On Sunday July 27th the Union Church voted to hire John Earle as their new Associate Minister of Youth and Education.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
On Sunday July 27th the Union Church voted to hire John Earle as their new Associate Minister of Youth and Education.
Mr. Earle will replace Jon Hart who is moving to the St. Louis area.
Mr. Earle began working at the church last Sunday. He will be responsible for the youth and education programs of the church and will also take on additional pastoral duties.
John Earle is a familiar face to the LaHarpe community and to the youth of LaHarpe and surrounding areas.
John is an Assistant football coach with the West Praire/LaHarpe Cyclones and is a frequent speaker in area schools.
John is a graduate of Western Illinois University.
He played professional football in the CFL and NFL. John has served as a member of Team Impact, an evangelistic ministry using strength as the hook to share the message of Christ.
John currently works for (and will continue to work for) Sportsworld which sends former athletes into schools around the country to talk to young people about making wise choices and to share their conviction that following Jesus Christ is the wisest choice of all.
John has served as a youth Pastor in Arizona and has led the youth group at the Blandinsville Christian Church.
John's wife, Josie Earle will also be helping in the ministry of the Union Church.
Josie has a finance degree from WIU and is skilled in the areas of organization and planning.
The Union Church was intentional about hiring the Earles as a team.
Josie has worked for the Regional Superintendent of Schools and sells Mary Kay products. They have three children: Alexis, Alexandria, and Stone.
Rev. Bruce Goettsche said, "John and Josie are an incredibly talented team.
John has a gift for relating to young people and Josie has an outstanding ability to make dreams become reality.
Together they have an enthusiasm for their faith that is infectious. We believe the Earles are an outstanding ministry team and they just happen to already live here."
Goettsche stated that John will continue traveling with Sportsworld even as he takes on the duties of the church.
He explains, "We see John's work with Sportsworld as an asset rather than a barrier to his ministry with us.
During the week he is feeling the pulse of our nations youth and meeting great resource people throughout the country. John is home every weekend and whenever the kids are off of school, John is off as well.
He actually only travels 60-80 days a year. We think he can do the job."
To take this job Mr. Earle will have to give up some of his outside activities.
When asked why he was willing to take on this new responsibility he said, "All week long I share with kids around the country.
I have a burden for the youth of my own community. I was looking for a way to reach kids in my own backyard.
The Union Church has a theology that share and I welcomed the opportunity to work with Bruce.
I have enjoyed his ministry for years. I feel this is going to be an opportunity for me to grow and develop."
People are encouraged to watch the Quill for announcements of youth activities.