About Us

​We've been married 34 years, and as Jeff likes to say, "they've been 32 of the happiest years of my life." We made it through a couple rough ones and are glad we did!

1. We have two sons: TJ and Will who now live in Austin, TX.

2. We have lived in a variety of places since we've been married: Champaign, IL (twice); Morong, Bataan, Republic of the Philippines; Albuquerque, NM; Wakarusa, IN;  Plymouth, IN; Tyner IN  (currently).

3. We've had a variety of jobs over the years, mostly in academia, but not all--Cathy also spent a couple of years staying home with the kids.  

4. We are challenging ourselves to live even more boldly in our Christian walk as we move deeper into our 50s, and now 60s for Jeff.

Will's graduation from Bethel College in May 2018

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jeff Stueve

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 
(2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

EDUCATION: 
BA in Elementary Education from Purdue University (1983) 
MS.Ed. from Purdue University (1985) 
Ph.D. in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2000)
Certified Local Lay Pastor, United Methodist Church (2017)
Semi-retired (2021)

WORK:
Recent
​Semi-retired (2021)
Associate Professor of Education/Social Science at Bethel College (2009-current)
Pastor at Plymouth Trinity UMC (2018-2021)
Pastor at Granger Good Shepherd UMC (2017-2018)
Executive Director of Family Christian Development Center (2008-09)
Assistant Professor of Family Studies at the University of New Mexico (until 2005)

Prior employment includes multiple teaching and supervisory positions at the elementary and university level. Also served as Teacher Supervisor and Deputy Director of Instruction for  for World Relief's Preparing Refugees for Elementary Programs in Morong, Bataan, Philippines (1989-91) 

Awards:

Jonathan Baldwin Turner Graduate Fellowship, U. of Illinois (1996-2000)
Theory Construction and Research Methodology Graduate Scholarship, National Council on Family Relations (1999)
Pacesetter Award for Outstanding Community Service, Nappanee, IN (2009)
Bethel College Professor of the Year (2016)

OTHER MINISTRY:

Wakarusa (IN) UMC: Adult Discipleship Leader, Faith Life Leader, Fruitful Congregations team member,  Administrative Council and Theme Team member (which set sermon topics). I led a variety of small groups, and participated in the Men's and Marked Men for Christ groups. I preached 8-12 times a year, generally at two services on a Sunday

Trinity UMC in Plymouth, IN: Part time Family Ministry Coordinator

ST. JOHN'S UMC in Albuquerque: Led a group for married couples, a retreat for couples & small groups (spiritual formation), was a member of the church's leadership development group, participated in volleyball

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN in Champaign: Co-led classes on marriage, parenting, and relationship enrichment; also presented on Presbyterian Marriage Encounter Weekends

cathy wesolek

...the secret is simply this: Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with him the hope of all glorious things to come. Col. 1:27 (phillips nt)

EDUCATION: 
BA in Political Science & Russian Studies from Purdue University (1985)
MA in Teaching English as an International Language from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1989)

WORK:
Full time:
Intensive English Institute at the University of Illinois as the Composition Coordinator (most of the 1990s)

Young Adult Services Program at the Philippine Refugee Processing Center (after graduate school)--if you're interested, here's a little more about what I did there in working with young adult women.

Part-time:
Freshman Composition Instructor at Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute--now Central New Mexico Community College (in the early 2000s)

Freshman Composition Instructor at Bethel College (off and on through the 2010s)

​Communication Coordinator at Wakarusa United Methodist Church (WUMC) where I revamped the website and updates the newsletter and other publications. (2014-2017)

​Pastor at Tyner UMC (2019-current)

OTHER MINISTRY:

WUMC: Adult Discipleship Leader, Fruitful Congregations team member, Worship Experience leader (I like the title "worship curator" better but it's not the official title), Lay Delegate to our annual conference. I lead Sunday morning discussion groups & periodic small groups, participate in the SPA Night Women's Group & the Theme Team (which sets our sermon topics for the year), and run the computer most Sundays at the contemporary service

ST. JOHN'S UMC in Albuquerque: Led a Sunday morning group for married couples, a retreat for couples & small groups (spiritual formation), participated in volleyball, spiritual gifts assessment, exploration team for a contemporary service, and communications evaluation

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN in Champaign: Co-led classes on marriage and parenting, lead Bible Study on Sunday morning, and went through the leadership training (for the first time); also presented on Presbyterian Marriage Encounter Weekends