MINISTRY & STAFF LEADERSHIP

Rev. Wesley Dickson
 
Wesley has served congregations in ministry since 2000 and was ordained as an Elder in 2009. He and his wife Karen have been married since 2002. Wesley enjoys running, cycling, geocaching, and reading. In 2015 and again in 2020, he completed the Dopey Challenge which took him 48.6 magical miles, running through all the Disney Parks in Florida. He has been serving UMCNL as the Senior Pastor since 2017. Karen helps with our church website and works for Valley View School District in Bolingbrook. She has Masters Degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and School Administration.  

Rev. Mark Meyers

 
Mark was born and raised in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church by a pastoral family. His father, Rev. Dr. John Meyers retired the same year Mark began serving churches, 2006. Mark and Jennifer (a Registered Nurse, BSN) were married in 2010 and adopted their three children, Alex, Selena, and Anthony in 2017 after years of foster care. Mark and his family enjoy movies, music, and games. They are Chicago Cubs and Walt Disney (and Star Wars/Marvel) fans and enjoy trips to the city and time with extended family. Jennifer works for Castor Nursing and is a Norwex independent consultant. 

Terri Novy, Director of Congregational Care

 
Terri grew up in the United Methodist Church and has served in multiple ministry settings throughout her life. She eventually answered a call into Local Licensed Ministry. Her most recent appointment as Pastor of Frankfort and Mokena UMC’s came in July 2020. God paved the way and led these churches so beautifully to the doorstep of UMCNL where they were embraced and welcomed. Together they merged into a new congregation in Nov. 2022.
 
Terri is so very grateful for God‘s provisions that brought these three churches together to become one body in Christ. She is thankful as well for the invitation to serve in this newly designed role at UMCNL that is tailor made for her gifts and graces continuing to share Christ love.
 
Terri loves to spend time in nature marveling at God’s creation. In his retirement, her husband Bryan enjoys woodworking and mastering the barbecue grill. Together they have three adult children: Michael, Nicole & Marilyn. As a family they enjoy gathering together for a good family meal and sharing in a friendly game of cards.

Ryan Hesslau

 
Ryan is a graduate of Trinity Christian College where he served as a campus ministry leader and studied Entrepreneurial Management. He is committed to equipping youth for Kingdom work and helping them actively live into their vocation. He has attended UMCNL since 2007 and joined the team as the Director of Youth Ministries in 2018.
Tom Burns
 
Tom, our worship leader, brings energy to the contemporary worship service. Look for this service to be re-launched on Sunday evenings soon.

Wendy Miller

 
Wendy, our business manager, has been on staff since 2004. She is married to Steve and her two children, Rachel and Ryan, are grown.
Lindsay Grant
 
Lindsay, our administrative assistant, is originally from Ohio and graduated from THE Ohio State University. She is married to Jason and has two children, Abby and Jacob.  
J. Michael Weirman
 
Michael, our music director, is in charge of the chancel choir, celebration bell choir, and herald bell choir. He is married to Karen (pictured, right) and they have one grown son, Chris. 
Karen Weirman
 
Karen, our organist, has been with our church for many years. Her music helps bring your heart and mind into an attitude of worship each week. 
Mary Luksetich
 
Mary, the children’s choir accompanist, helps build the musical experiences of children and youth at our church. She and her husband Daniel have two children, Leah and Ben. 
Christianna Hagen
 
Christianna, another choir director, is in charge of the youth choir, celeste choir, and cherub choir. She helps our children to have a bit of the spotlight, no matter what their musical abilities may be. She and her husband Richard are parents to Cara, Michaela, Miles, and Dane. 
Mary Trent
 
Mary directs the majestic bell choir for 5th-8th grade students, and anyone else who wants to learn to play bells. She and her husband Ray have two grown daughters, Jennifer and Christina.