Story Church,
On Sunday, October 21, we introduced our first 2 Elder Candidates to join Pastor, Chris Ballard as "Shepherds" of this movement called Story Church. For more information about their biblical role with the church, you can listen to Clay's sermon HERE. Please read their bio (below) and prayerfully consider your willingness to follow their leadership as they have prayerfully and humbly accepted their calling to serve you. We will affirm them in this calling next month after a period of examination of this matter.
Elder Candidate: Seth Bunn
Seth received Christ as a teenager at First Baptist Church in Eldon, MO. Growing up as the oldest in his youth group, the Lord immediately gave him a passion for youth/children and seeing their faith mature. The Lord called him into the ministry as a sophomore in college. God has called Seth to teach, lead, and serve the saved and unsaved so that they might come to know Him or mature in their faith. God has equipped Seth to disciple and foster spiritual development in the lives of His children.
Soon after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry, Seth married Nicki in 2005. Around the same time, Seth became the Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church in Humansville, MO. After a fruitful and maturing time, God called him back to his home church in Bolivar to implement Explorers, where he coordinated and led a team of volunteers in a children’s worship service and small group bible study.
After the family moved to Ozark, God called them to join a team of church planters. Seth was named the Pastor of Family Ministries for that church plant, called Missio Dei (Mission of God). Missio Dei Church decided to merge with another church after about a year of ministry, but Seth and the family felt called elsewhere due to their passion for church planting. In February of 2016, Seth and his family joined the movement of Story Church and Seth became Director of Children and Families. He also serves as a chapter group leader and an advisory team member. Seth’s passion and desire is partnering with parents to minister and disciple children and students.
Seth and Nicki have 3 children: Noah, Bella, and Sophia. Seth is a Career Services Manager with Bryan University. He develops and provides career counseling services, resources, and workshops for students and alumni.
Elder Candidate: Dan Igou
Dan and Suzanne Igou will celebrate 28 years of marriage next July. He is a "One Woman Man." They are a blended family: Dan has 3 children, 2 boys & a girl and Suzanne has 2 boys. Together, they have 11 grandchildren & 1 great grandchild. With this experience, they’ve been able to help many blended families survive the early years of marriage. They both have had 50 hours of instruction to become Stephen Ministers in the Methodist Church, a Christian Counseling ministry.
Dan is a Past President of Vietnam Veterans of America and works with fellow veterans in raising money to help other vets with a hand up (not a hand out). He served 2 tours in Vietnam as a Navy Radioman, Search & Rescue Helicopter Squadron & USS Ranger, an aircraft carrier.
Dan & Suzanne own an investment company in Springfield servicing municipal government retirement plans in many cities in Missouri with a partner in Cape Girardeau, MO. Suzanne is "mostly" retired.
Dan grew up in a house with only one recollection of his parents going to church; they weren’t church people. While in Navy boot camp, he was required o go to church on Sundays. He doesn’t remember a particular sermon, but there was a song that touched him “It Is Well With My Soul.” Dan said, “This was probably my 1st introduction to God in my life; I felt moved.” During 2 tours to Vietnam, I would call upon God to keep us safe. It was funny, that some of my friends would say they grew up Baptist or Methodist, I grew up a heathen. In my early 30’s, I would send my kids to a Baptist Church. The church and my kids would keep asking me to go to church, eventually I went, got involved, developed a close personal relationship with Christ and was saved. I’ve always felt led that Christ was calling me to serve my brothers & sisters in Christ and to reach out to the same people who are just like I was. I desire to make a friend with them and bring them to Christ, just as it happened with me.”
Dan and Suzanne came to Story Church, having been friends with Chris and Shana Ballard for over 12 years. Chris was a pastor at their previous church where he and Suzanne lead a small group for 14 years. When we started Story, they would attend their church in the morning, then Story in the evening. He and Suzanne also started a group for older members called the “Legacy Group.” Because of its success they remained at their church for an additional 5 months in order to train their replacements before joining Story on a full-time basis. Dan and Suzanne have been faithfully serving Story Church ever since.