My Story So Far…..
I was born September, 26, 1969 @ the old Copley Hospital in Aurora, IL as the son of Robert and Tonia Hager. My sister, Sheri was born 2 years later and shortly thereafter we moved to 314 E Church St. in Plano where my parents still live. My sister and I both attended Plano Schools.
In the Fall of “87 I moved to Conway, AR to attend Central Baptist College. I had originally intended to simply receive my Associate of Arts in General Education degree from there before advancing in my chosen field of forestry and wildlife management at the U of A. Before returning as a sophomore in early August 1988 I finally surrendered to God’s call on my life for some kind (worship leader or pastor) vocational ministerial service. Later that same month I met Christy Ann (Elrod) of Camden, AR who was beginning her freshman year at CBC on a full-ride music scholarship. Within weeks we began to feel that the Lord had brought us into each others lives for a special purpose.
In May of ’91 we both graduated from CBC and the following week were married and began serving in our first “full-time vocational ministry position” as Youth Pastor at a church in Conway. After an amazing first year of growth the Lord led us to join the staff of another wonderful church in Gurdon, AR where we spent another fruitful 4 1/2 years serving as an Associate Pastor of Youth and Education. In August of 1995 I felt God tugging at my heart in regards to returning to serve the church in which I had been raised in Oswego, IL. In November of that year I accepted the call of her membership and served as her pastor for nearly 11 years before ultimately surrendering to an exciting new journey to enter the church-planting ministry and to plant a brand new church in northern Kendall County.
For over 7 months in 2007, side by side with half dozen other families who felt called to join us, Jacob’s Well simply rolled-up her sleeves and began serving anywhere we found needs that needed to be met. We felt that in a cynical region that had been seared by the hypocrisy, self-absorption and/or indifference of many self-identified religious individuals and institutions it was essential that we be “seen before we were heard”. Talk is cheap and we knew the ones God had called us to, those who had never entertained a personal relationship with God or attended church or who had drifted , walked or run away from God and the church were weary of empty words and shallow hearts. In January of 2008, Jacobs’s Well began to host weekly public worship services for the first time.
During my 20+ years of marriage and ministry God has blessed in so many ways. Easily, the most amazing blessings of all are the love of my best friend and wife, Christy and gift of life He has given to us 5x’s. After losing our first child in a miscarriage in February of 1996 God blessed us with 4 amazing differnt, beautiful daughters. Jessica (12/96), Lauren (12/98), Cassie (9/00) and Willow (5/08). I am especially grateful that all these special ladies share their parents love for the Lord and those He has called Jacob’s Well to reach. Each are an integral part of Jacob’s Well in some way and are as excited about the journey God has led us to here in Kendall County as we are.
My Favorites…
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Hiking(preferably off-trail), Kayaking, Biking, Snorkeling, Spelunking, Photography, Writing, Reading, unique and high-rise architecture, historical pilgrimages, staying up on current world/national/local events and taking long scenic drives with the top down and music up in my ’93 Jeep Wrangler.
PLACES I”VE BEEN: Trial Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Coral Reef off the coast of Culebra Island, Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Parks, Key West, Chicago, Ozark/Ouchita/Buffalo River National Parks (Arkansas), Cades Cove (Tennessee), Washington D.C..PLACES I HOPE TO GO: Yosemite National park, Crater Lake National Park, Bryce and Zion Canyon National Parks, World Trade Center Memorial, Hawaii, Alaska, Fiji, New Zealand, Philippines, Beijing, Dubai, Jerusalem, Rome, Southern Germany, Switzerland, Belize and the Tepui of SE Venezuela.
SPORTS TEAMS: DA Bears (of course!), the Cubbies AND yes…the SOX. I’m pretty much an all-Chicago fan and have never quite understood why there has to be such vitriol between northside and southside fans except on those days when they play each other or when we get to heaven… they both play int the World Series. If that day comes while I’m still living here on this marble I’d have to root for the Cubbies because really, who doesn’t want them to finally lick baseball’s longest running curse! And finally, I know it’s weird to say this having been raised here in this region but my absolute favorite sporting event to watch is Arkansas Razorback Football. Although, I gotta admit, having one of my favorite people playing for the Northwestern Wildcats will probably enlarge my enjoyment of collegiate sports beyond Arkansas.
MUSIC: Honestly, if played with skill, there is not much I don’t enjoy listening to. I love good solid rock, catchy pop, bluegrass and country-rock as well as lots of epic moving soundtracks and musicals. However I confess that most forms of Opera, Jazz, Ska, Rap and of course Disco (if it can even be called music!) can only be endured in small doses by my set of ears. PERFORMERS &/OR COMPOSERS: Gungor, Johnny Cash, Christina Aguilera, SCC, MWS, Switchfoot, U2, Beatles, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Sandi Patti, Loretta Lynn, Wayne Watson, John Williams, Howard Shore, Stephen Schwartz, Bruno Mars
SPIRITUAL &/or LEADERSHIP INFLUENCES (outside of God and the Bible of course!): John Ortberg, Francis Chan, Ed Stetzer, Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, Dallas Willard, Mark Driscoll, John Piper, Rick Warren, Henry Blackaby , Louie Giglio, Craig Groeschel, Peter Scazzero, John Maxwell, Jim Collins, C.S. Lewis, Johathan Edwards, Martin Luther, Billy Graham, Matt Chandler, Steven Furtik, Rick Rusaw, Donald Miller, Erwin McManus, M.W.S., S.C.C., Wayne Watson, Thom and Joni Shultz, David Dickson, Darlene Carey, Steve Ogne, Dave DeVries, D. James Kennedy, E. Harold Henderson, Larry Barker, Donnie Parrish, Joel Slayton,k Cardinal Joseph Bernadine, Augustine, Jim Elliot, TOnia Hager and Rob Bell (I gotta say that last one has me real worried of late but his early Nooma and ‘Velvet Elvis’ was used by God in powerful ways!).
QUOTES:
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose – Jim Elliot
There is nothing like the local church when the local church is working right – Bill Hybels
It’s not about you – Rick Warren
God is never more glorified than when we are most satisfied with Him – John Piper
I’m bored knowing what I can do – Francis Chan
Everybody ends up somewhere…some people end up there on purpose – Andy Stanley
It’s not what’s hangin’ on the wall but what’s happenin’ down the hall that determines the health of your church or organization – Andy Stanley
Don’t confuse me with the facts – anonymous
Insanity is doing the same things and expecting a different result – John Maxwell
You Can’t Fix Stupid – Donnie Parrish
All it takes for evil to prosper is for good ment to do nothing – Edmund Burke
I have a dream – Dr. Martin Luther King
Discipline yourself and others won’t need to – John Wooden
Tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember a story – John Wooden
It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit – John Wooden
Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes whon’t believe them – John Wooden
Have utmost concern for what’s right rather than whose right – John Wooden
Two Wrongs Never Make a Right – 70′s Freshin’ Up bubble gum commercial
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it – I think I made that one up
MOVIES: LOTR Trilogy, Braveheart, Star Trek (Original Motion Picture, Wrath of Khan, Undiscovered Country and new-Star Trek), E.T., The Color Purple, Schlinder’s List, Star Life, The Sound of Music, Beyond the Gates of Splendor, Dumb n Dumber, Vacation, Bruce Almighty, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Batman:Forever, ALL Pixar Movies, How to Train a Dragon, Silence of the Lambs
My name is Mindi Chase and I am the Worship leader at Jacob’s Well. It is an honor to lead the Worship Band and a humbling privilege to lead God’s church in worship. Jacob’s Well has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. To me, there is something extrodinary about a small church that never claims to have all the answers. Our “John 4″ approach of church to “come as you are, but leave changed for Jesus” has taught me how to slowly overcome my insecurities. Worship is essential in my daily life as I “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7)
I was born and raised in Aurora, IL. After losing my mom to breast cancer before I even started Kindergarten, I have learned through life to rely on a God who never leaves me. As a young child enduring a rocky home, I found music to be a soul lifter and spirit energizer. My love for the drums & piano helped me earn my Bachelor of Music Education degree from University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign in 2002 and my Masters Degree of Music Education from Vandercook College of Music in 2007. Currently, I teach 5th-12th grade band and music theory in Newark, IL. I love my job. I get to teach the subject I’m most passionate about while I build great relationships with my students. I reside in Plano, Illinois and enjoy living nearby my sibling and church family. Although my blood runs orange and blue as a proud and devoted Illini fan, my soul lives for Jesus. I know that he is my rock, my salvation, and my God; it’s an honor and joy to worship Him!