Jennifer Bumgarner , Worship Arts Director
full-time staff
jennifer@rivervalleyrockford.org

Where Are You From?
I'm originally from the beautiful countryside upstate NY, just south of the Adirondacks, but have lived in Chicago for the past three years. They say you're a true Chicagoan once you've made it through three winters, so I'd like to think I can withstand the Rockford winters as well :).

What have you earned?
I have a B.A. in Music & Communication from Houghton College, a Christian Liberal Arts University, successfully in the state of NY while simultaneously placed in the middle of nowhere; so no worries if you've never heard of it before.

What is your ministry passion?
To see our most worthy God glorified through the praises and creativity of His people - I LOVE that.

What do you thrive on?
Music and People. Singing is my outlet - an intimate expression of who I am, while the presence of others gives me encouragement to keep singing with passion. I am made alive in the fellowship of others!

Who do you hang with?
I love spending time with Jordan - the love of my life, the Chicago friends that gave me a reason to call the mid-west "home", and I call my NY dwelling family probably every other day, so they hang with me in conversation constantly.

What is/are your favorite:
movies?
Either artistically done tearjerkers, such as A Beautiful Mind, or an adventure romance of ladies in fancy dresses and men who know how to joust, like The Count of Monte Cristo.
music?
So much to choose from! Though I rather enjoy Copeland, Sinatra, Sleeping at Last, Buddy Guy, Fiction Family, and Hillsong United ... just to name a few.
books?
Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)
scripture?
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing," Zephaniah 3:17.
tv shows?
Seinfeld - you can blame that on my dear husband.
places?
In the middle of a bustling city or in the middle of nowhere.
sports teams?
Sports? Huh? Um, I love going to the horse track with a $10 bill.
hobbies?
Besides music, as you probably already figured that, I love photography and the chance to cook a good meal.

Jordan Bumgarner , Youth Director
full-time staff
jordan@rivervalleyrockford.org

What have you earned?
I have earned a B.S. and M.A. in Youth Ministry from Olivet Nazarene University.

What is your ministry passion?
I want to serve alongside a great team and church to reach out and minister to youth and children.

What do you thrive on?
Oh man, tons of stuff: good music, good food, a good conversation with a good friend; I just thrive on life and people who find joy in life.

Who do you hang with?
Jennifer, my gorgeous wife, is someone I love to hang out with. It really is a lot of fun to be married to someone who shares a lot of the same interests. I also enjoy hanging out with the good people of River Valley, as well as my buds from high school and college (when I have the chance to visit them).

What is/are your favorite:
movies?
LORD OF THE RINGS!!!!! I am a HUGE Lord of the Rings nerd. I'm also a big fan of the new batman films (Batman Begins, Dark Knight), as well as good comedy and action type movies.
music?
This is definitely a tough one to answer. I love all sorts of music ranging from heavy metal to classical. Some of my favorite artists/bands I am currently listening to includes U2, Copeland, Mute Math, Justin King, As I Lay Dying, Norma Jean, Underoath, Ray Lamontange, Joe Pass, Brooke Fraser, Keb Mo, and Vivaldi. The only style I do not like is country, but I dig Johnny Cash and Hank Williams (sorry for those who love country).
books?
A lot of books I have recently read were for my master's degree, such as Organic Community and Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry, but I have recently read books like Walden (Henry David Thoreau), and Hope on a Tightrope (Cornel West). Reading is something I'm trying to get into more and more, especially since I finished school.
scripture?
The Bible rules, but two pieces of scripture that have been rocking my world include John 4:34, ""My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work," and John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
tv shows?
Oh man, SEINFELD RULES!!!!! I do also enjoy The Office.
places?
Well, as the saying goes, "there is no place like home." I've been to Europe, built houses in Mexico, and have fished/hiked in different parts of Alaska, but I just enjoy being with friends and family. I really like spending time by the river at my dad's house, visit family and friends from my hometown, and seeing where Jennifer grew up in Cambridge New York. I am really looking forward to making Rockford area my new home.
sports teams?
Um, not really a huge fan of watching sports. I prefer to play sports than to watch them, but I do enjoy getting together with people to watch a game; especially championship games.
hobbies?
Music is my main hobby. Whether it is writing, performing, or just jamming with some friends, I love any chance I have to play my guitar or see a good concert. I also enjoy being outside, working out, reading, upgrading computers, and playing an occasional video game or two.

Rodney Combs, PhD, Senior Pastor
full-time staff
rodney@rivervalleyrockford.org

Where Are You From?
We moved here from Burleson (Fort Worth), Texas, but I am not a true Texan (my kids are; 'If you weren't born here, you aren't one of us.") I grew up in Springfield, Mo., where my mom and much of my extended family still live. I'm a middle child, which may explain a lot.

What have you earned??
I graduated with a B.A. in Speech Communications from Baylor University, a M.Div. B.L. and a Ph. D. (Major: New Testament; Minors: Preaching and Church Growth) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

What is your ministry passion?
I hunger to help people truly know Jesus Christ, understand the Bible and its relevancy, discover God's dream, and live that dream to the max. I want to pastor a church that is overrun with believers who are living the incredible life and seekers who are finding security, refreshment and a taste of God's beauty.

What do you thrive on?
I thrive on learning and competing and teaching.

Who do you hang with?
I am wildly in love with and married to Cyndy. We have three pretty swell kids: Evan (a Freshman at Florida State, studying in Panama), Abby (a Junior in High School), and Elise (a 2016 high school grad). Cooper is our Jack Russell. He hangs with us whenever he isn't chasing squirrels.

What is/are your favorite:
movies?
Dead Poets Society, The Preacher's Wife, A Beautiful Mind, The Great Debaters, Lord of the Rings, National Treasure, Stomp the Yard, Up, A Walk to Remember
music?
Coldplay, U2, Bebo Norman, Jars of Clay, Newsboys, Switchfoot, Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Todd Agnew, The Blackthorn Project, Lucrezio, David Crowder Band, Alecia Keys
books?
Reading is one of my greatest ways to learn. Here are some of my latest teachers: Outliers (Malcolm Gladwell), The Hole in the Gospel (Richard Stearns), Planting Missional Churches (Ed Stetzer), The Blue Parakeet (Scot McKnight), Sticky Church (Larry Osborne), Permission Evangelism (Michael L. Simpson), The Knowledge of the Holy (A. W. Tozer), Eat That Frog (Brian Tracy), On Writing Well (William Zinsser), The Furious Longing of God (Brennan Manning), Christian Basics (John R. W. Stott), What's So Great about Christianity (Dinesh D' Souza), Knowing Christ Today (Dallas Willard), Made to Stick (Chip Heath & Dan Heath), Tipping Point (Malcolm Gladwell)
scripture?
John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
tv shows?
House, Frasier, CSI (Miami or New York), Cake Boss, The Next Food Network Star, The Big Break, Sunday Night Football
places?
I want to be anywhere my wife and kids are. My favorite spot is Destin, Florida, on the beach, in the morning. I love Colorado Springs to relax and Washington, D.C. to be inspired and Africa to be re-grounded and church on Sundays to experience joy.
sports teams
Dallas Cowboys football - America's Team, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, the underdog in everything else
hobbies?
Golf, running, skiing, tennis, an occasional battle in ping-pong, working out, the Wii, movies, and reading. I don't collect anything. I throw a lot of stuff away.

Megan Huels , Administrative Assistant
part-time staff
megan@rivervalleyrockford.org

Where Are You From?
I was born and raised right here in Rockford. Other than my time away at school, I've never lived anywhere else.

What have you earned?
I graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology from Northern Illinois University.

What is your ministry passion?  I love to see people work and learn side-by-side to accomplish great things together for God and build relationships with each other in the process.

What do you thrive on?
Time with family, time with God, time alone, and staying busy.

Who do you hang with?
My best friend is my husband, Brian. We are also very fortunate to live close to both sets of our parents and usually spend our weekends with one or the other of them. We all now hang with the newest addition to our family- a beautiful daughter.

What is/are your favorite:
movies?
Sweet Home Alabama, Hitch, Runaway Bride, The Man in the Moon
music?
Depends on my mood; I like lots of different types of music. I can go from Enya to Pink, Toby Mac to Garth Brooks, Burlap to Cashmere to steel drum music.
books?
Studies by Beth Moore, Case for Faith (Lee Strobel), Chasing Fireflies (Charles Martin), the Twilight series (Stephenie Meyer)
scripture?
Matthew 6:26-34, especially vs. 34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
tv shows?
America's Got Talent, Biggest Loser, Gray's Anatomy
places?
At home, at my in-law's lake house, floating on an air mattress in a pool or lake, aboard a cruise ship, or anywhere good friends and family are having a great time.
sports teams?
Rockford Ice Hogs
hobbies?
Water sports, movies, taking pictures, and discovering the world through my daughter's eyes.

Sue Williams, Small Groups Director
volunteer staff
sue@rivervalleyrockford.org

Ways to Describe Her: People-person, relational, contemplative, loyal, hospitable, family-oriented, love to cook

What Her Ministry Passion Is: To connect people with who they are and what they were meant to do, with each other and God. Creating space for people to flourish.

What She Thrives On: Relationships and family. Sharing food with friends. Being a mom (soon to be grandma!). Worship.

Who She Hangs Out With: Her husband Dale and their three grown kids, Chad (and his wife Cara), Kari (and her husband Mike), and Brooke.

In Her iPod: Mat Kearney, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, Wicked Soundtrack

Recent Books She Dug: Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus, Creating Community by Andy Stanley, A Search to Belong by Joseph Myers, A Ragamuffin Gospel by Brendan Manning

What's Her Life Scripture: "Ephesians 3:16-18 - I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. And to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."