Leadership

Cabot Ashwill

Senior Pastor & Elder

About Cabot...

In that famous message given on a hillside, Jesus told the crowds “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:21). Cabot is on a lifelong journey learning to treasure the Son of God. That journey began as a child on an adventure. It involved many years of wandering in a spiritual desert until God revealed Himself in an irresistible and surprising way.

When Cabot married Asia, the daughter of a Polish immigrant and scientist, the new couple struggled to reconcile their religious diverse backgrounds. Yet marriage was the very tool God used to help Cabot and Asia find a common answer to what it means to be a Christian through what is written in Scripture. Even more important, God showed them that the treasure they were seeking all of their lives has a name. His name is Jesus. He is the son of God.

God has blessed Cabot and Asia with four adventurous children who were willing to accept God’s call along with their parents to move from California to Spring Grove, Illinois in order to plant LifeSpring Community Church. The children have been on various mission trips ranging from disaster relief in New Orleans, to being a part of the Lord’s work in Europe and Africa. These fellow adventurers are Cabot and Asia’s first ministry.

Other things Cabot has done: backpacked through Australia and Europe, ran several marathons, started businesses, a small school and now a church. Cabot has acted as the Director of International Ministry for TouchGlobal, a leader for several years at Bible Study Fellowship, and President of Antique Trove. He holds a B.S. from Pepperdine University and a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.

Places Cabot has fallen asleep: on a sandy beach in Mexico, on a floor in Poland, in a caboose in Europe, on a luggage rack of a moving train, tenting on a reservation, a cardboard box in California, standing up in a Chinese police station, but he prefers a soft bed. Cabot has shared his faith with others at home, in church, in an office, in a park, while hiking, while running, in the United States and other countries, over a meal and even over a pint of beer.

One thing Cabot would want you to know: Life is an adventure and Jesus is the greatest treasure you will ever find! Life’s greatest joy is being found in Him!

Jill Payne

Discipleship Catalyst

About Jill...

Jill grew up in a Chicago suburb, one of six children, all of whose names started with J. Her folks too were Jack and Jan – they were known as the 8 J’s – at least that was how her mom signed their Christmas cards. 🙂 Jill attended church regularly and always dreamed of being a missionary, but at the age of 18, it was OK for her to stop attending, and so she did. She lived the next 18 years always under the cloud of knowing that she was going to hell, but didn’t know how not to. When she was 36, her husband John (another J) felt that it was time for their son Dan to go to church. So, they started looking into churches and ended up at Lakeland Church in Gurnee, where they all had the privilege of being led to the Lord by the pastor, Doug Halsne. The burden of hell fell off her shoulders, thankfully and forever.

Since that time, Jill has had the privilege of serving first at Lakeland Church and now LifeSpring Community Church, in administrative positions. Her husband John also serves in the worship ministry. She loves organization and databases and putting her “ducks in the row”.

And homegrown heirloom tomatoes. She has been called a “tomato snob” by more than one person.

Recently, she has been reminded that while her plans are good, the Lord has specific, wonderful plans for her life. She is living in the strength of these promises – Jeremiah 29:11 – 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Scott & Megan McInnis

Unhooked Sr High Leaders

About Scott & Megan...

Scott and Megan’s Bio…..take 157….. When first asked to write a bio about myself and my wife, Megan, I went through draft after draft of the same old typical bio stuff…. Number of dogs, cute little house with picket fence, favorite soup, and all the cool things I’ve done, or at least tentatively planned to start thinking about doing. When I was done, all I had was a list of stuff and accomplishments, and it really wasn’t that important or impressive. The truth is, if you want to know what I do for a living or what color my cat is, well, then come and ask. I’m pretty approachable, or at least that’s what my parole officer says…..(really, I’m teasin…don’t worry). While we’re talking though, I’ll give you my idea of a “bio”. Now, I’ve never been much for school although my wife is a nerd, so I am claiming artistic license here to redefine the standard bio. When we do meet, I’ll tell you the story of how my life started with how my life ended when I gave it to Christ. The cool thing about your life ending to Jesus is that Christ creates a new you. I will also brag about my greatest accomplishment being the realization that I can accomplish nothing without Christ in my life. Oh, sure I might work into the conversation that I prefer water to soft drinks, but honestly, probably so I could segway into telling you about the living water found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to read a bio, His is the only one that matters.

On second thought, I will tell you one thing about my wife and I. We love learning, teaching, and living the story of grace and redemption found in the Bible. Our desire is to bring an authentic, engaging ministry to the youth in the community that is Bible based and Christ-centered.

Oh, and if you were wondering, nobody knows what color my cat is. It is the strangest looking animal you have ever seen.

Susan Wendtland

Children's Ministry Director

About Susan...

Susan was blessed to grow up in a multi-generational Godly family in Pennsylvania. She attended and enjoyed Church, Sunday School, Youth Group, Christian camp, Vacation Bible School etc. One Christmas day her mother and a missionary who was over for Christmas dinner were discussing salvation. While playing with her new dolly she was listening to everything that was said. That night the realization hit that she wasn’t assured of her salvation. Finding her parents, the 3 knelt by her bed where she accepted Christ into her life as Lord and Savior. Her love for children had her babysitting for the neighborhood families and teaching Sunday School while in high school. Wanting to be an elementary school teacher she was enrolled at Slippery Rock State College in PA. Susan’s dad decided that he’d rather have her attend a Bible College the first year away. He sent her to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and what a great decision that turned out to be! Susan met her husband Glenn at Moody and they’ve been happily married since 1982. The Lord blessed them with 3 children (Sandy, Sarah and Robby) and allowed them the privilege of homeschooling them K-12.

She is looking forward to serving the families here at LifeSpring. She’s thrilled to be using her love for the Lord and for children to encourage them to begin and grow their relationship with Jesus Christ and to encourage parents to be disciplers of their children.

Jason Gebbink

Interim Worship Leader & Elder

About Jason...

Jason was blessed to grow up in a Christian home in Central Illinois surrounded by a large loving family. After studying piano performance at Illinois Wesleyan University, he worked in the music department at IWU and lead worship in local churches for 13 years. In 2002 Jason married his wife Jessica (a licensed clinical social worker) after meeting on the worship team at church. In 2009 Jason felt God calling him on a new path and moved his family to Spring Grove to pursue a new career. Upon joining LifeSpring Church, Jason and his family also felt that God had provided them with a new family and community. Here he has been blessed to be a part of the worship team and also helps lead LifeSpring’s Men’s Ministries. Helping men draw closer to the Lord, as well as their families and community, is one of Jason’s greatest passions. He also loves golf, travel, and music. But, most of all, he is dedicated to his wife and 3 daughters, and his very favorite thing is cuddling with his kids at the end of the day.

Dan Olson

Elder

About Dan...

Dan is a “missionary kid” who spent 8 out of his first 13 years in Congo, Africa. His stateside home growing up was in Minnesota. Dan’s spiritual formation came primarily through his godly parents, years on a Bible quizzing team, a mentoring older brother, summers spent as a camp counselor at camp Hidden Acres in Iowa, and through his years at a Christian college. After teaching middle school math in the Twin Cities for 4 years Dan felt God’s call to go to China for 2 years to teach English as a second language. In 2006 Dan moved to Gurnee, IL and married his amazing wife Elizabeth. Dan and Elizabeth were able to grow in ministry together by serving on Lakeland church’s Alpha ministry team. Since moving to Spring Grove the Lord has blessed Dan and Elizabeth with 3 wonderful daughters, Abigail, Anna and Sarah. Dan currently teaches middle school math and serves at LifeSpring mostly in the music and Alpha ministries.