Crystal Lake church installs new lead pastor

The Rev. Jeffrey D. Schirle is the new lead pastor at Hope Covenant Church in Crystal Lake. Church membership unanimously voted to call Schirle Nov. 18. He becomes the fourth lead pastor in the 28-year history of the church.

Schirle had served as the pastor of connections at Hope Evangelical Church in Grand Forks, N.D. since 2002. In addition, he has 16 years of lead pastor experience at four churches across the country.

Schirle has experience in expanding church congregations through dynamic, contemporary worship, connecting people to the church through small groups ministries, and connecting the church to the community.

More of a pastor than an evangelist, Schirle will work intentionally to focus the attention of the church's ministry toward those who are not already in church.

Borrowing a line from a current book with the same title, Schirle says he is considering making up a large sign to place in the entryway of the church: "No Perfect People Allowed Beyond This Point."

"If you have your act totally together, this is definitely the wrong place. But if you're messed up, even just a little, and would like to meet up with other messed-up people who have a great relationship with a loving God, this is the right place," he said.

He challenges individuals to Christ-like behavior with Bible-based, application-oriented sermons.

Schirle has a master of divinity degree from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, and is ordained in the Word and sacrament by the Evangelical Covenant Church. He and his wife, Betty, have three grown children.

Schirle's first Sunday at Hope Covenant in Crystal Lake was Dec. 23 and he was installed on Jan. 13. The Rev. Jerome Nelson, superintendent of the Evangelical Covenant Central office, performed the service.

Church services are held at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays at Hope Covenant Church, 451 Ackman Road. For details, call (815) 455-6340 or visit www.hope-covenant.net.