Leadership
Elders
Elders & Wives: Jeremy Kempfer, Steve Bradshaw, Rich Cowan, Tim McIntyre, Norm Howell & Chris Scott
The elders have the responsibility of shepherding and leading in the spiritual development and accurate teaching of the Word of God. The elder board is made up of staff pastors and non-staff who take this responsibility very seriously and do it with joy. The elder form of government, as set forth in the New Testament, is, we believe, not only potentially the most satisfactory form of church government, but it is also the form of government which most closely follows Scriptural example (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; Acts 20:25-32; Philippians 1:1).
Staff
Norm and Karen Howell
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Norm Howell: Pastor Norm Howell has a diverse background in church ministries spanning over the past forty-two years. He has been pastoring for twenty-three of those years with congregations in Illinois and Missouri. Norm has also served as a church planting missionary with New Tribes Mission (Ethnos 360) in Papua New Guinea for ten years (eight of those years living overseas) and a mission trainer for the Missouri Baptist Convention and the North American Mission Board for five years. Norm served for three years as the Director of Missions to forty-eight churches in the Muskogee Baptist Association, in Oklahoma. Norm has been serving as Senior Pastor at Calvary Church, in Sparta Il, since August of 2020. Norm and his wife have traveled throughout the United States and to many countries on mission trips in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, West Africa, Central America, the South Pacific and the Caribbean. They have trained and equipped pastor and church leaders in church planting, church leadership and evangelism. Norm has a B.A. Degree in Bible and Biblical Languages from Southwest Baptist University, a Bachelor of Intercultural Ministries Degree from New Tribes Mission and a Master of Religious Education from Liberty Baptist Seminary. Norm is married to Karen (42 years) and have two grown children and two granddaughters. |
Chris, Linda and Riley Scott
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Chris Scott: Student Ministries Chris has been serving as Calvary's Student Minister since 2008. Chris accepted the call into the ministry in 1989 and has served as a pastor for a congregation in Junction, Illinois for 2 years and led an active youth ministry in Beardstown, Illinois for 14 years prior to relocating to Sparta, Illinois in 2006. Chris has a degree in Electrical Engineering from SIU Carbondale and has worked in the electric utility business for over 21 years. Chris has been married to his wife, Linda, for 23 years, and they have a daughter named Riley. Chris is an avid golfer and enjoys spending his time with his family and playing golf . |
Rich, Kelly, and Caris Cowan
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Rich Cowan: Worship and Discipleship Rich came to Calvary in the spring of 2015 as Calvary's Associate Pastor of Worship and Discipleship. Rich accepted the call to ministry at Southwest Baptist University in 1994. He has served churches as an associate pastor in Kentucky and Missouri. He has been married to his dearest friend, Kelly, since November 1996. Together they have an amazing little girl named Caris. Rich enjoys playing classical guitar, reading books written by old (mostly dead) guys and hiking with his family. |
Tim and Debbie McIntyre
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Tim McIntyre: Associate Pastor Tim has been married to his best friend and ministry partner, Debbie since December of 1971. Together they have four children, eleven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Tim was saved in 1978, surrendered to preach in 1985. Tim ministered in inner cites projects of Memphis and East St. Louis, pastored churches in Illinois, Arkansas, and Missouri, before planting Calvary Church in November of 2002. Tim studied at Ranken Technical College, Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary and Bethany Theological Seminary. He enjoys spending time with his family and working outdoors. |
Deacons
Deacons: Jamie Brooks, Austin Bradshaw, Greg Thompson, Matt McElroy, Cory McClurken, Greg Baird, Connie Wiggins
The deacons are those who model spiritual service and work alongside of the elders to facilitate their leadership and teaching in the practical life of the church. Our deacons are all non-staff members that sacrifice much of their time and resources to meet the needs of the church.
The Greek word for deacon conveys the idea of a servant. Deacons are to serve under the direction of the elders, undertaking those areas of service necessary for the church's functioning that would otherwise prohibit the elders and other leaders from performing their biblical responsibilities. No specific, ongoing roles are mentioned in Scripture, probably because service necessitates change and so the role of the deacons should be flexible.
The Greek word for deacon conveys the idea of a servant. Deacons are to serve under the direction of the elders, undertaking those areas of service necessary for the church's functioning that would otherwise prohibit the elders and other leaders from performing their biblical responsibilities. No specific, ongoing roles are mentioned in Scripture, probably because service necessitates change and so the role of the deacons should be flexible.