John Burch:  

Hello everyone, I worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company for 33 years before retiring. My life's journey has been filled with joy and fulfillment. I was trained for ministry at St Paul MB Church, under the leadership of Dr. P. J. James. I joined the Gayles Memorial Baptist Church in 1975 where Rev. Thurman B. Hazelwood was pastor. For many years I served dual vocations as I began ministry work as the director of Christian Education in at Gayles and worked with Deacon P. Thompson, director of the Youth Ministry.. In 1978 I met my wife, Ivory as we sang in the Church Choir. Later that year we were married and over the years we were blessed with four children. Darrick, Ton'ni, Elijah and Elisha. I enrolled at Judson University of Elgin,IL. and after graduation attended Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of Lombard Illiniois, enrolling in the D. Min progrom. I served as the assistant pastor of The Love of God MBC in Aurora from 1982 to 1991, as well as being the Director of Education. While serving as a Missionary of the Fox Valley District Association I was called to pastor North Avenue MB Church in April of 1991. Over the past 30 years...Expand for more