MEET OUR MINISTRY TEAM


  • PASTOR Steve Benson

    Pastor Steve and his amazing wife Liz, where married on October 17, 1992 at Redeemer Lutheran Church here in Rockford, the church that Liz grew up at. 

     

    Pastor Steve spent most of his growing up years in Schaumburg, IL, where his family attended Grace Lutheran, Streamwood, St. John Lutheran and St. Peter Lutheran in Schaumburg. He attended St. John’s elementary school 2nd-5thgrade and St. Peter’s elementary school 6th-8th grade. And graduated from Schaumburg High School in 1987.

     

    Pastor Steve is well educated. He attended 5 different colleges over 17 years to receive a 4-year degree. But in those 17 years he actively pursued God’s direction for his life. He traveled with Lutheran Youth Encounter’s east coast team Common Bread for a year, doing youth ministry at different churches daily. The following year he worked in Orland, FL for the Florida-Georgia District of the LCMS as the Youth Staffer. After that year, he moved back to IL to go to school for a while, but school wasn’t to be a large part of his life. During this time, he met Liz at an LYE event. He was then offered a job at Faith Lutheran Church in Merritt Island, FL to be a full-time youth worker and assistant to the pastor. So in 1992 he took the fulltime position in FL and then married Liz. 

     

    After almost 3 years in FL Steve took a part-time position at a church in Hopkins, MN, while there he also worked at Mayer Lutheran High School teaching religion and coaching baseball.

    After almost 3 years in MN and by God’s grace Steve and Liz conceived their first child, David. So, they decided to move back to Rockford to have David grow up near his grandparents and extended family. 

     

    The Benson family lived in Rockford for almost 6 years, during which time David, Lydia and Jonathan were born. Also, during this time Steve served as an Elder at Redeemer Lutheran, part-time youth director at St. Paul Lutheran in Rochelle, newspaper delivery person, worked at Menards and Johnstone Supply. But his favorite job next to being dad was mascoting for the Rockford Lightning and the Rockford Riverhawks. The last year in Rockford Steve also worked at Concordia Lutheran School as the PE teacher, leading chapel and helping in the pre-school. And finally finished he Bachelor’s degree at NIU.

     

    In the summer of 2005, the Benson’s moved to St. Louis for Steve to attend Concordia Seminary, and surprisingly in the spring of 2009 he graduated. A 4 year degree in 4 years. God’s timing. His first Call was to St. Paul’s Lutheran in San Diego (Pacific Beach), CA, for the purpose of church planting in Alpine, CA. He served there for almost 3 years and then took a Call to Zion Lutheran in Brainerd, MN. Where he served for over 13 years. It is also where all 3 kids went to High School and where David met his amazing wife Emily. 

     

    He is excited to be back in Rockford, bringing with him all that the Lord has taught him over the years. We serve the ONE TRUE GOD, who deserves our worship and praise, not just on Sunday mornings but in every moment of every day. Learning to be obedient to Jesus command to Love the Lord your God with all your heart and to Love our neighbors as ourself.


    Email: pastorsteve@mtolivelutheran.com

  • Bill Cullen Discipleship + Outreach

    Bill began his professional ministry in the church in 1973. He served four congregations in Oregon over course of 22 years in the areas of evangelism, youth & education. During this time he also taught at Concordia University Portland. In 1996 he accepted a call to Concordia University Chicago where he served as the director of the Director of Christian Education Program. In 2008 he accepted the  call to Mount Olive. Bill has a Master’s Degree in Education and a Doctorate in Theology. His favorite Bible passages are Hebrews 12:2; Galatians 2:20; Philippians. 2:3-8; 1 John 3:16-18; John 3:17; & John 17:15-18.


    Email: bcullen@mtolivelutheran.com

  • jOHN sCHMID chRISTIAN aRTS iNSTITUTE + cONTEMPORARY woRSHIP

    John Schmid comes to Mount Olive after serving Rockford Lutheran Schools for 17 years as band and music teacher. His background in music spans from classroom teaching to private lessons to performance. He is a graduate of Concordia University, Nebraska and holds a master's degree in music education from Baylor University. Mr. Schmid also enjoys playing guitar and singing as part of bands Epiphany and Threefold Cord.


    Creativity runs in the family, as John's wife, Cheri, is an art teacher and both of their children are active in the arts community.


    Email: jschmid@mtolivelutheran.com

  • Jeannie NewtoN Children's ministry

    Jeannie received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University and her M.S. in Family Life through Concordia University, Nebraska. She taught a variety of grades in both public and parochial schools before homeschooling her own five children.


    Besides her passion for children's ministry, she enjoys sewing, baking, running, and most of all, spending time with her husband, kids and grandkids. Her favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:4.


    Email: jnewton@mtolivelutheran.com

  • Korey Wysocki YOuth Ministry

    Korey has been happily married to James since 2001 after they both graduated from Concordia University in Chicago. James serves as a Firefighter/paramedic and together they have been homeschooling their three daughters, Elizabeth, Moriah, and Madelyn since 2012. 


    Aside from coordinating Youth Ministry and Confirmation for Mt Olive, Korey also serves as a director for a local homeschool community with Classical Conversations. Her deepest desire is to see every Christian grow to understand who they are in Jesus and live out their God-given calling with joy. She has a specific passion for strengthening Christian marriages and families. 


    She is excited to equip parents to walk alongside their kids, helping them to know, love, and serve Jesus in a world that desperately needs the hope He alone gives. Her favorite Bible verses include Romans 8:28 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.


    Email: kwysocki@mtolivelutheran.com



  • Federwitz Family Missionaries

    David and Valerie Federwitz and their family faithfully serve the people of Ghana, West Africa through Lutheran Bible Translators. 


    To learn more about their ministry, visit the Lutheran Bible Translators website

  • rachel krause missionary

    Rachel Krause serves the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Germany, based in Leipzig. In her role as a refugee outreach missionary, she assists German congregations with their outreach to refugees and immigrants from the Middle East. This ministry includes catechetical instruction, German language instruction and other outreach activities that help build relationships with the refugees.

    Rachel’s hometown is here in Rockford, and we are proud to be her home congregation. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history and theology from Concordia University Nebraska, Seward. She also received a nursing assistant certification from Rock Valley College, Rockford, Ill. Prior to serving in Germany, Rachel worked as a kindergarten teacher’s aide, an after-school care provider, an au pair in Germany and a 4th/5th grade combined classroom teacher. In addition, in 2015, she had a summer music internship at Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfurt, Germany. Rachel also has assisted at Mt. Olive in our children’s ministry over the years. In her free time, Rachel enjoys reading, cooking, playing the piano and hiking.


    Pray for Rachel as she serves in Germany. Ask God to be with her as she enhances her German fluency (and learns Farsi and/or Arabic as needed). Pray that God opens the hearts of the people with whom Rachel will work and live. Pray for peace from the wars and strife the refugees have witnessed and that they will find true peace in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Ask God to use Rachel as He has planned and that her words and actions bring Him honor and glory. Let us give thanks that Rachel is serving God’s children in this part of the world.

    Download prayer car.d.


    Email: rachel.krause@lcms.org