Parenting Kiana and Aliyah and teaching them about Jesus Christ is a great joy in their lives!
After seven years as a Youth Pastor at Edgewood, Jeremy and his family moved to Mooseheart, IL (just outside of Chicago) to work at Mooseheart Child City and School. Mooseheart is a place for children who do not have families that can provide for them. Jeremy, Reanna, Kiana, and Aliyah loved living with and working with the nine Mooseheart girls they shared a home with.
While at Mooseheart Jeremy began to sense that God wanted him to go back into church ministry to plant a new church. It was during this time that Jeremy was asked and accepted the position as Campus Pastor in helping to launch Edgewood in Fond du Lac.
Jeremy loves ministering through Edgewood in Fond du Lac and is greatly blessed to help lead a group of people who really have a heart for Jesus Christ and in reaching out to the community.
Jeremy is currently working to complete a Master’s program through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Born in 1982, Jeff grew up in Waupun, Wisconsin. His family consists of his mother and father, older sister Julie, older brother Jeremy, and younger sister Kelsey. While at Waupun High School, Jeff was involved in a variety of activities: choir, playing acoustic and electric guitar, late-night piano lessons, National Honors Society, Future Business Leaders of America, and sports (football, track and field, and basketball).
After graduating from high school in 2001, Jeff entered the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to study computer science. During his freshman year, he began to attend Campus Crusade for Christ. At the end of one of the weekly meetings, Jeff accepted Christ as his personal Savior and gave his life over to the Lord. His life from that point has never been the same. Jeff got involved in the Crusader's small groups and worship ministry, where he developed a strong passion for music that leads people into an encounter with God. Another significant occurrence during his freshman year was meeting and developing a strong friendship with Kori Schuman, whom Jeff would eventually marry in December of 2005.
Feeling led to use his musical talents to bring glory to God, Jeff transfered to the music department at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. For the next four years, he studied voice, music theory, and piano before graduating in 2006 with a degree in Vocal Education.
Upon graduation, Jeff worked as Program Director for the Boys and Girls Club of Portage County before accepting a position as choir director for a high school in Stevens Point. During this time, God began opening the door for Jeff to pursue a career in full-time ministry.
In December of 2006, Jeff accepted a position at Edgewood Community Church as Director of Worship Arts. He considers it a great privilege to glorify God by leading His people into genuine, God-centered worship.
Hi everyone, my name is Jane Neevel, and I am excited to be the Director of Children’s Ministry at Edgewood. I have enjoyed working with the youth of our community in many different ways through the years, and I'm now so blessed to have this opportunity.
I was born in Illinois and moved with my family to Waupun when I was 3. I was raised on a farm with my 4 sisters a couple of miles west of Waupun. I attended the Waupun Christian School through 8th grade and then attended and graduated from Waupun High School. It was there that I met my husband Paul and we have been married for over 25 years! He was a football player, and I was a cheerleader. Pretty sappy huh? We have been blessed with 4 wonderful daughters Emily, Erin, Elysabeth and Ellexis… and 1 amazing son-in-law, Jason! We love to spend time together at our home near Brandon. I have many hobbies including working outside in the yard and dreaming up and designing projects around home for my husband to do :) I also enjoy hitting the tennis ball for our Yellow Lab "Packer", going for motorcycle rides, watching my girls play sports, or hanging out with our friends. One of my favorite activities is coaching high school and youth gymnastics in Waupun - just spending time in the gym with the kids. ,
At Edgewood, Greenhouse is our ministry for children 3 years old to 5th grade. Like a greenhouse, it is full of life; constantly growing and changing. It is a fun and exciting place to be! Our mission is to help kids Know Jesus as Savior. Grow to be like Jesus and Show Jesus to others. We want to help build faith, hope and love in the hearts of children so when they are grown, they will be spiritually equipped to live lives pleasing to God. We would love to have you join us in the Greenhouse!
Rae Ann is our Nursery Director for children ages three and under. Rae Ann started as the nursery director in March of 2013 with over three years of serving monthly in the nursery. Rae Ann is married with a grown son. She is employed at UW-Oshkosh as the Office Manager for the Oshkosh Student Association which assists college students in the student government.
