Chad Pearce: Lead Pastor
Verse that best describes you?
1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Favorite movie quote?
“He didn’t just up and vanish like a fart in the wind” (Warden from Shawshank Redemption)
Favorite authors?
Driscoll, Piper, Mahaney, Spurgeon, Edwards, Keller, Goldsworthy
Conversion story:
I was seven years old and home with the chicken pox. My mom shared the gospel with me through some of the memory verses from children’s church. I am so thankful for the family that I grew up in. God’s has been very gracious to me in that I have lived the majority of my life believing the gospel.
Describe why you love doing ministry?
I love that I get to share about the grace that God has shown me. I love that even though I am a mess God uses my mess to point others to Jesus and the goodness of His glorious gospel. Preaching is my absolute favorite activity within ministry and I can’t imagine not preaching. It has been a great privilege to get to share about the Jesus I love so much.
What you can make me for dinner:
I like most things if I had to pick a favorite I would say Steak with steamed broccoli. NO ONIONS I absolutely hate onions.
Favorite genre of music?
Currently I am enjoying Gungor, Mumford and Sons, Sojourn, Dave Campbell Band, Kings of Leon, and bands like the Fray and Coldplay.
Talk about your family:
By God’s grace I am married to Shaina, and I can honestly tell you that I married way over my head. Shaina and I have been together since the summer of 1999, and we have been married since November of 2001. We have two of the craziest boys on God’s green earth. Cael (Caehlim all the letters in my middle name, I will let you figure it out) was given to us on May 21st of 2005. He is very funny and people tell us that on at least a weekly basis, just listen to him carefully and you will agree. Kyran is our passionate one and he was given to us on April 16th of 2007.
Your prayer for Journey the Way:
My prayer is that by God’s grace we will glorify Him and do nothing more than He intends for us. I pray that includes things like seeking the redemption and restoration of Wichita and cities like it, raising up and sending out men to plant churches with similar vision. Ultimately I pray that we as a church would seek to Love God, Love People, and see this World Turned Upside-Down.
Tell your Mac conversion story:
I actually used to help build PC’s with a friend of mine and we used to crack on Mac lovers. Long story short I moved away and when I came back to visit said friend he had an iMac sitting in his living room. I accused him of going to the dark side and he simply asked me to play around on the mac for a few minutes, which turned into an hour, and I was a convert. I bought my first mac product (a macbook) about a month later.
Favorite local places?
Mead’s corner, Taco Shop, Starbucks, Old Chicago, Buffalo Wild Wings…
Sam Morris: Communication Pastor
Verse that best describes you?
Romans 7:24-25
Favorite movie quote?
“Sam: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.”
Favorite authors?
Jonathan Edwards, Charles H. Spurgeon, Henry Scougal, C.S. Lewis, Augustine, John Piper, Alexander Dumas, J.R.R. Tolkien, Augustine
Conversion story:
I was an agnostic ‘good person’ until I was 17. When I was 16 I heard, what I then thought to be a ludicrous doctrine which forced me to delve deeply into the Word and to study authors that had been previously unknown to me. During which I, by the grace of God, came to a deep sincere understanding of the Gospel, and this is how I define the Gospel: “For he made him who knew no sin to be sin so that we might become the righteousness of God, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (2 Cor 5:21; Rom. 5:8; 8:1)
Describe why you love doing ministry?
I don’t know any other way to say it other than, I am called to do pastoral ministry. Not simply is it a thing that I want to do nor is it a thing that gives me identity, rather, by the grace of God, I say with Paul, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel. (1 Cor. 9:16)” There is nothing else I could do, nor want to do, nor picture myself doing… The way Spurgeon describes it resonates with me best, “The Word of God must be unto [you] as a fire in [your] bones. (Lectures to My Students pg. 30)” Therefore, because of this fire in my bones, I must preach, and teach, and minister with all my heart, and soul, and mind, for all my life, I am bound to my calling by the grace of God.
What you can make me for dinner:
Steak or Chicken, or ham, or bacon or any kind of meat, mushrooms, mash potatoes, fresh green beans, and good bread.
Favorite genre of music?
I like Folk, Acoustic, (Dave Campbell Band) Metal, and Screamo.
Your prayer for Journey the Way:
That God would pour his Spirit on to us, a desperate people, that we would behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:4), that God would be recklessly gracious to us sin filled people by revealing our sin to ourselves so we be sanctified. Additionally, I pray that God would build community within our Church, that we would be continually fighting the good fight of faith side-by-side.
Tell your Mac conversion story:
Mac has been the way of life since I can remember. Therefore if I were to number myself among the heathens my family ties would sooner be severed than pressed on toward sanctification.
Favorite local places?
Donut Whole, Mead’s Corner, Starbucks (@ 29th & Rock), The Anchor, Thai Tradition, TJ’s Burger House, Jason’s Deli, Barnes & Noble (@ Rock & 21st), Riverside Perk, Riverside Café,
David Campbell: Worship Pastor
Verse that best describes you?
Romans 12:1-4 – I chose this passage because I am constantly learning how to worship God in all of life, and not anyone or anything else in the world.
Favorite movie quote?
“Porter: Hey, Smalls, you wanna s’more?”
“Smalls: Some more of what?”
“Porter: No, do you wanna s’more?”
“Smalls: I haven’t had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?”
“Porter: You’re killing me Smalls! These are s’more’s stuff! Alrite now pay attention. First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the ‘mallow. When the ‘mallows flaming… you stick it on the chocolate. Then cover with the other end. Then you scarf. Kind of messy, but good!”
Favorite authors?
Dr. Suess, The guy who wrote the Bearstein Bears, Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are), and maybe a little C.S. Lewis, John Piper and Mark Driscoll
Conversion story:
God saved me when I was a junior in high school. I was with my youth group on a winter retreat and He got a hold of my heart. I do not remember what the speaker was talking about or what songs we were singing, but I do remember God calling me to stop living for myself and start living for Him. I couldn’t help but respond and say yes to His call on my life. God had adopted me as one of his own. After quite a few tears and some prayer with my friend and mentor, Dave Gass, the Holy Spirit continued to draw me closer to God the Father through Jesus Christ. Praise be to God for His glorious sovereignty and His saving grace.
Describe why you love doing ministry?
God called me to pastoral ministry when I was in college, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. He has given me a passion for music and leading His people in worship. If I can humbly use the gifts God has given me to point people to Christ and teach them how to worship Him, then I am a happy man doing what God has called me to do.
What you can make me for dinner:
Brinner! Eggs, toast, sausage, fruit & yogurt and of course an incredible cup of coffee.
Favorite genre of music?
I like quite a few different genres. Bands include Relient K, Jonathan Foreman, Sleeping At Last, Mumford & Sons, Clarensau, Aaron Lee Martin, Sojourn Music, Joe Day, Coldplay and many more.
BTW – I have no clue who this Dave Campbell Band is that Chad and Sam speak of.
Talk about your family:
I am married to the most incredibly beautiful woman in the world, Megan. God has blessed me beyond measure with Megan. I could not think of a better partner for ministry and building the Kingdom of Christ. She is an amazing friend and I love to share my life with her as husband and wife.
Your prayer for Journey the Way:
That God, for His namesake and glory, would transform lives by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit. I pray that the people of Journey the Way will offer their bodies as living sacrifices and worship God with their whole lives (Rom. 12:1), and that the grace and love of God would compel them to boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the city of Wichita.
Tell your Mac conversion story:
My family has always been a PC family. My mom is an accountant and my brother is a computer programmer and it was just very practical. I had a PC desktop in college and then switched to a laptop that I inherited from my sister. When that laptop failed I decided it was time to find something I could rely on. By the grace of God my brother in law is a Mac guy, and I had heard enough to know that I needed one. My MacBook Pro has served me well ever since.
Favorite local places?
Mead’s Corner, The Anchor
