Staff
At Church of the Servant, we believe that the gifts of ministry and leadership are gifts of God given to all of his children. We have consistently tried to emphasize the authority of the church council and the importance of our volunteers, limiting the role of staff in the ministry of the congregation. The result is that, given the size of our staff and the number of ministries our members participate in, we have a relatively small paid staff.
The role of our staff is to facilitate ministry from the ground up – by providing vision, addressing barriers to growth and development, and taking the part of a servant-leader and administrator. The goal is to coordinate and equip those within the congregation who are most passionate about and/or involved in a particular area of ministry. We encourage you to contact our staff members to see how your passions can be be used, so that together we can build up this body of Christ and expand God’s kingdom!
Senior Pastor
Rev. Jack Roeda has been the senior pastor of Church of the Servant for 25 years and is the author of various articles on preaching and applying the biblical text. He has also written educational and devotional materials for the Christian Reformed Church and other publications. Jack is married to Carol, an artist, and they have three children and four grandchildren. Jack and Carol enjoy long walks in the woods with their dog.
Phone: 956-7611×21
Email: Rev. Jack Roeda
Minister of Education
Janifer De Vos joined the staff of Church of the Servant in June 2006. Before settling in Grand Rapids and discovering she loves snow, Jan served as Director of Children’s Ministries in a church in Austin, Texas, and Director of Christian Education in Miami, Florida. Over the past 20 years, she has also taught a variety of subjects to children, adolescents, and young adults. Jan is passionate about sharing God’s love for us in creative, sustaining, and meaningful ways. Her spare time activities include watching the weather, enjoying time with her Michigan cousins, cutting her grass with her electric lawnmower, writing curriculum for Kingdom use, tending to her pet menagerie, and rearranging the furniture in her house again…and again!
Phone: 956-7611×23
Email: Janifer De Vos
Minister of Congregational Life/Staff Administrator
Janice McWhertor has been the Minister of Congregational Life at Church of the Servant since 1991. She is wife to Tom and parent to four (now adult) children. Her task and her passion is to encourage herself and the congregation to grow spiritually in Christ and to continually build a vibrant sense of community at COS. When not at her desk or leading anti-racism/reconciliation workshops, Janice can be found hosting dinners at home, reading (novels and theology are the favorites), gardening, or walking the shores of Lake Michigan with her husband.
Phone: 956-7611×22
Email: Janice McWhertor
Minister to Youth
Judy Ko, Minister to Youth at Church of the Servant, joined the staff in June 2007. Judy received her M.A. in Educational Ministry from Calvin Theological Seminary and is excited to work with the youth of COS and their families. Judy enjoys working with youth, talking and drinking coffee with them, and showing them what it’s like to live out the Christian faith while being surrounded by contemporary youth culture. She values learning as well as teaching. Judy and her husband, Simon Ko, enjoy spending time with friends, old and new, over dishes of Korean food.
Phone: 956-7611×24
Email: Judy Ko
Minister of Worship
Greg Scheer is Minister of Worship at Church of the Servant and Music Associate at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. His writings include The Art of Worship (Baker Books, 2006) and contributions to Reformed Worship, The Hymn, Call to Worship, Worship Leader, and New Songs of Celebration Render (forthcoming, GIA). His music is available from Augsburg Fortress, Abingdon, GIA, WorshipToday, Faith Alive, and at www.gregscheer.com. Greg and his wife Amy have two boys, Simon and Theo.
Phone: 956-7611×26
Email: Greg Scheer
Resident Pastor
(financially supported with the help of a grant from the Lilly Endowment)
Rebecca Jordan Heys joined the staff of Church of the Servant in 2009. She is a graduate of Calvin College and Princeton Theological Seminary. She is excited to spend a two-year residency at Church of the Servant, focusing especially on the ministries of witness and incorporation. She looks forward to engaging with the neighbors of COS and empowering members of the congregation in the work of outreach. Rebecca grew up in Fremont, Michigan, and is married to Kyle Heys. She enjoys music, cooking for friends, jogging, and the outdoors.
Phone: 956-7611×34
Email: Rebecca Jordan Heys
Resident Pastor
(financially supported with the help of a grant from the Lilly Endowment)
Tony Curran joined the staff of Church of the Servant in August 2009 as one of two resident pastors serving in the area of outreach. Tony grew up in Milwaukee before going to the University of Wisconsin, Madison to do a B.A. in Philosophy and Communication Arts (Film, Television, and Radio). More recently, he finished a Master of Divinity at Regent College in Vancouver, British Colombia, and studied at Calvin Theological Seminary, working toward ordination in the Christian Reformed Church. Tony enjoys reading, watching or making movies, going for walks, trying to learn how to cook, and just about any activity that is an excuse to be with friends old and new.
Phone: 956-7611×33
Email: Tony Curran
Full-Time Secretary
Part-Time Office Assistant
Part-Time Music/Nursery Supervisor
Full-Time Custodian
Part-Time Treasurer
Part-Time Assistant Treasurer
