Dr. Ross Bacon - Senior Pastor
email: rbacon@lagrangebible.org

Ross and his wife Karen have had the privilege of serving the Lord at the La Grange Bible Church since 1976. They have two married children: Jenny (and Randy) Kutchek and Kevin (and Kirstin) Bacon. They also have three grandchildren: Isabella and Jack Kutchek, and Sophia Bacon.

Ross began his ministry at La Grange Bible Church serving as youth pastor for five years. Following another five years as assistant pastor, he served two years as associate pastor. Since 1988 Ross has ministered as the senior pastor. Working in these various areas has provided him with many rich experiences in pastoral ministry.

Ross and Karen are both from Illinois, born in Oak Lawn and Worth respectively. They were married at Oak Lawn Bible Church on March 10, 1973. During Ross' last semester at Moody Bible Institute, the Bacon's joined the staff a La Grange Bible Church.

Interests:
Ross and Karen both enjoy participating in many activities such as reading, traveling, listening to many kinds of music and shopping. Eating out is a treat and done more frequently these days. Ross especially enjoys a round of golf. Family fun has always been a priority for the two, but living for the glory of God interests Karen and Ross most.

Education:
B.A. in Pastoral and Christian Education - Moody Bible Institute 1976
M.A. in Educational Ministries - Wheaton College 1985
Ph.D. in Education - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School 1993

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Rev. Galen Banashak - Associate Pastor
email: gbanashak@lagrangebible.org

Galen and his wife Carol have been married for 35 years and have five children Jeanette, Julie, Mark, and their twins, Alice and Susan. Jeanette lives in Grand Rapids and teaches at Cornerstone University. Julie lives in Milwaukee with her husband Russ, and works at United Way. Mark works as a social worker in Chicago. Alice attends Olivet Nazarene University and Susan is a student at Point Loma University in San Diego.

Before joining the staff at LGBC, they served with Baptist Bible Fellowship as missionaries in Guadalajara, Mexico, where they planted a Spanish-speaking congregation.

Galen then served for nine years with Chosen People Ministries, planting Messianic Congregations in Buffalo Grove, IL and Toronto, Canada.

They have been at LGBC for the last 18 years.

Education:
B.A. in Theology - Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO, 1976
M.A. in Christian Ministries - Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, IL, 2003

Other Ministries:
Light of Israel Fellowship of Chicago
Board Member of Chicago Youth Alive, Chicago, IL

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Matt Dileonardi - Pastor of Youth
email: mdileonardi@gmail.com

Matt began serving the Lord at La Grange Bible Church on July 15th, 2009, where he and his wife, Laura, co-direct the Lightwave Senior High ministry. Matt and Laura were married at Winnetka Covenant Church on May 24th, 2009. They both received their Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry at Moody Bible Institute and have looked forward to doing ministry together as a team. Both of them grew up in Illinois, Matt in Peoria and Laura in Lake Zurich.

Interests:
Their interests are music (listening and playing), sports, being outdoors, watching the Cubs (even if they lose), reading, trying local flavor every once in a while, and spending time with their chocolate lab, Dilly.

Education:
B.A. in Youth Ministry - Moody Bible Institute - 2009

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Jenny Austgen - Director of Christian Ministries
email: jaustgen@lagrangebible.org

For Jenny, LaGrange Bible Church is both her home church and sending church. Remaining affiliated with LGBC she served in Japan with TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) for 14 years in Camping/Youth ministries before joining the LaGrange Bible Church staff in 2004.

Her ministries at LaGrange Bible include: overseeing the Junior High Ministry, Women's Ministry, and Adult Short Term Missions Trips.

Interests:
Her hobbies are: hiking, skiing, reading, traveling, and anything that will take her into the great outdoors.

If you asked her what her favorite past time is, she would say, "enjoying a good cup of coffee with friends or trying new foods at local restaurants around the Chicagoland area".

Education
BS in Camping Education / Bible from Calvary Bible College, Kansas City, MO. 1985
MA in Intercultural Studies / TESL from Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. 1997

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Ross Avery - Worship Leader
email: ravery@lagrangebible.org

Ross is delighted for the opportunity to fulfill a dream of using his God given talents for music to serve his Lord and Savior. He and his family moved to the La Grange area and found LGBC through the Yellow Pages and have not left since their first visit. God has truly worked in all of their lives, in that they are involved in many of the ministries of the church and continue to be blessed with opportunities to work in His service.

Ross has served the church as the worship team drummer and also has been a part of the King’s Chorale as well as served in many other lay capacities. Music has always been a major part of his life going all the way back to church choir as a young boy, and he was the lead singer of a traveling rock group in the early 80’s for over 6 years. He graduated from Golden Valley Jr. College in 1980 and went on to study at the University of Kansas, where he was involved in athletics (football). Ross is an avid Chicago sports fan particularly the Bears, Cubs and Bulls. He also loves a round of golf and going with his family to their cabin in Minnesota.

Patti has been involved in many of the church’s ministries as well. She is a room leader for the Pioneer Girl program and volunteers for service in most of the kids programs. She is a graduate of Taylor University in Upland, IN with a degree in social work. She has worked in group homes for troubled youth and also for state run institutions for mentally and physically handicapped children. She is now a stay-at-home mom and enjoys baking and spending time with family and friends.

Ross and Patti have 4 children.
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