Jeff Wade became our Senior Pastor in 2003. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, with over 20 years of ministry experience. He graduated from Lakeland, Florida 's Southeastern University with a bachelor's degree in Pastoral Studies, and also earned a master's degree in Mass Communication from the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Pastor Wade grew up in Virginia and Florida, the son of an Assemblies of God pastor. After graduating from college, he served in youth ministry and senior pastoring. His wife, Lois, is our Christian Education Pastor. They have two children, Grayson and Laurel. One of Pastor's favorite pastimes is spending time with his family.
Aside from his duties at the church, Pastor also loves teaching at the Appalachian and Ohio districts' schools of ministry. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, listening to a variety of music, and cheering on the Florida Gators. His favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." (NIV)
Pastor Wade grew up in Virginia and Florida, the son of an Assemblies of God pastor. After graduating from college, he served in youth ministry and senior pastoring. His wife, Lois, is our Christian Education Pastor. They have two children, Grayson and Laurel. One of Pastor's favorite pastimes is spending time with his family.
Aside from his duties at the church, Pastor also loves teaching at the Appalachian and Ohio districts' schools of ministry. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, listening to a variety of music, and cheering on the Florida Gators. His favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." (NIV)
Pastor Dustin Oliver (email)
Fine Arts Pastor
Dustin Oliver was hired as our Fine Arts Pastor in 2005 after graduating from Southeastern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Minor in Theatre. Dustin grew up in a very musical family and has been involved in ministry most of his life. He's lived in various parts of the country, and his family even spent some time in the early 1990's doing missions work in Latin America. He moved to Akron in 1993 and began attending this church. As he got older, Dustin's interest and passion for the arts began to grow and he became involved the Fine Arts program at this church and at school. He also began learning to play the piano and guitar.
Since taking the Fine Arts position at the church, Dustin leads the worship band, directs the choir and orchestra when in session, directs the Celebration Players' productions, leads the audio/visual staff, leads the arts group on Wednesday nights, maintains the church website, and gives music lessons through the Fine Arts Academy.
Since taking the Fine Arts position at the church, Dustin leads the worship band, directs the choir and orchestra when in session, directs the Celebration Players' productions, leads the audio/visual staff, leads the arts group on Wednesday nights, maintains the church website, and gives music lessons through the Fine Arts Academy.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing and learning new instruments, reading, writing music, watching movies and his favorite T.V. shows, and spending time with friends and family. His favorite scripture is Romans 12:1-2. "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patter of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (NIV)
Pastor Tracy Kallio (email)
Young Adults & Missions Pastor
Tracy Kallio joined the staff as Pastor Wade's Administrative Assistant in January, 2005, after completing her degree in Church Ministries at Southeastern University. On September 16, 2007 she was announced as the Young Adult & Missions Pastor of Celebration Church. She grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where she met Pastors Jeff and Lois Wade, and experienced a call to full-time ministry. At age 21, she became a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God, and she is excited about spending her life serving in ministry.
Tracy recently received her MA in Christian Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary and is currently working on a second master's degree. After that, she hopes to work on her PhD. She would love the opportunity to teach at the college level someday, and also wants to give some time to short-term missions work. Tracy met her husband, Jesse, while working here at Celebration Church and they were married on July 12, 2008.
One of her favorite Bible passages, and one that compels her to ministry, is Romans 10:14-15. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (NIV)
Pastor Anthony Johnson (email)
Youth Pastor
In June, 2009, Celebration Church welcomed Anthony to our pastoral staff. He moved to Akron from South Carolina, where he had recently worked as a Youth Pastor in the Church of God. He may have lived in South Carolina, but Anthony is certainly no stranger to this state. His hometown is Harrison, Ohio located just west of Cincinnati.
After being called into ministry in a youth service in March, 2004, Anthony attended Lee University and graduated in December, 2007 with a degree in Pastoral Ministry. As a college student, Anthony immersed himself in ministry by being a Resident Assistant and Dorm Chaplain working with over 300 students. While pursing his ministry call at Lee, he met his wife, Katie, and they married on July 7, 2007.
Anthony enjoys following all kinds of sports and is a devoted Ohio State Buckeyes fan. His favorite scripture is John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (NIV)
After being called into ministry in a youth service in March, 2004, Anthony attended Lee University and graduated in December, 2007 with a degree in Pastoral Ministry. As a college student, Anthony immersed himself in ministry by being a Resident Assistant and Dorm Chaplain working with over 300 students. While pursing his ministry call at Lee, he met his wife, Katie, and they married on July 7, 2007.
Anthony enjoys following all kinds of sports and is a devoted Ohio State Buckeyes fan. His favorite scripture is John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (NIV)
Kids Church Pastor
Nikki joined our staff as Kids Church Pastor in 2007. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Kent State University, Nikki pursued a career in management with Bennigan’s Restaurants. During the course of her time there, she realized that what she really wanted to be doing was working with children. While working at Bennigan’s, Nikki went back to K.S.U. and received her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Since that time, she has worked diligently with our children here at Celebration Church in addition to pursuing her career in the local school districts. As Kids Church Pastor, she is responsible for our children in kindergarten through sixth grade during Sunday services and High Point on Wednesday nights.
Nikki has two favorite passages of scripture - I Thessalonians 5:16-18, and II Corinthians 4:16-18. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but is unseen is eternal.”
Since that time, she has worked diligently with our children here at Celebration Church in addition to pursuing her career in the local school districts. As Kids Church Pastor, she is responsible for our children in kindergarten through sixth grade during Sunday services and High Point on Wednesday nights.
Nikki has two favorite passages of scripture - I Thessalonians 5:16-18, and II Corinthians 4:16-18. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but is unseen is eternal.”
Pastor Charles Hunt
Visitation Pastor
Pastor Hunt officially became our Visitation Pastor in 2003, but had been functioning in that role long before obtaining the position. He has a rich history in ministry that goes all the way back to May, 1959, when he graduated from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas. In September, 1959, he landed his first pastorate in Pennsylvania and moved to Akron in 1961. He was a Pastor in Akron for 29 years and during that time was a Professor at a Bible Institute in Pennsylvania.
Pastor Hunt makes several hospital visits each week and since 1998, has been involved with our Nursing Home Ministry. In addition, he leads a prayer group every Wednesday night called, “Connecting.” He is passionate about the Bible and enjoys teaching it whenever he has the opportunity.
There are several passages of scripture that are meaningful to him, but the first that came to mind was Romans 1:16. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” (NIV)
Pastor Hunt makes several hospital visits each week and since 1998, has been involved with our Nursing Home Ministry. In addition, he leads a prayer group every Wednesday night called, “Connecting.” He is passionate about the Bible and enjoys teaching it whenever he has the opportunity.
There are several passages of scripture that are meaningful to him, but the first that came to mind was Romans 1:16. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” (NIV)
Articles & Resources for Church Workers
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Starting a Greeter Program
Four years ago I accepted the challenge of evangelism chairperson for our church. One of the first programs the pastor and I developed was the Sunday morning greeter program. -
Motivating the Right Person into the Right Ministry
One of the greatest challenges for most leaders is selecting and motivating the right people into the right ministry positions in hopes of minimizing turnover and frustration. Even in the smaller church with limited personnel, it is important to coordinate people and ministry as much as possible. -
“I TRIED, BUT NO ONE EVER CALLED ME”
“I tried, but no one ever called me” are painful words for a leader who has much work to do and not enough people willing to do it. These words are painful for the person who wanted to contribute, but was never called. These are also painful words for a person who is committed to helping people connect and contribute in meaningful ways within the church.
