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J. has a history of being in a Church parsonage. His father is a long time minister (now retired). His brother is a minister in Rolla, MO. He has grown up in parsonages all over the United States but his roots are in central Illinois. J. earned his Bachelor's Degree at Central Christian College in Moberly, MO back in 1977. He has done post-grad work at Lincoln Christian Seminary. J. has served two previous ministries. He was youth minister at Crossroads Christian Church in Macon, Missouri and served at Liberty, Illinois as their preaching minister before coming to Jacksonville. J. is married to Janie and has three children, Heather, Justin and Misty. The Cooks have been serving with First Christian Church since December of 1983.

Brian is no stranger to Jacksonville and First Christian Church. After growing up in Roseville, IL, Brian came to Jacksonville and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies at Illinois College in 2003. While in college, Brian attended First Christian Church, was very involved with ministries on campus, and spent a summer in Juarez, Mexico building homes with Casas Por Cristo. During his senior year, Brian was the youth intern here at FCC in preparation for youth ministry. After graduation, Brian served for a year at Western Illinois University with a campus ministry called Campus Students for Christ. Brian was married in March of 2005 to his wife Hannah. They have two boys, Kendall and Nathan and has been serving as part of the church staff since June of 2004.

Ashleigh is a 2006 graduate of Lincoln Christian College with a degree in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Children’s Ministry. She completed an eight month internship with Life Bridge Christian Church in Longmont, Colorado. She also has experience working in a preschool, daycare, special education and at Lake Springfield Christian Assembly.

Kay graduated from White Hall High School in 1961. She then went on to graduate from Memorial School of Nursing in 1964 and spent the next 24 years at Holy Cross/Passavant Hospital as an operating room nurse. Kay has been a consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics for 22 years. Elementary school nurse and massage therapist for over 12 years. Kay was baptized at First Baptist Church in White Hall at the age of 13 and transferred her membership to First Christian in 1988. Kay works in contact and follow-up ministries with both prospective members and members of First Christian. She has two daughters, Dawn and Kimberly.

David and his wife Amy have been with First Christian Church for almost a year now. David, a recent graduate of Lincoln Christian College, completed his internship for youth ministry here at First Christian, and is now our office manager.

Diane and her husband John live in New Berlin taking care of their family of animals. They enjoy going to auctions and working in the Blacksmith shop at the Prairie Land Steam Show each year.