About
Our Team
Pastors
Shawn Jensen
Lead Pastor
Shawn is responsible for the overall leadership, vision, and direction of Vale Church. Shawn serves as part of the teaching team, as well as Vale’s Leadership Team. If you would like to contact Pastor Shawn, please send an email to execadmin@vale.church.
Matt Vagle
Executive Pastor
(309) 662-8508 ext. 205 mvagle@vale.churchMatt oversees all operational and financial needs at Vale Church. He works with the staff and Human Resources team to ensure our team and facility are functioning successfully.
Josh Pidgley
Creative Arts Pastor
(309) 662-8508 ext. 207 jpidgley@vale.churchJosh oversees the Creative Arts Team at Vale. He casts overall vision for our Music, Production, and Communications teams, including building and equipping volunteers as well as planning and coordinating all weekend experiences.
Corey Willoughby
Associate Pastor of Teaching
(309) 662-8508 ext. 215 cwilloughby@vale.churchPastor Corey is a part of the teaching team at Vale Church and communicates in our worship experiences. He provides pastoral care and oversees the adult ministry team.
Mike Watkins
Next Gen Pastor
(309) 662-8508 ext. 204 mwatkins@vale.churchMike oversees Next Gen Ministries at Vale. He casts overall vision for our Kids, Jr High, and High School teams. This includes building and equipping volunteers, as well as planning and coordinating church wide events and experiences.
Kevin Kauffman
Youth Pastor
(309) 662-8508 ext. 208 kkauffman@vale.churchKevin's role is to lead students to look more like Jesus. His focus is to graduate students into a lifetime of following Jesus and creating a space where everyone is welcome.
Adult team
Corey Willoughby
Associate Pastor of Teaching
(309) 662-8508 ext. 215 cwilloughby@vale.churchPastor Corey is a part of the teaching team at Vale Church and communicates in our worship experiences. He provides pastoral care and oversees the adult ministry team.
Jose & Melissa Martinez
Vale Espanol Leaders
(309) 662-8508 adultadmin@vale.churchJose & Melissa oversee Vale Espanol. They cast overall vision for our Spanish ministry. This includes building and equipping volunteers, as well as planning and coordinating events and weekend experiences.
Morgan McGlasson
Connection Director
(309) 662-8508 ext. 202 groups@vale.churchMorgan oversees guest experience on weekends, small groups, and assists in implementing discipleship programming at Vale Church.
Jenn Meierotto
Adult Ministries Admin
(309) 662-8508 ext. 213 adultadmin@vale.churchJenn assists all of our Adult Ministry team in implementing events and helping our people take next steps at Vale.
Next Gen Team
Mike Watkins
Next Gen Pastor
(309) 662-8508 ext. 204 mwatkins@vale.churchMike oversees Next Gen Ministries at Vale. He casts overall vision for our Kids, Jr High, and High School teams. This includes building and equipping volunteers, as well as planning and coordinating church wide events and experiences.
Kevin Kauffman
Youth Pastor
(309) 662-8508 ext. 208 kkauffman@vale.churchKevin's role is to lead students to look more like Jesus. His focus is to graduate students into a lifetime of following Jesus and creating a space where everyone is welcome.
Emily Goldrick
Youth Associate
(309) 662-8508 ext. 201 egoldrick@vale.churchEmily works with our Youth Team and is responsible Youth team's weekly program planning, communication, and execution. She supports the NextGen team in developing their communication plan.
Nathan McCarthy
Kids Director
(309) 662-8508 ext. 210 nmccarthy@vale.churchNathan oversees our Vale Kids ministry(birth-5th grade). He is dedicated to creating a safe, fun & purposeful environment that inspires kids to build a strong foundation of faith. Nathan aims to empower families to live out their faith by providing resources that can be easily applied at home.
Lauren Wise
Kids Associate
(309) 662-8508 ext. 209 lwise@vale.churchLauren works with our Vale Kids team. She oversees the mid-week volunteers and ensures that the weekend experiences, programming, and events for kids are executed with excellence.
Creative Arts Team
Josh Pidgley
Creative Arts Pastor
(309) 662-8508 ext. 207 jpidgley@vale.churchJosh oversees the Creative Arts Team at Vale. He casts overall vision for our Music, Production, and Communications teams, including building and equipping volunteers as well as planning and coordinating all weekend experiences.
Bryce Hyland
Production Director
(309) 662-8508 bhyland@vale.churchBryce oversees all production (audio, video, and lighting ) elements within worship experiences & events at Vale Church. He is responsible for the training and equipping of volunteers within our production ministry.
Kristin Emerson
Worship Coordinator
(309) 662-8508 kemerson@vale.churchKristin works with our Band and Production teams. She provides planning and organization of both music and production support for our campus events, programs, and weekend services.
Ethan Wepfer
Worship Associate
(309) 662-8508 ewepfer@vale.churchEthan works with our Band and Production teams. He provides planning and organization of both music and production support for our campus events, programs, and weekend services.
Zach Doebler
Media Coordinator
(309) 662-8508 ext. 203 zdoebler@vale.churchZach makes sure film and photography is used to capture everything happening at Vale Church.
Zach is also responsible for making sure our social media channels are up-to-date and ensures all information our church members and future members need is right at their fingertips.
Facilities Team
Adam Martinez
Facilities Director
(309) 662-8508 amartinez@vale.churchAdam assures successful operation and function of the church's building and grounds.
Jacob Wilson
Facilities Associate
(309) 662-8508Jacob is responsible for assisting with day-to-day operations of the building.
Administrative Support
Kristin Emerson
Executive Coordinator
(309) 662-8508 execadmin@vale.churchKristin works with the executive team to support church-wide initiatives, directly assisting our Lead and Executive Pastors.
Hilary Pacha
Executive Admin
(309) 662-8508 execadmin@vale.churchHilary works with the executive team to support church-wide initiatives, directly assisting our Lead and Executive Pastors.
Jenn Meierotto
Adult Ministries Admin
(309) 662-8508 ext. 213 adultadmin@vale.churchJenn assists all of our Adult Ministry team in implementing events and helping our people take next steps at Vale.
Vale Leadership Team
VLT
Vale Leadership Team
VLT@vale.churchOur Vale Leadership Team (VLT) is comprised of our Lead Pastor and a select group of volunteers.
The VLT serves by giving guidance and accountability to our Lead Pastor.
Our current VLT members are:
Jeff Cowden
Bruce Tucker
Jacob Kummer
Larry Phillips
Rob Wall
Marty Thornton
Stephen Hill
Dara Brockmeyer
Shawn Jensen
Before joining the Vale Leadership Team, vetted candidates partake in a yearlong training period where they shadow and observe the current VLT.
Each member of the Vale Leadership Team (except those serving ex officio) serves for a one-year term of office unless the Vale Leadership Team appoints the individual for a shorter term of office. Vale Leadership Team members may serve up to four consecutive terms provided that after four consecutive terms, he or she shall be required to leave the Vale Leadership Team for a period of one-year before being reappointed. Notwithstanding such term limitations, each such VLT Member shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified.
You will be able to find some of our VLT members in the lobby after weekend services, and they would love to hear from you! Look for the VLT name badge.