Meet the Pastor

Rod Schertz, pastor

Rod Schertz is an experienced pastor. He served as a volunteer youth leader for several years before going into full time ministry.

For 11 years, Rod was Executive Director of Equip Ministries (formerly the Central Illinois Sunday School Convention). Under his leadership, thousands of church leaders and volunteers received training. Church workers were trained in pastoral leadership, teaching, youth and children's ministries, and a variety of other church ministries. Rod still does volunteer work for the conference. During that same period, he closely worked with the Evangelical Ministerial Association of Peoria.

Pastor Rod has been involved with church planting since 1997. Having helped to successfully start a church as a volunteer, Rod later went on to serve as a pastor at that church. New Hope Community Church is his second experience in starting a new church.

Pastor Rod has been active in community service. He has served on the Roanoke-Benson school board and on the parent’s advisory board as well as the school board at Metamora Grade School. He also served six years on the Metamora High School board. For the past eleven years, Rod and his wife, Jill, have hosted the "Fifth Quarter Bonfire" after each home football game attracting as many as 375 youth to a single event. Rod served as the chairman for the Peoria Area FamilyLife Marriage Conference for 11 years.

Rod received his education at Moody Bible Institute with an emphasis in Christian Education of Youth. He later attended Illinois State University where he received a degree in Business Administration. He also holds a Master of Ministry degree from Moody Bible Institute.

Rod and Jill are looking forward to meeting you at New Hope Community Church.