Our Pastor & Staff

Meet Our
Pastor & Staff

Pastor John Elam

Pastor John Elam was born in Middletown, Ohio in August of 1974. He was born again in August of 2010 in Eaton, Ohio at Gateway Baptist Church. Called to preach, and surrendered to do so in 2011, Pastor Elam has been in the ministry ever since. Starting out in local evangelism and transitioning into traveling evangelism. Serving as an Assistant Pastor and Lead Pastor prior to coming to Temple, Pastor Elam accepted the call to pastor at TBC on July 17, 2022. Pastor Elam is enrolled in ongoing Pastoral Studies with Liberty Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. Pastor Elam’s family consists of his wife Amie, and children Jada, Haylee and Paul.

Our Staff

Amie Elam

Amie Elam

Pastors Wife

My name is Amie Elam and I am a mother, pianist and Sunday School teacher. Being saved at the age of 9, on July 10, 1986 and blessed to grow up in a church that emphasized the importance of teaching children the Bible, God has truly given me a heart to love children and teach them out of the Bible about our amazing God. Even after decades in youth ministry, I’m so grateful to be able to watch kids of all ages grow in the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Stacey Clevenger

Stacey Clevenger

Pianist

My name is Stacey Clevenger. I was saved in March of 2015. I was not attending church at that time. In my search. I found Temple Baptist Church with the help from a dear friend. They took me in like family. After a couple years, I was baptized at Temple on 3/18/2018. I started playing the piano for our church because our lovely pianist moved. I said no at first. However, God had other plans. Over time, God made it very clear to me that HE had given me a gift, a gift to glorify him. A gift he wanted me to use at our church. So I currently play for our church and am blessed to be able to. God is good!

Mick Kreps

Mick Kreps

Elder

Mick Kreps got saved in 1969. He was Baptized Mothers day in 1970. He also became a member on that day. The church was founded in April of 1968. When Mick became a member, he was the youngest member of the church. Now he is the eldest member of the church.

Lonnie Brewer

Lonnie Brewer

Treasurer

I got saved on January 3rd, 1988 at the age of 21 and later was baptized. I became a treasurer in 1988, and was treasurer until 1996. In 1996, I got married. Then, in 1997, I became a member of Temple Baptist Church, and became the treasurer and still holds that position today.

Cendy Bruder

Cendy Bruder

Youth Choir Director/Youth Sunday School

I was witnessed to by my next door neighbor's children and asked Jesus into heart at the age of 9 years old in 1978 at First Baptist Church in Hammond Indiana. I then was baptized at First Baptist Church in Griffith, Indiana in 1982 at the age of 13. Over the years I have worked in the church nursery program as the director at First Baptist Church of Olympia Fields, Illinois as well as taught ages Kindergarten to 5th grade Vacation Bible School and sang in the choir.

Dennis Shepherd

Dennis Shepherd

Deacon

I served in the US Air Force for 20 years. Attended Grace Baptist Church in Muncie. Pastor Collins Glenn was a good bible teacher,mentor, trainer and example. While there served as deacon, usher, and helped in treasures office. Felt we needed a church closer to home. We attended two other churches where I served as deacon, Sunday school teacher and youth leader. My wife was offered a teaching position at Heritage Hall Christian school a ministry of Grace Baptist Church it required us to be members there. In 2005 I had an accident that changed our lives. I became a partial quadriplegic. Again we looked for a church that aligned with our biblical standards. Our son was attending Temple Baptist Church and we started attending and have been for approximately 12 years. I was elected deacon about 11 years ago.