Dennis is responsible for the overall leadership, vision, and direction of SouthField. He grew up in western New York and earned degrees from Cedarville College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His teaching style is practical, challenging us to take our next step toward lasting life-change. His wife, Kim, provides behind-the-scenes support for both his life and the mission of SouthField.
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Dennis Papp | lead pastor
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Jaren Wojewoda | Big Kids Director
Jaren leads all ministries related to grade school kids and their families. Her experience as a public school teacher, junior high small group leader, and adult Journey Group leader uniquely equips her to minister to children and parents.
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jessie majerus | little kids director
Jessie coordinates all ministries for families with young children (birth-kindergarten). Watch Jessie in action for just a few minutes and you'll understand why we call her the kid whisperer! Her experience as a preschool director, involvement in the foster care system, and exceptional way with kids makes her unmatched in this role.
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Brian Papp | student director
Brian leads all ministries for 7th-12th grade students. He brings creativity, passion, and energy to everything he does. While it's rumored he has a doctorate in FUN, Brian actually has his master's in education. He's an avid thrill-seeker with a love for competition and an even bigger desire to help students learn to love and follow Jesus.
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sherri gierman | 6th Grade ministry director
Sherri leads our 6th Grade Ministry with energy, heart, and a deep commitment to helping students grow in their faith during one of the most important transitions in life. With a focus on building strong relationships, creating a fun environment, and teaching biblical truth in a way that makes sense to middle schoolers, Sherri helps students take ownership of their faith journey.
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jenna laken | student ministries assistant
Jenna’s passion for the next generation and her heart for making others feel welcomed make her an essential part of our Student Ministries team. She plays a key role in creating a fun, welcoming, and spiritually challenging environment where 6th–12th grade students can belong, believe, and become who God has called them to be.
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Julie conroy | ministries assistant
Julie plays a vital behind-the-scenes role in helping our ministry teams run smoothly and effectively. From organizing events and managing communication to supporting leaders and volunteers, Julie keeps everything moving so that life-changing ministry can happen.
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Shellie Papp | worship Director
Shellie assists our Lead Pastor planning, coordinating, and leading Sunday morning worship experiences. She also performs the administrative tasks necessary for worship and tech teams to be equipped to serve each week. While her full-time job is teaching math at Romeoville High School, her love for Jesus, understanding of music, and skills in video production uniquely qualify her to excel in this role.
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jess counterman | next steps coordinator
Jess is passionate about helping you feel at home and take your next step in faith, whether you're new to church or looking to get more involved. From answering your questions about what we believe to helping you find a small group, serve team, or upcoming class, Jess is here to walk with you every step of the way.
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tara laken | finance director
Tara tracks budgets, processes payments, and makes financial recommendations that enable our Overseers to make good decisions. Her credentials as a CPA and accounting professor at Joliet Junior College provide the expertise she needs to serve effectively in this important leadership role.
