Reaching for Families with Children

from Tom Mathisen, Area Rep for Northern Illinois

Zion Church of Freeport, Illinois recently welcomed Scott Werntz as their new Associate Pastor. Senior pastor Gardy Cronk is now in his eighth year of ministry there. About ten years ago the 150 year-old church moved from downtown to the outer edges of Freeport, where they built a new building, better enabling them to serve the Freeport area. The congregation is an active, but older group, and Scott has been called to help bring growth with ministry to younger families.

Scott Werntz

Born in Freeport, Scott lived in the area through his high school graduation. He went on to Millikin University and Columbia College in Chicago, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in theater and television. Upon completion of college, Werntz moved to Hollywood, California and worked for Lorimar Telepictures on TV shows, “Family Matters,” “Full House,” “Knott’s Landing” and “Dallas.” After a few years in California, he moved back to Illinois and served as a college admissions counselor for Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois.

In 1991 Werntz relocated to Irving, Texas where he served for ten years as the Youth Pastor of Irving Bible Church. He founded “Spoken For International Youth Ministry” (www.spokenfor.org), a ministry to orphans and youth living in Russia, Africa, India and the United States in 2001. Leading teams who have ministered on short-term mission trips, Scott has made over 60 trips back and forth to Russia and Africa.

In addition to his work with Spoken For, Werntz serves on the board of Shepherd of the Ozarks, a Christian camp located near Mountain View, Arkansas and as the Creative Arts Consultant for several schools in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. He has directed dozens of Broadway-style musicals and has written several musicals, including “Live The Difference,” for WORD Music Corp. Scott speaks throughout the country at conferences, camps, churches and schools. He has returned to Freeport, Illinois after being away for 30 years to serve at Zion Church. We welcome Scott Werntz to Zion Church and to the CCCC.