Leadership
Rich Gerberding, Ministry Director Email Rich
Rich has been involved with men’s ministry since 1998, and regional ministry since 2002,. The foundation of this ministry has been the monthly Taking A.I.M. men’s event newsletter. He has served with Promise Keepers on two Peoria leadership teams (’03, ’08) and traveled the country as a Volunteer Staff Representative. He led a regional team for a Man in the Mirror training event in 2006 and has been a Field Trainer for MIM since 2009.
In 2010, the Heart of Illinois Christian Movie Central ministry was launched to build grassroots awareness and support of Christian films, which in early 2012 began a 60-second radio program on Moody affiliate WBNH 88.5FM.
In 2010 Rich was named to the class of “40 Leaders under 40″ in the Peoria area.
Rich married his best friend, April, in 1996 and they had a son, Jordan, in 1999. Jordan shares Rich’s love of bacon and Weird Al. In 2009, Rich discovered his hobby of cake decorating following too many meals eaten while watching Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss. He failed in his effort to bring Man v Food to come to Peoria, but has visited 12 Man v. Food restaurants.
He has spoken at various conferences (EQUIP, Iron Sharpens Iron, No Regrets satellite) as well as church breakfasts and weekend retreats. Various topics are available, but his core message is “Vegetables of the Spirit: The Bible’s Forgotten Fruit.” The subject is currently under consideration by various publishers.
They live in Rome, Illinois (Between Chillicothe and Peoria).
Jim Culver, Ministry Representative (Peoria, IL) Email Jim
Jim has been actively involved in men’s ministry since the mid 90’s. He has put together numerous PROMISE KEEPERS trips and was blessed to be able to attend the STAND IN THE GAP event in Washington DC. Jim has been available as an outside source of advice for Rich during the early years of MEN of A.I.M. and has become more involved, over the past couple years, as part of the leadership team.
Jim & Lesa have been married for nearly 25 years and have two boys, Andrew & Nathan. Jim enjoys bow and shotgun hunting, fishing (for fish as well as men and women), basketball, softball and reading. Jim is also involved with the SAINTS Prison Ministry and PSALM 51 ministry that ministers to young men and women in the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.
Jim & Lesa live in Peoria, IL with their “kids”, Gidget and Daisy, both mini Daschunds.
Steve Crawford, Ministry Representative (Pekin / Morton) Email Steve
Steve Crawford is married to Terry with a daughter, a son, and a stepson. They live between Pekin and Tremont.
They attend Driven Church in Pekin, where he is on the sound team and remodeling of the Sabella Street Station building.
Ribs are his favorite food, but don’t tell his cardio doctor.
His likes watching Blues Brothers, and listening to Third Day, Casting Crowns, Big Daddy Weave, and Phillips, Craig, & Dean. He also loves to help Terry with her flower gardens, and any other home improvement ideas they can conjure up.
He likes to create data systems using Excel and its background VBA, playing golf, and rooting for the Minnesota Vikings.
Even though he is retired, he works at several jobs, Hoerr’s Berean Bookstore in Pekin, technical assignments for Pinnacle Sales, and delivery driving and computer work for Redbud Ridge Custom Shop.