I love Hayward. I love that it is a small town without crazy interstates, traffic jams, and lines a mile long at the coffee shop. I love that its people are down to earth, homegrown, real-life folks. I love that I get to ski in the winter and in summer I get to kayak, hike, fish, swim, camp, and run in the most beautiful country on earth.
And I love this church. I guess you could say that this has always been my home church! When I was two, my family moved from California to Wisconsin because my dad, Mark Wilson, had just taken a pastor position at a little church called Hayward Wesleyan. He was the lead pastor here for 26 years, and God did some remarkable things through his ministry. And now I get the unique opportunity to minster in the same church I grew up in. What a cool blessing!
I have my bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry from Indiana Wesleyan University, graduating in 2011 at the top of my class in the School of Theology and Ministry. I was ordained in 2017 in the Wesleyan Church.
I am married to Stacy (Walter) Wilson, and we have two sons, Beckett and Andy.
I am a huge Green Bay Packers fan. If you ever want to talk football with me, I will probably talk your ear off.
I’m the worship pastor here, which means that I am the “architect” of worship services at HWC, planning and overseeing everything that happens in the sanctuary on Sunday morning, leading a group of amazingly gifted volunteers, and encouraging the congregation to participate in worship of our God through songs, Scriptures, prayers, videos, responses… you name it! And yes, I play guitar and sing! My goal is to help people to have meaningful, life-transforming encounters with God through worship services at HWC.
I grew up in a small town in northern NY with my mom and 4 younger siblings. I always felt called to ministry but had no idea what that would look like. I attended Kingswood University in New Brunswick, Canada where I traveled on summer ministry teams for 3 summers. In 2005, while serving at the youth camp in Wisconsin I met Jeremy Mavis and Loretta Sunderland who invited me to do my internship with them at Hayward Wesleyan Church. That 9 month internship was a pivotal moment in my life. I learned so much about ministry and my passion for children and youth ministry grew even deeper. I was so tightly embraced by the Hayward community that it felt like home.
In 2006, I graduated from Kingswood with a BA in christian education and a minor in christian counseling. I then took a position as youth pastor in Wisconsin Rapids where I met my husband and moved to Marshfield. I spent the next several years doing daycare out of my home while raising my three daughters Kaitlyn, Hannah and Eliana and my step daughter Aurora. I continued to stay involved in ministry serving as a volunteer for children’s church, overseeing a preschool program and leading a women’s ministry among other things. Still, Hayward felt like home and I would bring my family to visit from time to time.
Several weeks after one of these visits, I received a call from Chad McCallum asking if I would consider moving back to Hayward and taking on the position of children’s pastor. With much prayer and the Lord paving the way every step we took, my family uprooted and moved to Hayward in less than 3 months. It’s a long story with lots of leaps of faith, but we are so grateful that we chose to jump.
I love this community and this church. I love teaching children God’s word and watching them grow in their faith. I love hosting events for families that bring them closer together and closer to the Lord. Hayward felt like home to me from that first day that I walked into youth group as a young intern and I am so grateful that the Lord has brought me back here to serve as the children and family pastor.
I live in Hayward , because I love a small community and it’s like family. I was born in Milwaukee, but the Northwoods won my heart. We moved here in 1981 and loved it so much we stayed.
I love to hike, snowshoe and walk with our dogs. I love people of all ages and love building relationships with them.
I enjoy serving at Hayward Wesleyan Church, because we are people who love God, and know people matter. I have been working with our children since 1997. I have just accepted a new position of Director of Congregational Care . I am looking forward to connecting with people and connecting every life to Jesus.
I am married to a wonderful man ( Dennis) that encourages me to be the best I can be. We have been married 51 years and we have a beautiful daughter, (Tiffany) who lives near us.
I was born and raised in Hayward and graduated from Hayward High in 1991. My family owned and operated Pat’s Landing Resort on the Chippewa Flowage for 40 years.
I love all the seasons and activities that go on in Hayward and the surrounding areas.
Growing up I attended the little Couderay Presbyterian Church. I was baptized as a baby there and in 2001 I married my wonderful husband Shiloh in that same little church. Our two sons, Sam and Luke were also baptized there. Our little Presbyterian Church eventually dissolved due to the small membership. We started attending Hayward Wesleyan in 2008.
I came on staff in 2014 as a children’s ministry assistant. A year later I took a part-time job in the church office as well. Currently I am Office Assistant in the church office four days a week, but I still love to volunteer in the children’s department when I can!
I was born and raised in Southern Alabama. My family and I have been visiting the Northwoods since I was a little girl and about 10 years ago, I moved to Hayward to be closer to family and live a small town life. I love Hayward life and participating in the community festivals, walking trails, playgrounds and other outdoor activities. I currently live here with my husband (Patrick) and two sons.
My family and I began attending Hayward Wesleyan Church in 2022 and enjoy and volunteer for different parts of Sunday services, Vacation Bible School, Followers and many of the other events HWC hosts each year. My husband, 11-year-old and I were baptized in Silver Thorn Lake in September 2023. Together we are pursuing a deep relationship with Jesus and making Christ the foundation of our home.
Before coming into this role, I served in various roles in long-term care management, including administrative, case management, direct care, and more. I enjoy serving and advocating for people navigating the health care system.
I began working for Hayward Wesleyan Church in December 2023 as the Administrative Assistant. I love all the incredible, Jesus-loving people I get to meet and interact with on a daily basis. I am a co-leader of the Evening Northwoods MomCo and I also co-lead “Our Inheritance” a Bible verse mapping small group. I am filled with gratitude that HWC gave me the opportunity to fill this role, the skills I am learning, and the relationships and the closeness to God it has fostered.
I am originally from Upstate NY and have lived in a few other places, but my husband, Dan, my
son, Michael, and I call Hayward, home!
I embraced a relationship with Jesus in 2008 through missionaries on the Lac Courte Oreilles
Reservation and have been a part of the Hayward Wesleyan Church since then. From 2008 to
2013, I served on the Youth Group Team, Worship Team, Mission Board, and Hospitality Leader
Team at Hayward Wesleyan Church. I was also raised as a leader, learned and grew under the
mentorship of missionaries on a leader team on the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation. I became
a licensed Ministerial Student through the Wesleyan Denomination in 2015 and was sponsored
by the Hayward Wesleyan Church. I have been a Licensed Minister appointed to Hayward
Wesleyan Church since 2018. My schooling consists of university, college, continuing education,
and mentorship in leadership experience. In June of 2024, I became a Licensed Pastor
Permanent. I am a living testimony of God’s truth, love, and grace.
After being “sent” to North Central University in Minneapolis, MN with the encouragement and
help of Hayward Wesleyan Church in 2013, I started to get a deeper draw to vocational ministry
over Business Management, which was my original major. After a year there, my husband and I
then felt called to move closer to home and desired to start a family. We lived in Rice Lake
where I continued my pursuit of Business Management for a while longer as well as took some
Ministry Continuing Education Classes. We continued to keep in connection with Hayward
Wesleyan Church and the LCO Community.
While in Rice Lake, I served on the First Steps and Connection Team, Prayer Team, Baptism
Team, and Discipleship Director Team at Red Cedar Church.
In 2021, I was called and “sent”, to be a Children’s Ministry Pastor for the Spider Lake Church in
Hayward, WI. God moved through me in developing a Children’s Ministry Program and team,
and in 2023, God led me to hand the ministry over to the team and return to Hayward Wesleyan
Church.
I love sports, camping, hiking, fishing, traveling, card games, quick board games, dice games,
and connecting!
My husband and I own Pearson Services LLC, a construction Company, and I am the Spiritual
Care Coordinator (Hospice Chaplin) for Regional Hospice for the Hayward and Spooner
regions.
I am so thankful to partner with God and the Body of Christ in this calling to connect every life to
Jesus and His community. I do so inside as well as outside the church building walls. I am also
the Coordinator for Northwoods Evening MomCo. I feel called to empower people into the “full
life” (John 10:10) that God has for all of us. While it is by grace we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9)
for all who: 12 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13). I feel it deep in my heart to help
all people know the love and truth of Jesus Christ (John 3:16 Matthew 28:18-20); that all of us
are created a masterpiece, unique and on purpose, for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10), and help
people know they are important and matter (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:4-5, Ephesians 4:16).
Hi my name is Jess, I was raised in Hayward and always really loved it here! My family and moved away for a time and recently moved back to town! We are so happy to be back and have certainly enjoyed settling back in to our lovely small town!
I currently live in Hayward with my husband (Jon) and our 3 kids, Jayden, Audrey (AJ), and Griffin, Penny our dog, Eloise our cat, 8 chickens and two ducks!
Between moving out of state twice our family has attended HWC for about 12 years total! For us youth group is a family event! My husband serves as well as our oldest daughter, while AJ and Griffin attend youth group! Along with my role as Youth Admin Assistant I’m also a co-leader with the 7th grade girls! I love that I get to share Jesus with our youth and the students are absolutely incredible!
I love assisting Jonah Beckermann, our interim Youth Pastor and our incredible youth leadership team! I also co-lead “Our Inheritance”, a Bible verse mapping small group. I serve on the worship team, and am assisting with some upcoming media opportunities at church! I am so thankful to be on this team and to be serving within this amazing body of believers!
Hayward is an amazing place! Hayward Wesleyan church is also pretty great. My family has been attending here since we moved to Hayward at the end of 2015. Our family has lived in Edmonton, Alberta … Worthington, MN … and now Hayward, WI.
My wife (Jessica) and I have 4 daughters who keep us very busy, but who also fill our lives with joy and gratitude. We enjoy camping, hiking, outdoors, water sports, winter, summer, fall, and most activities that Hayward is known for. Jessica and I also have a second love for Florida and try to make at least one trip a year to this ocean paradise.
My full time job is as a financial planner, although I have previously worked as both an associate and senior pastor. My ministry experience started after I became a Christian in junior high and then started attending Community Alliance Youth Group in Detroit Lakes, MN. Youth group was an amazing space for fun, relationships, being mentored, and learning to ‘give away’ my faith. It was through youth group that my faith in Jesus really put down roots that have continued to this day. My desire for the students of our community and my own kids is that they would have a dynamic and meaningful environment to encounter the living God and experience rich community with each other and adults who love Jesus.
This past summer, our full time youth pastor at HWC resigned and I agreed to step into the role of interim director of youth ministries. This is really a team effort though. We have a group of over 15 adult leaders who lead worship, teach, organize events, lead small groups, and build relationships with students. Our youth themselves are also stepping into leadership roles within the youth group. I couldn’t be more proud of the team that is willing to put forward an incredible amount of energy and intentionality to serve our students. Thank you for the opportunity to step into this role and serve our students the best we know how, under the guidance of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
