Resources
Who We Are - Leaders & Staff
Elders
Godly leadership is a priority if any church is to function properly. In the New Testament, we see that the local church was led by ‘Elders’ (also referred to in the Bible as ‘overseers’), men who together held the ultimate responsibility for ‘pastoring’ (the actual word used in the Bible is ‘shepherding’) - directing, teaching, caring for and protecting - the church (Acts 20:17, 28). We therefore have a group of elders who together lead the church, rather than the more common (but we believe, non-Biblical) concept of a sole ‘Senior Pastor’. Elders aren’t voted into office – it’s the Holy Spirit who chooses and equips men for this service (Acts 20:28), and those working toward the church apostolically are involved in appointing them (Acts 14:23). However, though there isn’t a voting process, in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus1 in the New Testament, the apostle Paul sets out qualifications that men must have before they become elders, and the rightness of these men being in leadership should be evident to and acknowledged by the congregation. Christ-like leaders lead by example.
OUR ELDERS
Timothy Pingitore (timpingitore@livinglightchurch.com)
Tim and his wife, Carol, both raised in Kenosha, were married in 1967 and became Christians during the Charismatic Renewal in the 1970s. They were a part of the inter-denominational prayer group out of which Living Light was birthed, and have been integrally involved in the church ever since. Tim became an elder in 1987 and after 20 years as a businessman in the construction industry, began serving the church in a full-time capacity in 1988.
Tim & Carol have five children and ten grandchildren, all of whom are part of Living Light. Tim and Carol’s passion for the church motivates them to labor to see every man and woman equipped to reach their full potential in Christ.
Don Dejno
Don and his wife, Carol, also became Christians during the Charismatic Renewal in the early 1970s, and were involved in the birthing of Living Light. Don was appointed an elder of Living Light in 1994, and carries out his leadership responsibilities while continuing as a successful businessman in the manufacturing and trucking industries. He and Carol focus on working with married couples and helping Christians in the business world.
Don & Carol have been married since 1965 and have five children (all of whom, with their spouses, are actively involved in advancing the kingdom of God in Kenosha) and seventeen grandchildren.
Ian Gerrard (iangerrard@livinglightchurch.com)
Ian is from the Isle of Man (in the British Isles) and became a Christian as a teenager. He worked for 13 years as a lawyer in London, where he was also involved in the leadership of his local church. In 1999, he moved to Kenosha to work for Living Light and he was appointed an elder in 2005. He concentrates on pastoral work and teaching in the church and particularly enjoys working with (and teaching others to lead) small groups.
Gary Rudd (grudd@livinglightchurch.com)
Gary was born in Portland, Oregon and moved to Kenosha in 1992 to be a basketball coach and lecturer at a local university. After being diagnosed with life-threatening cancer, he became a Christian in 1995 – he was healed and is now cancer-free! He immediately became part of Living Light, where he met Karen, whom he married in 1998. They spent a year at Bible College in England in 2001-2002, and upon their return to Kenosha, Gary began a career in real estate. He came on staff full-time with Living Light in 2007 with particular emphasis on men’s ministry and young adults and was appointed an Elder in October 2007. Karen works with the young adults, and is also very involved with worship and music in the church. They have two young sons, Tobias and Gabriel.
STAFF
Many people play vital roles in the running of Living Light and in its ministries. Those serving in various areas of leadership would be too numerous to introduce here, but the following people are employed on a full-time basis and have key areas of responsibility in the church:
Sheila Knapp (office@livinglightchurch.com)
Sheila moved to Kenosha in January 2005 from Nebraska and has worked in the church office since April 2005. She helps keep everything organized and running smoothly.
APOSTOLIC COVERING
“It was [Christ] who gave some to be apostles … to prepare God’s people for works of service …” (Ephesians 4:11-12)
In our commitment to seeing church built on a Biblical basis and in a Biblical way, we see the role of the apostle as being just as contemporary and essential as the roles of prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. We’re glad apostles are being raised up and recognized in this day, and that the church at large is benefiting from their gifting.
We’re also excited that, God having spoken to us prophetically in our early days that apostles (and other Ephesians 4 ministries) would be raised up in our midst, we’ve started to see it happen!
John Lalgee (jklalgee@msn.com)
Originally from the northwest of England, John submitted his life to the Lord when he was nineteen and was immediately gripped with a passion to see God glorified through His church. He served in many areas of leadership in churches in the U.K. before moving to the U.S.A. in 1993 to marry Kim, a native of Kenosha. John served as an elder of Living Light here from 1994 until 2003 when, in response to the leading of God, he, Kim and their four children moved to Taunton, England. This led to the birthing of Living Light Christian Church, Taunton, which is now well-established and growing.
While in the U.K., John continued to be very involved with Living Light in Kenosha, his role transitioning to one of apostolic oversight to the church. John and his family moved back to the U.S.A. in 2007, and from here he oversees the congregations in Kenosha, Racine and Pleasant Prairie as well as, Living Light Church in Taunton, and Covenant Life Church in Lake City, MI. All of this work is carried out as part of One Church Ministries, which John leads.