Our Pastoral Elders

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Meet our Pastoral Elders

The Council of Pastoral Elders, representing Faithbridge Church’s connection to the global church, protects Faithbridge through prayer and counsel.

Steve Carter
Bible Teacher

Steve Carter is a pastor, speaker, author, podcast host, sports enthusiast, and the former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago.

Steve’s passion is to bring Jesus into everything he does. A gifted teacher, Steve spends his days crafting sermons, messages, blog posts, and books to encourage people in their walk with Christ. He describes his work as humbling and vulnerable—a soul-baring process that keeps him dependent, expectant, and grounded in Christ.

Steve lives in Chicago with his wife, Sarah, and their two kids.

Jessica LaGrone
Bible Teacher

Rev. Dr. Jessica LaGrone is the Dean of the Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. She enjoys mentoring and multiplying as she serves as pastor to a vibrant seminary community. She is an acclaimed teacher, preacher, and author whose engaging communication style endears her to groups throughout the United States. A native of Texas, Jessica is an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church where she also serves as a member of the denomination’s Transitional Leadership Council. She previously pastored in churches in the Houston area including eight years at The Woodlands Methodist Church where she served as Pastor of Worship.

She holds an MDiv from Asbury Seminary and a DMin in Transformational Preaching from Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University with a concentration on Creativity in Preaching.

Jessica’s latest book, Out of Chaos: How God Makes New Things Out of the Broken Pieces of Life, explores the beauty that God can bring out of the chaotic state of our lives and our world. Jessica’s books and studies have been used in personal and group studies around the world, and include Namesake, Under Wraps, Broken and Blessed, Set Apart, and The Miracles of Jesus.

Jessica and her husband, Jim, have two children, Drew and Kate, and a dog named Bluebell, who is the color of Homemade Vanilla ice cream.

Gary Thomas
Bible Teacher

Gary holds a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University, an MA degree in systematic theology from Regent College (Vancouver, BC), and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Western Seminary (Portland, OR).

He served on the teaching team at Second Baptist Church, Houston for 11 years and is currently on the teaching team at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, CO. Gary is also an adjunct faculty member at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Houston Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas.

Gary’s speaking ministry has led him to speak in all 50 states and nine different countries, and on numerous national television and radio programs, including multiple appearances on Focus on the Family and Family Life Today. Gary’s interviews on Focus on the Family have been chosen among the “Best of 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2021.” Gary is a lifelong advocate of using the Christian classics to bring people closer to Christ.

Gary enjoys running in his spare time and has completed 14 marathons, including the Boston Marathon three times. He and his wife Lisa have been married for 38 years and they have three adult children and two grandchildren.

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