Heritage Fellowship Church, 105 N. Tecumseh Road, Springfield, is celebrating God’s faithfulness as the congregation welcomes Ken Winter as their new pastor on April 1.
When the current pastor of 18 years, Kirk Heldreth, announced his retirement last August, the process of calling a new pastor began. Unbeknownst to the congregation, that was also about the same time that Winter decided to seek God’s leading for a new ministry path. After the search committee contacted the director of church relations at Cedarville University, the director talked withWinter and encouraged him to contact the committee. In a short time, both Winter and the congregation sensed a positive connection and that God had answered the prayers of both parties.
Ken, who is originally from Colorado, is a 2009 Cedarville University graduate, with a degree in sports management, and will be receiving his Master’s in Church Ministries from Southern Theological Seminary this May. He and his wife, Tara, have three children, Katelyn, Anna, and Jake, and the family currently lives in Cedarville. An interesting fact about Ken is that he competed on the NBC show “American Ninja Warrior” in 2015.
When Ken describes his ministry philosophy, he says, “Relationships are the key to sharing the grace of Jesus. I believe the job of a pastor is to preach the word faithfully by always pointing to the finished work of Christ, and loving people as Jesus did.”
Winter will officially begin his ministry with his first sermon at Heritage on Sunday, April 9, at 10:30 a.m. On April 23, he will begin a series of messages on the topic “You Can’t Outrun God’s Grace.”
A recognition reception for Pastor and Mrs. Heldreth will be held at the church on Sunday, May 7, from 2-4 p.m.