Pastor Steve Bullmer has been serving churches in the Northern Illinois Conference for 30+ years. He grew up in the Des Plaines United Methodist Church, attended Eastern Illinois University where he earned a B.S. in Philosophy, went to The Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado where he earned a Master of Divinity and began his pastoral ministry by serving two small student churches. In 1977 Steve returned to the Northern Illinois Conference and began his full-time pastoral ministry by serving churches in Rochelle, St. Charles, and Plainfield—during which time he earned a Doctor of Ministry at Garrett-Evangelical Theology Seminary.

In 1987 he married Sharon Guenthner and they began their life together as a clergy couple with Steve serving churches in Polo, Freeport (Trinity), Lena-Winslow-McConnell Blended Parish, and Marengo while Sharon served Leaf River-German Valley, Orangeville, and Harvard.

Steve has a passion for teaching, especially Disciple Bible Study, a vision for equipping all Christians to find and fulfill their God-given ministry and mission, and a love of children. His hobbies include traveling, an occasional round of golf, and cheering for the Cubs.

Steve has three daughters—Kayte, Sarah, and Kendra and three grandsons, Will, Lukas & Bryan.

Pastor Charles Yoon has been serving churches in Korea, New Jersey, and the Northern Illinois Conference for 22 years. He grew up in the Korean Methodist church in Seoul, Korea, attended Methodist Theological Seminary where he earned a Bachelor of Theology and Master of Theology in Church History, and went to Drew University Theological School in Madison, NJ where he earned a Master of Divinity, a Master of Philosophy, and a Doctor of Philosophy in church history. In 1989 he began his pastoral ministry by serving a small rural church. After he ordained in the Korean Methodist Church in 1992, he continued to serve churches in Seoul and New Jersey. In 2005 he was appointed to Prophetstown UMC and transferred to the Northern Illinois Conference in full connection in 2008.

Charles loves to meet people in and beyond church and work with them for God’s kingdom. As a pastor he wants to be a care giver, a teacher, an administrator, and a friend, sharing the gospel with people and making them disciples for transforming the world. He loves singing, reading books, and traveling.

Charles married Esther Jeeyeon Cheong in 1994 and they have three daughters – Kristine, Sarah, and Eunice.

Bringing her talent of music to the church, Katrina Jackson serves as the Director of Traditional Worship. Katrina came to Crystal Lake in 2000 and has developed the musical programs such as handbell and chime choirs for youth and adults, youth choirs, adult choir, and cantatas.
Katrina graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree of music in piano performance and pedagogy in 1997. She completed her course work and written for her Master's degree in 2000. She has been involved with music since the age of 3 when she started singing in the choir. By age 11, she was accompanying the choir and became the youth choir and handbells director by the age of 21. At 24, she was named the Director of Music at the First United Methodist Church in Mattoon, Illinois. She began playing the piano at the age of 4 with her grandmother, who had a master's degree in music. She also took piano lessons from Dr. Catherine Smith and Dr. George Sanders from Eastern Illinois University starting at 12 years.
She lives in Crystal Lake with her husband, Gordon, and has two children; Graham and Elizabeth.

A member of the First United Methodist Church of Crystal Lake since 1976, Lisa Bischoff became the Director of Children's Ministry in 1999. Since that time, she has helped to mold the children's programs for newborns through 6th grade.
Lisa oversees the educational children's programs which entail the preschool (3's-kindergarten), elementary (1st-5th grade), and secondary (6th grade) on Sundays and the Bible Clubs on Wednesdays. She also organizes Vacation Bible School every year in June and assembles over 50 volunteers to educate more than 300 children. Other programs Lisa helps manage are Parent's Morning Out, Parent's Night Out, the acolyte program, the FUMC Preschool, and the God and Country program.
Prior to becoming the Director of Children's Ministry, she was at the Joy Community Church and Christian Children's Center. She also volunteered as the VBS Director for FUMC Crystal Lake for eight years and was on the Childcare Advisory Committee.
Lisa is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in English Literature. She is married to her husband, Frank, and they have two daughters; Diane and Amy.

Heather grew up United Methodist in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and moved to Grand Rapids in 2002 to pursue a degree in Digital Media. Shortly after my move down with the trolls (sorry, it’s a Michigan joke), I had the privilege of becoming the Children’s Director at First United Methodist Church of Grand Rapids. I worked there for 2 years before taking a year off to complete my studies in audio engineering and video production. I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Grace Bible College in May of 2005 and was promptly encouraged to apply for the Junior High position at Grand Rapids First. The rest is history. During my 4 years as Director of Junior High Youth, I was given opportunity to grow, take chances and explore what it is to be a youth worker—it is my sincere belief that the freedom gifted to me was God’s way of preparing me for something big and wonderful and challenging. I am so excited it turned out to be your congregation!
As we continue in ministry, my prayer is that God will do outrageously cool things. I am looking forward to shaping programs that are relational, create laughter and cause each of us to search deeper for the God who gives abundant life. Stop by my office, catch me at church and find me on Facebook! I’ll be excited to hear from you.